Patina Miller—I Am Power

Summary

Podcast Summary: Toure Show – Patina Miller: I Am Power

Episode Information:

• Title: Toure Show
• Host: DCP Entertainment
• Episode: Patina Miller—I Am Power
• Release Date: May 14, 2025
• Website: dcpofficial.com/toureshow

---

Introduction

In this episode of Toure Show, host Toray engages in a profound conversation with acclaimed actor Sterling K. Brown. While the episode is titled "Patina Miller—I Am Power," the transcript provided primarily features an in-depth interview with Brown, discussing his illustrious career, personal endeavors, and experiences shaping his role in the popular series Power. The following summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and memorable quotes from the episode.

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1. Sterling K. Brown’s Journey to Power

Sterling K. Brown delves into his transition from Madam Secretary to his role in Power. He expresses his desire to undertake a challenging and multifaceted character that resonates deeply with his personal and professional aspirations.

• Quote:
  “I wanted to do something dangerous. I wanted to play a bold and big character that I could fully invest myself in.”
  (02:43)

Brown describes his initial uncertainty about his next project post-Madam Secretary and his motivation to find a role that was both powerful and three-dimensional. This led him to Power, where he sought to explore the complexities of his character beyond conventional traits.

---

2. Character Development and Research

Brown emphasizes the importance of understanding a character's motivations and background to portray them authentically. He discusses the layers he added to his character in Power, ensuring she was not just a stereotype but a nuanced individual with her own struggles and strengths.

• Quote:
  “What excites me is getting to the truth of the character—why she is hard, why she chooses this path.”
  (04:55)

He shares his research process, drawing inspiration from strong women in his life and historical queenpins, aiming to infuse his character with both power and vulnerability.

---

3. Overcoming Challenges in Acting

The conversation shifts to Brown's marathon running experience, highlighting his dedication and resilience—traits that parallel his acting career. He discusses the mental and physical challenges of breaking the four-hour barrier in the London Marathon.

• Quote:
  “Pain management sets in around mile 16 or 17. That’s when you need support the most.”
  (07:09)

Brown relates these experiences to his acting, where overcoming obstacles and pushing through difficult moments are essential to delivering compelling performances.

---

4. Balancing Stage and Screen

Brown reflects on his versatility as an actor, feeling equally at home on stage and on screen. He appreciates the spontaneity and authenticity required in live performances, contrasting it with the structured environment of television sets.

• Quote:
  “There is power in mistakes; they reveal what you’re really made of.”
  (13:19)

This adaptability has allowed him to excel in various mediums, enriching his performances and broadening his acting repertoire.

---

5. Personal Life and Inspirations

The discussion becomes more personal as Brown shares heartfelt stories about his marriage. He recounts his husband's memorable proposal during the opening night of Pippin, illustrating the deep support and love that fuels his personal and professional life.

• Quote:
  “He showed me all the ways he cared and loved me through his actions and attention.”
  (40:32)

Brown attributes his strength and perseverance to the unwavering support from his husband, highlighting the importance of a strong personal foundation in achieving career success.

---

6. Future Projects and Creative Endeavors

Brown talks about his ongoing work on an EP—an ambitious project that mirrors his passion for storytelling through music. He describes the EP as a personal exploration of love, blending R&B, pop, neo-soul, and jazz influences.

• Quote:
  “It’s a love project—about different kinds of love that we all have in common.”
  (31:28)

This creative pursuit demonstrates his multifaceted talents and commitment to expressing himself beyond acting.

---

7. Reflections on Success and Recognition

When discussing accolades like his Tony Award, Brown humbly reflects on their significance without letting them define his self-worth. He values these honors as reminders of his hard work and motivations to continue striving for excellence.

• Quote:
  “My Tony reminds me of why I’m here and why I do what I do.”
  (10:00)

Brown maintains a balanced perspective on success, focusing on personal growth and the continuous pursuit of meaningful work.

---

Conclusion

Sterling K. Brown's interview on Toure Show offers a candid glimpse into the life of a dedicated actor balancing professional challenges with personal triumphs. His insights on character development, resilience, and the importance of a supportive personal life provide inspiration for listeners aiming to pursue their own dreams. Brown’s multifaceted approach to his craft and life underscores the episode’s central theme: harnessing personal power to achieve greatness.

---

Notable Quotes:

1. On Pursuing Challenging Roles:
   “I wanted to do something dangerous. I wanted to play a bold and big character that I could fully invest myself in.”
   (02:43)

2. On Character Depth:
   “What excites me is getting to the truth of the character—why she is hard, why she chooses this path.”
   (04:55)

3. On Overcoming Pain in Marathons:
   “Pain management sets in around mile 16 or 17. That’s when you need support the most.”
   (07:09)

4. On Embracing Mistakes in Acting:
   “There is power in mistakes; they reveal what you’re really made of.”
   (13:19)

5. On His Husband’s Support:
   “He showed me all the ways he cared and loved me through his actions and attention.”
   (40:32)

6. On His Music Project:
   “It’s a love project—about different kinds of love that we all have in common.”
   (31:28)

7. On the Significance of Awards:
   “My Tony reminds me of why I’m here and why I do what I do.”
   (10:00)

---

Final Thoughts

Sterling K. Brown’s episode on Toure Show serves as an inspiring narrative of ambition, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence. His ability to intertwine personal experiences with professional insights offers valuable lessons for anyone striving to harness their own power and achieve their dreams.

