Brian Tyree Henry of ‘Atlanta’ is on a roll
Brian Tyree Henry has experienced a year in which he was featured in one of TV’s hottest comedies (FX’s “Atlanta”); earned an Emmy nomination for his work on one of TV’s hottest dramas (“This Is Us”); worked on several films with a roster of top names, including Oscar winners Viola Davis, Jodie Foster and director Steve McQueen (who made “12 Years a Slave”); and is bound for the Broadway production “Lobby Hero,” by acclaimed writer Kenneth Lonergan (“Manchester by the Sea”).
“I’ve been doing this for 11 years, and to have this kind of breakout moment is fantastic,” says Henry, who first made a splash originating the role of “The General” in the Broadway musical “The Book of Mormon.” “I don’t even want to call it a moment because I want it to last.”
He’s particularly pumped about “Atlanta,” the series created and produced by Donald Glover about two cousins maneuvering awkwardly through the city’s hip-hop music scene. Henry earned raves for his performance as rough-edged rapper Alfred “Paper Boi” Miles, who is armed with both a withering glare and a pistol.
The first season drew widespread critical raves and scored two major Emmy wins — lead actor and director for a comedy for Glover — as well as a nomination for outstanding comedy.
A key storyline in the first season revolved around Paper Boi’s grassroots success. His celebrity factor was bolstered by street cred due to his involvement in a shooting. Seeing an opportunity to make money, his hapless cousin Earn (Glover), a Princeton dropout bordering on homelessness, becomes his manager.
In person, Henry is considerably more approachable and goodhumored than his often ill-tempered, weed-smoking alter ego.
“When I first read the script and saw who Alfred was, I fell in love with him,” says Henry, who graduated from Morehouse College and received his MFA from the Yale School of Drama. “I immediately knew who this guy is. He’s like every cousin I have, like every best friend I still have . ... I also want to make sure I
“To have this kind of breakout moment is fantastic.” — Brian Tyree Henry
do him justice.”
In a nod to the increase in robberies around the Christmas holidays when people are purchasing gifts, Season 2 has been dubbed “Atlanta: Robbin’ Season,” which exposes Paper Boi to the doubleedged blade of celebrity.
Glover offers high praise for his co-star’s performance. “I can’t think of anyone who could have done as good a job as Brian has,” Glover says. “He really brings a lot of humanity to this character. He can balance being intimidating and also being sweet and precious.”