American actress Tiffany Boone currently stars as the afro badass nazi-hunter Roxy Jones in Amazon Prime video’s Hunters and also as Young Mia Warren in Hulu’s TV adaptation of Celeste Ng’s novel Little Fires Everywhere.

Boone was also the series regular in The Chi and can also be seen in other shows like Complications, The Following, Grey’s Anatomy and more. The actress’ ability to embody compelling, powerful characters makes her one of the few memorable actors today to watch out for.

In this exclusive interview, we sat down with the actress and talked about her current TV characters, her acting journey so far, and how acting for her is like time travel.

How was it to play the role of Roxy Jones in Hunters? 

Playing Roxy Jones was such a gift. I’ve never played anyone even close to Roxy so it was a delightful challenge. Roxy gave me the opportunity to do my first action work and I loved it. She’s such a badass and it made me feel cooler by just getting to play her. 

How was the process like to get into her character?

The entry into Roxy starts with her physical appearance- the afro, the clothes, the walk and the voice. I wanted Roxy to be the coolest person in the room and those aspects all helped to create that. For her internal life, I heavily researched the female leaders of the Black Power movement like Elaine Brown, Assata Shakur and Angela Davis. Roxy is an activist so exploring the thoughts, motivations and challenges of these ladies helped me to understand who Roxy was. 

What are the challenges that you faced while filming? 

As with any other production, filming called for long days in sometimes challenging weather. We filmed in NYC over the course of six months so I missed my family and friends in LA. However, for the most part it was a pretty smooth filming process. I was blessed to work with people that made it feel a little less like work and a lot more like play. 

What’s the best thing about her character?

I really enjoyed that Roxy is a mother. I’ve never played a mother before so it was a new challenge for me. Being raised by a single mother, I have so much respect for them. I think Roxy’s daughter is what makes her unbelievably strong and wonderfully vulnerable at the same time which is a joy to play. 

How far will you go in pursuit of justice?

Roxy comes from the Black Power school of “by any means necessary.” Throughout the season you see her belief in that be tested. She questions how far is too far to get justice but she will not stop fighting for it. She is dedicated to creating a better world for her daughter. I don’t think we’ve seen yet how far Roxy will go to achieve that goal. 

As a castmember of the show, what do wish the audience to take away from watching the series?

I just hope the show inspires conversation. I think the show asks a lot of questions but provides no answers. If people are inspired to explore more about Operation Paperclip or their responsibility to seek justice in their community, I think it served its purpose. 

Let’s talk about Little Fires everywhere. How was it to embody Kerry Washington’s younger character self, Mia Warren?

It was an honor and one of the greatest acting challenges of my life. I have been a fan of Kerry since early in her career. I’ve studied her as I study other actors that I admire. So, I felt I already had an understanding of how she works before I started. I was able to deepen that understanding by chatting with her about the character and observing her on set. I absolutely loved being able to use what she had already beautifully created and develop who that character was almost 20 years earlier. 

Does doing period roles excite you?

I love being transported to different periods and exploring the clothing, music and attitudes of the times. In Hunters, I was able to explore the 70’s which is my favorite decade for fashion. My flashbacks of Little Fires Everywhere are set in the 80’s and give an opportunity to play with wild hair, makeup and costumes. The Midnight Sky, a Netflix film I shot that will be released later this year, is set in the future. In what other profession are you given the opportunity to time travel to three different time periods in the course of a year? 

What excites you the most as an actor? 

I am an actor because I love to connect with and affect people. Whether it be a director that I really click with, another actor who I find a wonderful chemistry with or an audience member who feels moved by my performance. I always feel most fulfilled by my job when I walk away feeling like I have made a deep connection through my work. 

Where do you get your inspirations from? 

My greatest inspiration comes from black women all over the world, but especially my mother first. Her love and sacrifices inspire me to be better so I can repay her for everything she’s done. Black women in every field inspire my work. From the words of Toni Morrison to the artwork of Alice Walker to the activism of Angela Davis and the screen presence of Cecile Tyson- I am because of the black women who came before me and am inspired by them each and every day. 

If you were a book, what book would you be and why?

I see pieces of myself in many books especially in the writings of Toni Morrison, Octavia Butler, and Alice Walker. However, I can’t say that there is one that feels singularly like me. I think my book is still being written.