Transcript

[Mandy Moore]

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[Sterling K. Brown]

Even Charles Barkley's greatest fear.

[Mandy Moore]

Hey, nobody needs to know that.

[Toray]

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[Mandy Moore]

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[Toray]

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[Mandy Moore]

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[Toray]

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[Mandy Moore]

Restrictions apply. See full [e-mail] sportsbook gambling problem.

[Chris Sullivan]

Call 1-800-GAMBLER hey, it's Mandy Moore, Sterling.

[Patina Miller]

K. Brown and Chris Sullivan from that Was Us.

[Chris Sullivan]

Spring is finally here, and if you're like us, you're looking for little ways to bring new energy into your home. Starting with your bed.

[Mandy Moore]

I love everything about Brooklinen. I love the variety of colors. I love the texture. I love the coolness up against my skin. I'm a man who runs hot. These sheets keep your boy cold and I love them.

[Patina Miller]

Brooklinen makes it so easy to refresh your space with layers that feel light, breathable and so comfortable. Finding sheets you love can be tricky, but Brooklinen nails it every time.

[Chris Sullivan]

Brooklinen offers so many different tones and textures, which is great since new colors can make your bedroom feel fresh and inviting. Plus their lightweight, airy fabrics are perfect for sun kiss mornings and cozy nights.

[Mandy Moore]

And the best part? Brooklinen has everything you need from soft sheets to the perfect throw blankets to style and layer your bed effortlessly.

[Patina Miller]

It's no wonder they have over 100,000 five star reviews. People love them. So if you're ready to refresh your space, now is the time.

[Chris Sullivan]

Shop award winners and fan faves in store and [e-mail] that's B R O O K L I N E N.com get 15% off your first order today.

[Toray]

So how did power come to you?

[Sterling K. Brown]

Power came to me. So I just finished up Madam Secretary. I'd done six years on Madam Secretary and I went out to LA towards the end of the run of the show and I met with some really amazing people. I was trying to decide what the next project for me looked like. I didn't really know at that point, but I knew that I wanted to do something dangerous. I wanted to do something that, you know, a character that was bold and big and really called on all the things that I personally would want to tap into. And I wanted to play a three dimensional Character, you know, someone who has a rich life and something that I can investigate and bring my full self to.

[Toray]

And then not just tied to a man.

[Sterling K. Brown]

No, not. Not at all.

[Toray]

Because so many characters.

[Sterling K. Brown]

So many characters are your girlfriend. It's so true. And I did want something powerful like that. Didn't know. I had no idea. So when I went in and I spoke to a casting director, and we were talking about. We just made. I just saw that they had produced power and everything, and I was like, oh, my God, this show. Everyone loves the show. Like, you should see all. Yeah, of course. The think pieces. And, you know, so I had known Courtney because she had seen my work on Broadway, and so they were like, oh, there's this role. There's gonna be a spin off. Didn't know what it was, but there might be a role that you're really good for. Do you want to take a look at it? And if you're still in town, would you meet the creative team? You know? And I was like, yeah, sure. Why not? And so I left. And I'm like, okay. I'm really hoping that it's good. I'm really hoping that I'm gonna love the character. Because, like, I had such an amazing time with the casting director. And then I read it, and I was like, oh, my God. Whoa. Like, the character just popped off the page to me and the family. Like, the family aspect of the first episode, the relationship between mother and son. Didn't know that it was Raquel and Kanan. Cause they were flipped. You know, it wasn't a real script. It was fake. So I had no idea. But, like, the heart of what the show was gonna be about was in that first script. And I remember saying, like, God, I can't wait to go meet the creative team to just talk about how I see this character and how she could be so different. And, yeah, she's a queenpin or a gangsta, but what else can I bring to the character to make her three dimensional, to make her this amazing woman? Cause it can't just be like, oh, she's hard. Oh, sassy. That doesn't interest me. Like, playing hard. And you know what I mean? Like, that. Those aren't really things that excite me. What excites me about getting to the truth of the character and why a character is hard. Why a character chooses what they. You know what I mean? The tour ratio, okay, though. The tour ratio, okay, though?

[Toray]

That might be the best question I've ever been asked.

[Sterling K. Brown]

He's a phenomenal person, and Then you legendary. I am a fan of you. My brother.

[Toray]

Patina Miller is the star of Raising Canaan on stars. A powerful actress. She's had a huge history on Broadway before this. So let's get into it, because I want to talk about acting. It's Patina Miller on Toray Show. Patina.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Hi.

