Biography

Style, or the way I dress, has always been an extension of who I am, whether it's wearing the same jeans everyday or wearing a kilt. I've always felt comfortable with how I dress.

Hollywood puts us in boxes, and I wouldn't say I'm the average Hollywood archetype. I think that also reflects in my work. I'm never doing the same type of character more than once, because I'm aware of the boxes that Hollywood puts Black men and Black people in.

Moonlight (2016) was my baby. It was God sent on every level - spiritual and just literal. That was a film that was really precious to me, and I think it's important to me and my career to play characters that are relatable and to use my art to teach people, to play characters that people can relate to and learn from. And that's exactly what Chiron was and what Moonlight was all about. It was about breaking down a stereotype and understanding humanity.

[on Denzel Washington] I think every African American actor somewhat looks up to Denzel. Even taking race out of it, he's one of those icons that you just have to respect. The range of work that he's been able to do, and been able to succeed in: it's insane, he's a master.

As black artists in the industry, we still have to work ten times harder to get our voices out there. So it's important that we embrace each other, and that we collaborate. I think when everybody is on the same collective team, things get pushed forward in a stronger way.