Jurnee Smollett, known for her performances in Underground, True Blood, and Lovecraft Country, recently shared how the insight from a screen legend guided her in developing her role in the fresh drama series, Smoke. Drawing its storyline from the popular true-crime podcast Firebug, the show constitutes the creative brainchild of acclaimed author Dennis Lehane. The limited series serves up new episodes on Apple TV+ on a weekly basis, every Friday.
Smoke’s narrative orbits around Dave Gudsen, portrayed by the talented Taron Egerton. Dave is a multifaceted character, juggling his roles as a serial arsonist, an aspiring writer, and a fire investigator in the Pacific Northwest. The character of Michell, brought to life by Smollett, is a troubled yet intellectual police detective whose mission is to assist Dave in halting the array of fire-setters.
Smollett explains the baby steps to her portrayal of Michell. It was renowned actress Alfre Woodard who once provided a valuable piece of wisdom: that the creation of a character starts by understanding their perspective of the world. This valuable recommendation resonated with Smollett, who, at 38, has been in the acting industry for a while.
With these pearls of wisdom in mind, Smollett embarked on an educational journey to truly comprehend her character. She probed into Michell’s world, dialogued with numerous subject matter experts, and compiled a string of queries. Using these elements, she developed an extensive backstory and biography for Michell – the regular building blocks in her approach to character building.
Beyond the intellectual aspects, Smollett also prepared herself physically for her role. Her real-life figure is slimmer, but the character she portrays is an ex-Marine. Hence, she challenged herself by following the demanding workout routines typical to Marines. As a result of her commitment, she managed to buff up with 15 pounds of added muscle mass, achieved under the watchful guidance of her fitness trainer.
Despite the intense prep work, Smollett understands the necessity of releasing the acquired knowledge once she arrives on the set. The collected data serve the purpose of enhancing her comfort level with the character. Yet once it’s time for ‘action’, all the accumulated knowledge must be organically translated into the character’s behaviour in the narrative.
One interesting aspect was Smollett’s interaction with a friend who is a firefighter in real life. This provided her with a unique insight into the challenges and rigors of the profession. The experience helped her develop a newfound respect for the courage required, especially because her natural instinct would be to flee danger rather than confront it.
Indeed, this deeper understanding of the tough realities of her character’s profession led Smollet to approach Michell with an enhanced appreciation and humility. It’s about expanding the boundaries of her mindset, pivoting from her regular perspectives and tuning into the mindset of a character who faces danger head-on.
Her connection with the rest of the team working on ‘Smoke’ was a thriving one. Smollett’s admiration for her fellow actors Taron Egerton and Rafe Spall, who portrays Michell’s former love interest and co-worker, reflects in her words. Each team member’s focus remained on enhancing the essence of the story rather than personal ego or rivalry.
Smollett mentioned Taron Egerton as a safeguard both in front and behind the camera, despite their characters’ tension-filled dynamic in the show. The sense of mutual understanding and trust was what made them successful in serving the story and its viewership.
Additionally, Smollett’s appreciation for Dennis Lehane, the mastermind behind the narrative, is undeniable. Her respect for his art is evident, and his proactivity in encouraging her to interpret and express her character in her own way contributed to making the experience even more valuable.
The experience of working under the guidance of Lehane resulted in Smollett feeling not only empowered but also blessed. Being surrounded by a group of individuals who were generous with their skills and knowledge, who prioritized the story above all else, was an experience she would not forget.
Having the freedom to establish and own her character facilitated her engagement in the role. The opportunity to delve deeply into the creation of a character, both physically and mentally, was a gratifying journey for Smollett.
In summing up, Smollett’s encapsulation of her character, Michell, in the drama series ‘Smoke’, was a rich canvas woven with threads of rigorous mental and physical preparations. Her interactions with knowledgeable prodigies, mutual respect among co-workers, and the inspiring guidance she received helped her embody the character in an authentic way.
As a result, Smollett’s thorough research and unique approach to preparing for her role as Michell breathed life into her character. Through her dedication and willingness to immerse herself in her role, she managed to bring an authentic and complex character to the audience, ensuring the success of the series.