[Toray]

How are you?

[Sterling K. Brown]

I'm good.

[Toray]

Wait, you just ran the London Marathon.

[Sterling K. Brown]

I did.

[Toray]

How fast?

[Sterling K. Brown]

Well, it's going to irk me to say it. Four hours, one second. I was trying to hit sub four. So the one second.

[Toray]

4, 0, 001.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Oh, God.

[Toray]

That's pretty quick.

[Sterling K. Brown]

It hurts. Hurts. When you say that it hurts, it's.

[Toray]

Quick because the goal was sub four.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yes.

[Toray]

Have you ever gone sub four?

[Sterling K. Brown]

No, I've been chasing it. I've been. The Last one was 4 hours, 36 seconds, and then this one was 4 hours, 1 second. So, you know, I'm just literally like two cup stops away from it.

[Toray]

One more burst of energy.

[Sterling K. Brown]

One more burst of energy. And maybe it not being sweltering hot on the day, but, you know, goals. I love a goal.

[Toray]

You've done five.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Five.

[Toray]

What did you do?

[Sterling K. Brown]

I did New York twice. Chicago. For some strange reason, I decided to sign up for the Big Sur marathon, which is all hills and then London.

[Toray]

Okay, which one's your favorite?

[Sterling K. Brown]

Oh, God. So even though the weather sucked in London, I would say the course was my favorite. I mean, the London, you know, fans, like, people come really. People really come out and all different. Usually all different kinds of people out. And just like, it is such a celebratory day from the beginning to the very end. And I thought New York was the place.

[Toray]

People say that you are. Some people say you're in pain for hours. Like, where does it start? That you're like, okay, now this is just pain. And it's just pain management after here.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Pain management. I think pain management probably sets in around mile, like, 16 or 17. Mile 20 is when you're like, okay, I really feel this pain. This is not, like, in my imagination. Like, this is actual pain. How am I gonna end the race? What do I do? You know? And that's when you need to call on all of the things that, like, help get you through tough times. And, like, that's when it gets the darkest. That's when you need the people, the support. That's when you get that text message or that song that you love or that mantra to get you through, because it just really is so tough.

[Toray]

Carried you through the last bit, sort of.

[Sterling K. Brown]

It's just the why, like, why I push myself and, like, I can do anything I want to. And how. How. What a blessing it is to be able to. To do, like, something as simple as running. Right. And like, you know, you don't really think about it until you' it.

[Toray]

You're doing all these happy thoughts while your body is screaming at you. You try to counter happy thoughts.

[Sterling K. Brown]

And then there are a lot of. Like, do this. Like, stop crying. Like, stop crying on. You can do this.

[Toray]

Pick your.

[Sterling K. Brown]

You know, I curse at myself. Yeah. Like, pick your feet up. Do it. You got it. You got it. Just keep your eye on the prize. It's just about, you know, I think it's something about talking myself up to sort of just deliver and, like, get through it, you know, get through the tough. I think that's why I love it. Yes. Because it's hard. And. Yeah, it's. It's very hard. Not many people want to do it. Can do it. But to get yourself out there and say, you know, I'm going to run 26.2 miles and it is the hardest thing that you'll ever do and to stay the course, even though it gets rough, there's something to that.

[Toray]

You have a Tony?

[Sterling K. Brown]

I do. Where is it right now? It's currently in an office and in my husband's office.

[Toray]

In your husband's office?

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yes. It's about to be moving to my own office. But now, you know, we've been doing a lot of decorating, and so now it's ready.

[Toray]

Well, some people. I mean, this is the real question. Some people get a huge award and they put it, like, in the middle of their life and, like, look at this. And then some people put it, like, away, away. And like, I'll look at it when I'm 80, but I want to, like.

[Sterling K. Brown]

So you're like, I don't like to. No, that's not me. Like, all those things. I mean, not to say a lot of my awards over the years, but I don't love focusing on them because it's just. It doesn't. Like, it means something for sure. Like. But putting all my worth in that and what I think I should have because I have something like that. No, that's just.

[Toray]

That's not it.

[Sterling K. Brown]

It's great. It reminds me of time where I worked my. Worked really hard and I got the opportunity to get a prize like that. And, you know, so if it's not.

[Toray]

The Tony, where do you look when you step outside of yourself and go, okay, yeah, you're She's a really good actress.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Oh, no, it is the Tony for sure. No, like, let me not. No shade. Like, you know what? I need to pick me up to remind myself, like, of why I'm here and why I do what I do. I do. Look at that. And I'm like, you know what? I worked really hard for this. This is something that I earned, that I worked for. And so it always reminds me to, like, stay the course. You got it. Like, don't listen to that. That side of yourself or that voice that wants to tell you negative things about you, like, you or your talent or whatnot. I. You look at it and it's like, no, I did something good. And so I think it's positive. I just don't need it sitting there.

[Toray]

What do you love about acting?

