YV Media Interview With Actress Laila Pruitt From Starz's Hit Show "BMF"

Photo Credit: Photographer Jamila Lisbon

YVM: BMF is a series that takes a look at the creation of the Black Mafia Family, one of the most well-known drug distribution networks in American history. Did you have any hesitation accepting the role of Nicole Flenory considering the dark subject matter?

Laila: Though the thought had crossed my mind, I ultimately knew that despite it being a dark subject matter, this story deserved to be told. After learning about the family, and reading and hearing stories even from some people in my family about their perceptions of BMF, I knew that this project was going to be important. I’m honestly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it.

YVM: Were you able to speak to Nicole Flenory before playing her in the show? What insights did she reveal to you about her experience growing in Detroit with her infamous brothers?

Laila: I got to speak with Nicole Flenory towards the end of shooting the season, however, I still had some episodes left. It was incredibly informative and powerful to meet the person that I was playing, and the BMF family as a whole. We talked about who she was as a preteen, her relationship with her brothers and parents, and her perception of her family’s situation, growing up. She told me that she was an avid reader and that her brothers loved to buy her things and often watched out for her at school and around the city.

YVM: What steps did you take to prepare for this role?

Laila: I listened to a lot of 80s rap music, and sad songs for the sad scenes. That helped to create an atmosphere fit for what I was about to step into, in the scene. I also watched several scenes from movies and tv shows having to do with drug dealing, or growing up in the hood. I did this so I could learn the Detroit accent, and tap into some of the experiences and feelings that Nicole could have gone through growing up in those conditions. I also did research about Black Mafia Family, because I wanted to make sure I understood the reach and influence that Meech and Terry had and still have on Detroit, Atlanta, and Hip-Hop itself.

YVM: How helpful is it to play Nicole and act alongside Demetrius Flenory Jr., the son of Big Meech?

Laila: Playing alongside Meech was such a cool experience; it made the whole connection between us as actors and the BMF family much stronger. Working alongside Meech reminded me of the magnitude of this project, and encouraged me to work harder to represent these people well. He was always happy to be on set, and we practiced our scenes together a lot.

YVM: What kind of research did you do on 1980s era Detroit?

Laila: I wanted to understand Detroit as well as any person who lived there at the time did. My research included Boblo Boat, the 1980’s crack epidemic and the “Just Say No” initiative, and the harmful nature of the police and judicial system on black people and how it affected them during that time. After learning about all these aspects of the city, it was just about looking at all of the information from Nicole’s point of view. I asked questions like “how much of this would she know?”, and “does she worry about her brothers or does she disapprove of them?” It was really interesting to learn about a new place with so much history and impact.

YVM: Lucille Flenory, played by Michele Briana White, says to Terry, "poverty is not a scapegoat for immorality." The brothers work as drug dealers. Many times, on television and film, they do not explore the hard circumstances drug dealers contend with that leads them to make poor decisions. Why is it important to humanize Meech and Terry?