00:00You know, I read you went to a performing arts high school. So I feel like you knew very early on this was the path, you know, you want to go down. But what did you know? Like, I want to be an actor. You know, what did your mom, you know, say to that? Were they like, yeah, so we're gonna make it happen?
00:13Yeah, I didn't really, I kind of like grew up singing with my grandma, you know, my grandmother and her side of the family. They were all singers, you know, but informally, you know what I mean? I didn't really know I wanted to do it until I got into Juilliard. Even in high school, it was a performing arts high school, incredible performing arts high school, Duke Ellington School of the Arts in D.C.
00:34But, you know, when I found out I really wanted to take it serious was when I got into Juilliard. And I was like, I can make a career out of this. I want to, I want, you know, to represent stories and be that because we didn't see it on, you know, I just didn't see it growing up, you know, leads on black TV shows or in films or, you know, so that was important to me.
01:00Probably, you know, subconsciously, I don't think I was thinking at the time, oh, I got to represent, represent, you know, I think our job is just to, in the same way you as a journalist, you know, and doing your job is, is a, you're just representative of what you do by doing it. So that's all it is for real.
01:18And you've had such diverse roles, you know, in the industry that is so quick to typecast, you know, in some ways, a personal fan of The Walking Dead, that was, that was my show.
01:27You know, but, you know, but how intentional, you know, have you been in choosing, you know, the projects you want to be a part of and the roles you take on?
01:43It's important to be intentional. You know, that role, even in Walking Dead, like I remember, you know, seeing that comic in, in, in, in the comic books and being like, yo, Keith is a, this is a black dude with, you know, the, the cornrows.
02:02And I'm like, this is interesting. Like, and then to see a story, you know, so everything that I do is, is intentional.
02:09Or I try to be, you know, in terms of putting it out there, because we have to, you know, there are people watching this, young kids watching, you know, and, and who will watch these, everything you put on film is going to live on forever.
02:22And so it's just important to, to put thought behind it. And so that's what I try to do. And, and sometimes I just feel really lucky because sometimes I don't think about it.
02:34I think sometimes you, you, you, you envision it and it goes out into the universe, but then it comes to you and like, where did this come from?
02:40Like, thank you, God, like this film, you know, in particular. So I'm just really lucky. I'm lucky, blessed. And I work hard. I do, I do try and work hard for everything I have. And yeah, just try and be representative of the culture.
Comments