[Sterling K. Brown]

I love the freedom to be any. Anyone that I want to be. I think there is something so amazing being able to tell another person's story or create these characters and throw myself into it fully.

[Toray]

So. All right, well, I'm gonna ask you to. This is something I've been thinking about a lot today.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Okay.

[Toray]

I'm not gonna ask you to speak about another specific individual. This is an idea.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Okay.

[Toray]

But Terrence Howard said he would not play Marvin Gaye because that might mean that he would have to kiss a man, and he would not kiss a man on screen. He would kiss a man anywhere, but not even for the screen. And I was like, an actor should be willing and able to do anything. And you should not say, well, you know, I'm not gonna. I wouldn't kiss a man in real life, so I'm not gonna kiss a man. That's not. So we're not talking about Terrence Howard specifically, but just the notion of, like, the actor should be willing to do anything and go anywhere. And even if you as a person are like, I would never do that as a. As a character, you should be willing to go anywhere.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah. You know, I say first, I think that, you know, everyone can have their boundaries, whatever they want. Like, but for me, as an actor, I look at the piece. I look at what. What the piece is trying to say. And you're a vessel, right? Like, the. You're supposed to be to go to the place that you need to go to in order to tell the story. And if the story is important, then the story is important. And you, as the actor, will do what you need to do to make sure that you are fully immersing yourself into that story.

[Toray]

Are you more as an actor? Are you More at home on the stage or on a set?

[Sterling K. Brown]

Both. I feel at home in both. I think if you would have asked me that 10 years ago, or maybe let's say like eight years ago, I probably would have said, you know, maybe the stage, because it's what I've known. But I think I've known the stage and TV the same amount of time now. And so, you know, there's something so beautiful about being on the stage and being so vulnerable in front of so many people and having to be on and when things don't happen the way that they should happen, being able to just go with the flow.

[Toray]

See, that's the thing that Broadway deals with.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah.

[Toray]

Mistakes, changes, sets not working right. On tv, you would stop.

[Sterling K. Brown]

You would stop. Yeah.

[Toray]

So that's a whole different challenge within the job.

[Sterling K. Brown]

It is. And it, and it. For, for me, it frees me up to sort of just like there is, there is power in those kind of mistakes. Those things happen because that's where you find what you're really made of. Right. If you can handle that kind of. These different things that happen on, on set, whether it's someone going up on a line or an audience member having, you know, an emergency or an audience member wanting to talk to you while you're trying to do the piece, or like, you know, a set piece not working or hurting yourself on stage and having to continue on with the show, it just makes your instincts so like, I don't know, it just. There's a richness to it.

[Mandy Moore]

Hey, it's Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown.

[Patina Miller]

And Chris Sullivan from that Was Us.

[Chris Sullivan]

Spring is finally here, and if you're like us, you're looking for little ways to bring new energy into your home, starting with your bed.

[Mandy Moore]

I love everything about Brooklinen. I love the variety of colors. I love the texture. I love the coolness up against my skin. I'm a man who runs hot. These sheets keep your boy cool, and I love them.

[Patina Miller]

Brooklinen makes it so easy to refresh your space with layers that feel light, breathable, and so comfortable. Finding sheets you love can be tricky, but Brooklinen nails it every time.

[Chris Sullivan]

Brooklinen offers so many different tones and textures, which is great since new colors can make your bedroom feel fresh and inviting. Plus, their lightweight, airy fabrics are perfect for sun kissed mornings and cozy nights.

[Mandy Moore]

And the best part, Brooklinen has everything you need, from soft sheets to the perfect throw blankets. To style and layer your bed effortlessly.

[Patina Miller]

It's no wonder they have over 100,000 five star reviews. People love them. So if you're ready to refresh your space, now is the time.

[Chris Sullivan]

Shop award winners and fan faves in store and [e-mail] that's B R O O K L I N E N.com get 15% off your first order today.

[Toray]

Hey, it's Toray. Every week on my podcast Toray Show, I interview amazing people like Andre 3000, Jada Pinkett Smith, Bresha Webb, Charles Blow, and all sorts of people about what fueled their rise to success and the ways in which being black shows up in their work. You want some inspiration to help achieve your dreams? Listen to Torre's show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Sterling K. Brown]

And you gotta be.

[Toray]

Do you have to be like so much in the character that you would respond as the character even if something outside of. Yeah, the text happens.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah. And not being afraid to break the fourth wall, as they say, you know what I mean? And because we're all in the room together, the audience is in on the storytelling, you know, when you're on stage. I personally have been able. My favorite roles have been when I've been able to break the fourth wall. And there's always like a calmness, right. Like, you know, when you're able to, as the actor, invite the audience in, look at them, take them in and have them be a part of it. It just makes the two and a half hours, three hours, just so much more relaxed. And you can do much more when you don't feel like, you know what I mean?

[Toray]

So how did power come to you?

