In the acting world, for every character moulded and processed for the big screen, there is an expectation that recognition and accolades should follow. Someone who has excelled in this department with every step in their career is Brian Tyree Henry.
He’s set the standard for iconic performances as Atlanta’s Paper Boi, Bullet Proof’s Lemon and now as Ray, in the newly released, gritty Apple TV hit show Dope Thief. Brian is making it his own, perfecting a craft of characters to be adorned by viewers.
His successes have just reached a new pinnacle, now being in a transitional period where he adds to his extensive portfolio the ability to executively produce, playing an integral part in the new shows offering.
Ahead of its release, GRM caught up with Brian to discuss the show, how he gets into character, stepping into new roles and much more.
Dope Thief is now out! Can you give us a backstory into the series and what the audience can expect from the season?
“So, you’re following two characters, Ray, who is played by me and Manny who is played by Wagna Moura. They’re lifelong friends who have incarcerated together since the age of 15. You’re now seeing them in a place in their lives where they come up with a scheme to be DEA agents. They get a tip about a house which is supposes to be a big score, but it’s not the best and you catch them running for their lives through Philli’, figuring out how to survive this trap house which has gone wrong!”
We see in the show that whilst some of Ray’s decisions have consequences, he has the best of intentions towards to his mother Theresa, Manny and even Shermie! How does such an affectionate character get into these problems?
“That was something I really wanted to explore when I took the part. It was really easy to see Ray as a fuck up, he just keeps making the wrong decisions. That wasn’t the case. I found there was so much compassion to him, so much of him trying to find love and be loved. He tries to take care of everybody. I was really intrigued by that because technically, you’re not supposed to care about him! He’s very much the anti-hero. I always feel like when I take parts of these men, there’s always something so endearing about them. I want people to walk away with feeling like they can absolutely care about them. To me, they’re people we come across all the time. I just wanted people at the end of the day to also be against Ray but root for him at the same time. I wanted a lot of redemption for Ray.”
Ray battles with past trauma in flashbacks and deals with sobriety in the opening of the series. Was there a personal process for yourself to connect with your character and his emotions?
“One, therapy! Two, to really process my own trauma and grief before I step into it. I knew I could do Ray because I was processing my own grief, going through my own recovery in my own way. I think that Ray was truly sent to me at a time that I could do it. If you would’ve given me Ray 5-6 years ago, I don’t necessarily know if I would be sitting here talking to you. It was really hard to figure out who I was going through grief while also dealing with success of my career. To now finally see that on the page in somebody, it gave me a place to put it and use the tools in a way to find solace for Ray. That was another huge reason of why I felt like I had to do Ray. He was so reflective of what I was going through.”
You executively produce alongside acting in Dope Thief. What would you say is the biggest transition with having to do both roles simultaneously and is it something you see yourself diving into more in your career?
“Having executive producer in front of your name is dope! I feel like all the projects that I’ve been a part of, I’ve been contributing in my own personal way, building the character, being a part of what that building process is, I just wasn’t credited that way. It’s now nice to get the recognition for it. Look man, I’m nosey! I want to know what’s going on in every department, that’s just how I’ve always been. I come from the theatre. When you’re doing theatre, there’s no such thing as this department, that department. No one man is bigger than the show. What I find in film is that it’s really easy for people to keep to themselves in their own places. What I found with me being able to step into the place of EP, it gave me a chance to be a bridge to all those departments. That’s where I shine the most. We see each other every day, you are watching me cry on this floor every day, run for my life every day. I want everyone to feel like they have a sense of ownership. That’s what makes projects more elevated. This crew is one of the best crews I’ve ever worked with. We went through a lot to make this show. It gave me a chance to encourage everybody. I’m addicted to it, there’s no going back!”
In an alternative universe, what career would Ray and Manny be in together?
“Probably DEA agents! I really believe that would be on the other side since they experienced it so deeply. They were in the streets, they know it. Or they should run a community centre and be mentors.”
With the different characters you’ve played over the years, what location and scenario could you imagine Ray, Paper Boi and Lemon encountering each other?
“I hope they all fall on love! I hope it’s a rom-com. I’m getting shot at all the time, going through trauma all the time. I hope it’s a really cool, buddy-comedy where they’re all searching for love.”
What advice do you have for those looking to pursue a career in the entertainment industry?
“I can only speak from my own personal experience, the one thing I really loved when I started is that it didn’t feel like work. I never felt like it was such a burden. Every rejection was just another opportunity for me to figure out who I am and to go out there and show them. I would not be here doing what I was doing if I didn’t have a strong sense of community. I’m not a big competitive person, but I think when it begins to feel like work, that’s when you need to step back, and think is this something that I want to do? If it’s a passion, continue to study it, continue to remember why you love it. Always go to movies, watch the trailers, talk about them and that will always keep you engrained and loving it. It should never feel like work.”
You can watch Brian Tyree Henry star as Ray in the new Apple TV series Dope Thief which is out now.