[Sterling K. Brown]

Power came to me. So I just finished up Madam Secretary. I'd done six years on Madam Secretary and I went out to LA towards the end of the run of the show and I met with some really amazing people. I was trying to decide what the next project for me looked like. I didn't really know at that point, but I knew that I wanted to do something dangerous. I wanted to do something that, you know, a character that was bold and big and really called on all the things that I personally would want to tap into. And I wanted to play a three dimensional character, you know, someone who has a rich life and, and something that I can investigate and bring my full.

[Toray]

Self to and then not just tied to a man.

[Sterling K. Brown]

No, not at all.

[Toray]

Because so many characters, so many characters, it's so true.

[Sterling K. Brown]

And I did want something powerful like that. Didn't know. I had no idea. So when I went in and I spoke to a casting director and we were Talking about, we just made. I just saw that they had. Had produced power and everything, and I was like, oh, my God, this show. Everyone loves the show. Like, you should see all. Yeah, of course. That Think pieces. And, you know, so I had known Courtney because she had seen my work on Broadway, and so they were like, oh, there's this role. There's going to be a spin off. Didn't know what it was, but there might be a role that you're really good for. Do you want to take a look at it? And if you're still in town, would you meet the creative team? You know? And I was like, yeah, sure, why not? And so I left. And I'm like, okay. I'm really hoping that it's good. I'm really hoping that I'm gonna love the character because, like, I had such an amazing time with the casting director, and then I read it, and I was like, oh, my God. Whoa. Like, the character just popped off the page to me. And the family, like, the family aspect of the first episode, the relationship between mother and son, didn't know that it was Raquel and Kanan because they were flipped. You know, it wasn't a real script. It was fake. So I had no idea. But, like, the heart of what the show was going to be about was in that first script. And I remember saying, like, God, I can't wait to go meet the creative team to just talk about how I see this character and how she could be so different. And, yeah, she's a queen pin or a gangster, but what else can I bring to the character to make her three dimensional, to make her this amazing woman? Because it can't just be like, oh, she's hard. Oh, sassy. That doesn't interest me. Like, playing hard. And you know what I mean, like, that those aren't really things that excite me. What excites me about getting to the truth of the character and why a character is hard, why a character chooses what they. You know what I mean, like, her profession, why she chosen this path, and what happened to her. Why does she have a young son? What were the circumstances? And so going into that meeting with all of those questions, I think they were excited.

[Toray]

Let's talk about forward from there, how you created the character.

[Sterling K. Brown]

So I just started at the beginning. I wanted. I spoke with the showrunner, the creator, about the show and about what, you know, what it was going to be and who this character was. We didn't really talk about the Canaan part of it. It was more of the mother Son dynamic of the show. And that's something that I resonated with. I was a new mother at the time. I had a two year old. And so, you know, my mama bear instincts were already like, up. And I knew, like, you know, loving something more than anything and willing to like, fight tooth and nail for. It's like a crazy thing that happens that just like, I don't know, like one minute you don't, the next minute you like, have this like, crazy, you know what I mean? You know, and so I could identify with that. And so then put it in Southside, Jamaica, Queens, put it in the 90s, put all of these like, circumstances on the time. Like, what kind of woman does this, does she have to be. To command that kind of respect? To be able to walk into a room where people look at her and they take her serious, they don't doubt what she's saying. Her family, she's a matriarch of the family. Like, who is she? She has to be special. And so then I went back and like, I did my own character research of like, you know, strong women that I know in my life. My mother, you know, my mother had me at 16. And so, you know, think about all.

[Toray]

Of these things, about other queen pins that we know about.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah, Griselda. Like, I, I researched a lot of different queen pens that like, maybe we don't really know about, you know, because there was a lot of chatter online when the show first came out. Like, oh, that doesn't exist. Those women don't exist.

[Toray]

And it's like multiple documentaries, many documentaries.

[Sterling K. Brown]

So it was so funny to me to like, listen to people talk like.

[Toray]

Hbo, like, what are you talking about?

[Sterling K. Brown]

Oh, my God.

[Toray]

You did a whole, there was a.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Whole special with different trades. It wasn't just like, you know, like cocaine and like, you know, you know, Stephanie Sinclair was a different kind of queen pen. Like there's so many. And so it's that power and that aura and like, what that, that, that. And also that danger and that just all the different parts of them I was, I don't know, I really loved and I was fascinated by and I wanted to bring some of that to Raquel. And Raquel is a character or person who does not tell you what's going on with her. It's all internal. Right? Like, what's going on outside is very different from what's happening here. And so for her, she's teetering all the time. Like inside, there's like a clock that's ticking and it's like you know, having to wake up every day with everybody's stuff on her shoulders and being the, The. The. The woman in charge, being this woman, being in this incredible position of power and what that takes, the strength that it takes sometimes when she doesn't want to be strong, that she has to be strong for everyone around her. You know, being the sole provider of an entire family, making sure you're smart enough to be able to make these moves and these calculations in a predominantly male dominated feel and hold your own. The stakes are so high. The stakes have been high for her since she entered, you know, this whole world, you know, and so that those are the types of things that I wanted for the character. And obviously her voice, trying to find what her voice was going to be. And when she spoke, people listened. What does it sound like? How deep is her voice?

[Toray]

How do you do that? How do you test that?

[Sterling K. Brown]

How do you test that? So for me, I'm a singer, and for me, I. Different dialogue and things, you know, is just about how. How a scene sings, how does it. The. The musicality of a saying. And for me, I am interested in not just like the character, how the character walks, how the character moves, you know, what the character's thinking, what she thinks about everyone around her, how she sounds, what when she's with certain people, how does her accent change, how does the. How does she switch it up? You know what I mean? And so there's like a lot of different things.

[Toray]

Did you think about. I would think about depth, communicates power and strength and who the alpha is. So did you think about lowering?

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah, lowering. Because the, you know, you. She's so strong and you get it just from her voice, you know what I mean? And there is, you. There's not a situation that Raquel has been in where you're like, oh, God, like, you know, because she's just so rooted, she's so grounded. And the people around her, you know, Marvin's not grounded. You know, he's all over the place. And like, Lou's kind of all over the place too, but Raquel is like the same center. And if there is chaos or if there is like a little, like she's hiding that and you. We get to see it when she's alone. Right? Like those moments. So I, I didn't want her to just be a soldier. I wanted her to be vulnerable and have these vulnerable moments. But we get to watch her have those vulnerable moments. Sometimes when the camera's on her at the end of a scene or a closeup of where you get to really see her eyes and see, like. What did I just say? What did I just do? Like, the weight of all of the things that. Sorry, my name.

[Toray]

No, the ring. Your husband. Oh, my God. I'm not man enough. My God. Looking into the sun. I'm sorry, you're not supposed to say these things, right? I'm not supposed to comment on it. Right. It's completely inappropriate. I'm so sorry. So sorry. So sorry, but good man. Some people have wondered if 50 Cent's mother is in there. Is she?

[Sterling K. Brown]

I mean, I think. I think a bit of his mom is in there. I think a bit of our showrunner's mother is in there. I think, you know, a bit of my own mother's in there. Like, we kind of create. It's just.

[Toray]

But you didn't specifically research his mother.

[Sterling K. Brown]

No, I researched some of it, but it's not necessarily the story of 50s.

[Toray]

No.

[Sterling K. Brown]

You know. You know what I mean? Like, I think people think that, but that's not.

[Toray]

I mean, I. So when he was first blown up, I talked to him and we talked about his mom, and he was like. She was very tough.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah.

[Toray]

He described her as man tough.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah. So there are a lot of influences. Of course, it has to be right. Like, at the end of the day. And Sasha and 50 work closely together during that time. You know, I was brought in much later, so my research that I did, I have to bring my stuff to it too, you know what I mean? For it to live. But I do think there is a bit of, like Sasha says, it's a bit of his mom. It's a bit of, you know, 50s mom.

[Toray]

Do you paint in. Because she is a drug dealer.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah.

[Toray]

So some of the evil side of it, I mean, you sitting right, we would be like, well, yeah, the drug dealer is not feeding positive things. The community, even though in the culture, sometimes we lionize them because they are sexy and fun or whatever. So it was like, is that layer in there?

[Sterling K. Brown]

There is layer in there. Because I don't think. I think she's a drug dealer at that time, because that's the only thing that she's been able to do. Right. I think Raquel is someone who would have done. Who would have had a different trajectory in her life, you know, if her home life had been. Had been better, if she did have a better relationship with her mother, if, you know, she was afforded the opportunity to go to a great school and be something else. But unfortunately, at this time, in this sort of thing, you know, These characters are all sort of in these different enterprises, just trying to do something for themselves and to have, like, their own thing. And so our show doesn't really glorify the drugs of it all, but it's the consequences of getting into this dangerous game. You know what I mean? How dangerous it is. And you see it in the first few episodes, you know, Kanan wanting to protect his mom, that he thinks he's protecting his mom doing something good, but he just has created trouble for her where she's just now. And when you meet her in the story, there's an understanding that her and Nick, they have their streets, they're gonna do their own thing. But Kanan throws that all into disarray when he makes a stupid decision to take someone's life. And the consequence of that is now no one's safe. Right. And so these characters are all fighting for their place, and it is dark and it's not great. Right. Like, doing things like this comes at a cost. And I don't think there's anything that's, like, glorified about it, which is why I wanted to. To. These are flawed characters, and I think flawed characters can be interesting. And the bad guy never thinks that they're the bad guy. Right. Like, these people don't think that they're bad and they're doing anything wrong. And so I think there's something really interesting about investigating, like, the why.

[Toray]

Yeah.

[Sterling K. Brown]

You know.

[Toray]

Yeah. No, Everybody justifies what they do.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Oh, yeah.

[Toray]

Even if you think other people who do this are bad. I'm not bad.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Right.

[Toray]

I had to do this.

[Sterling K. Brown]

I had to. Right.

[Toray]

You're thinking about that with Ryan Coogler's work because he consistently gives us great villains who they make sense. They have an argument that makes sense. You could have made a film around Killmonger or Remic.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah.

[Toray]

And, like, did you see Sinners?

[Sterling K. Brown]

I haven't seen. Don't. I mean, I basically don't. No. I mean, TikTok has spoiled it for me, but I'm still gonna go and support. I think I'll see it today, actually.

[Toray]

You should go see it today. So I see you fell into the same lovely trend that I fell into, giving our children last names as first name.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Right.

[Toray]

My child is Hendrix and Emerson. How did you land on Emerson?

[Sterling K. Brown]

Emerson was something that went up. We were thinking about names. I wanted her to have a strong name. I want. I thought about, you know, like, whenever she's submitting a job application or whatever, I want, you know, I don't want them to know if she's a girl or a boy. I want it to just be based on merit. And like, what is there? You know, that. That was like, what I was thinking, like, I want her to have a strong name. And then my husband and I were talking more about, like, well, what, who, who? Like, it has to mean something. And you know, like, what are we gonna do? And he kept landing on this name and he loved, like, who was his pick? Yeah, it was. Mine was Amelia and his was Emerson. And I thought, okay, all right, cool. And so he had his own reasonings. It's like a private thing. But it. It landed the perfectly. She is the most amazing little one. And she is so full of life. And she completely fits her name.

[Toray]

So wait, will there be an Amelia one day?

[Sterling K. Brown]

I have no. Oh, come on now.

[Toray]

Tell me about your album.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Oh, my God. So. Jesus. So that's a work in progress. So it does not have a name yet. EP. Yes, about it. So it's a long EP. It's like 10.

[Toray]

Oh, that's an album.

[Sterling K. Brown]

It's. I know. It's basically. I know, I know. But I call it an EP because it takes the pressure off of you. A little bit. A little bit. I've been working on music for a long time, a long time. And now the pieces have kind of fallen into place. And I've just been trying to figure out what I want to say, say, working, trying to figure out what my own, you know, writing skills were going to be. And so, you know, when you have something to say, it's easier to. To. To make something. And so this one is incredibly exciting and super personal. It's all about love, different kinds of love, you know, love is the one thing that we all have in common because we all want to love and be loved, you know, and that's the music. It's R B influences, but there's some, like, pop elements, some neo soul, some jazz in there as well. I don't love to put like a. Like a label on it to say, like, oh, it's an R B project, but it's a. It's a love project. How about that? How about that project?

[Toray]

It's a.

[Sterling K. Brown]

You know.

[Toray]

I love that. God, how did he propose Now? I'm saying I'm stuck in this room.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Long time ago. Oh, my God. It's been like 13, 13 years now.

[Toray]

Beautiful, though. 13 year marriage.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah. Yeah, it's crazy. Crazy. 11 years married. 13, 13 years together. So I was doing Sister Act. No, Lying. Pippin. Pippin. And it was the opening night. And he proposed to me at the opening night party.

[Toray]

Really?

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah.

[Toray]

So everybody's in on it.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Everybody was in on it but me. I, you know, I'm pretty good about, like, figuring out things, and I. This is the one thing I could not figure out. My friends all knew it was going to happen. I did not. I thought it would be silly for him to do something like that at an opening, because why would you do that?

[Toray]

So you thought that it was coming, like, maybe.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah, I knew that it was coming. One of the reasons, when I got Pippin, I've been telling him, like, right before I had an audition, and I was like, you know, I don't know if I want to go in for this. I just did Sister act on Broadway, and I kind of want to, like, maybe do something different. And I've worked with, you know, the director before, and I just don't understand why I need to come in and, like, sing and dance for them. She knows what I can do. Like, I can do this. And I was having a hard time with, like. And it's a lot of. It's a lot of pages, and they're seeing men and women, and it's like, what? I mean, of course I could do it. And he said to me, he's like, the next day, he's like, listen, you have to do it. I had a dream that, like, you got this role and you were accepting your Tony Award and you were thanking your fiance. He and my boyfriend at the time.

[Toray]

And I was like, he said, you gotta do it. Because I see, he's like, I. I.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Had a dream being a Tony. Yeah, he said all of those things. He said all those things. And you were thinking you were thanking your fiance. And obviously I didn't. Wasn't thinking about the Tony part. I just heard fiance, and I was like, oh, what? Huh? What? Okay, so let me look. Let me look at some YouTube videos of Pippin. Let me read the script. Let me get up in. And I.

[Toray]

He know about Pippin or just a dream?

[Sterling K. Brown]

No, just a dream. And I kid you not, I went. I, you know, did my work as an actor. I'd work with the directors, already knew going in what kind of work she was looking for. And, you know, I remember watching Pippin on YouTube with Ben Vereen, and I was like, sucked in, you know, but then I was like, what am I gonna do? That's different. What am I gonna do? Like, why are we doing this again? Like, he is brilliant, and how could I do that? You know what Can I do? And so then I started just thinking of all the ways that I can make this something. And I went in and I got it and it was crazy. And to be. To walk up on that stage, hear my name called for the Tony and to thank my fiance was wild.

[Toray]

He dreamt. Yeah, exactly.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah.

[Toray]

It's crazy that ever happened in any other moment.

[Sterling K. Brown]

The only other moment something like that ever happened to me was when I auditioned for a film that I did not get called Dreamgirls. And I was in college and they were looking for their Effie. And I'm like, I'm not an Effie, but okay, sure. And I was like, I put myself on tape and I had a dream that I got a call back. And then, I kid you not, a month later, our head of our school called me into her office and was like, carnegie Mellon, Carnegie Mellon. And. And she was like, so you have been asked to fly out to LA to meet Bill Condon and audition for Dream Girls? And I was like, what? That's insane. You know, but had I not gone out there and stepped on a set for the first time? That's where the dream started to like, oh, my God, I'm closer to my dreams. Like, oh, wow. If I work hard, like, you know those. Oh my God. So it wasn't even about getting it. Like, you know what I mean? Jennifer Hudson was brilliant and she should have done. That was her moment. That role was for her. But what it said for me was like, you deserve to be in these rooms. If you work hard, you can do all of the things that you've ever dreamt of, right? And like to not put yourself in a box and to when you dream, dream big. And that's when. And I was in. I was still in college.

[Toray]

It's interesting that that moment was so valuable for you even though you didn't get the job.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah, it was so valuable to me to be on a set and meet Fatima and like, meet all these amazing hair and makeup people and to meet Bill Condon and to get there and have to make choices. I didn't realize how do or die it was, but I was just loving every second of it. It was my first time being in la, you know, I was a little southern girl, you know, like, it was a big deal for me and I took a lot of that, what I remember from being in that moment, and I started to realize the kind of like, actor I wanted to be. Like, I started to visualize a lot of the things that I wanted for myself and that's where it started.

[Toray]

So the cast party.

[Sterling K. Brown]

What?

[Toray]

The cast party. We were going toward that, and then you went off.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Well. Oh, my. Sorry. The cast party. He. He. Yeah, he proposed the cast party at the very end of the opening night. He did. He whispered in my ear in front of everyone, whoever was there. Yeah. It was the end of the party. He may. He waited a little too late. People were going home. But it was perfect. It was like the most perfect proposal.

[Toray]

That's amazing. Yeah, that's amazing.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah. Yeah. Thirteen years later, here we are.

[Toray]

Yeah. I've been thinking a lot. The last week, I saw a video where this woman said, men are attracted to women. They don't like them. And I was like, oh, is that true? Oh, my God. Oh, my God. And, like, I made a video about it, and, like, all these women are like, yep, that's totally true. Yup, yup, yup. And you wonder, like, somebody to come into your life and disprove that and be like, you know, like, I love him. I choose him forever. And, like, I trust him. And he. Like, how does a man communicate to you? Like, I'm a good guy. You can trust me. You can.

[Sterling K. Brown]

You know, I mean, I think it was an action right at the end of the day. It wasn't. I think if a person is saying all of those things, that's like, are you sure? You trying to, like, make yourself believe, like, you know what I mean? Are you, like, talking yourself into it? And I think for. For me, I can't speak for anyone else. He just showed me all of those ways that he cared and that he loved me and he appreciated me by the things that he did and the attention that he showed me and that, like, wanting me to know how he felt, you know, which I thought was really kind of cool. And, like, I feel this, you know.

[Toray]

Like, communicating a man able to say what he feels.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yes. Like, was like, crazy, you know, because I was still trying to figure out how I. How I communicated. Right. Like, and so to meet someone who was just fully just themselves and not trying to, like, be someone that they're not and just very. Here it is. You know, that was. It was kind of. It was amazing, actually.

[Toray]

That is amazing and really beautiful. It's so hard.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah.

[Toray]

So hard.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah. Yeah. You know?

[Toray]

Well, thank you. This is wonderful. You're wonderful.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Oh, my God. Yes. I love. I love talking to you. This is so cool.

[Toray]

Okay.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah. Yeah. Thank you so much. Absolutely.

[Toray]

Thanks so much to Patina for a great interview, and thanks to you for watching Torre's show gives you fuel to power your dreams. Because you can use your dreams like a rocket ship to blast you into a life you never imagined. You can make your dreams a reality. And maybe this show can help. You can find me on Twitter ore and on Instagram orayshow. Torre show is written by me Torre and produced by Jennifer Brown. Our editor is Ryan Woodhull. Our booker is Claudia Jean, and we're distributed by DCP Entertainment. And we will be back next Wednesday with more amazing guests because the man can't shut us down.