At PopViewers’ Vibes & Views screening event in Downtown Los Angeles, “BMF” star Russell Hornsby sat down with PopViewers CEO Chris Witherspoon for an intimate and powerful conversation that captivated the room. The evening, which centered around episode 406 of BMF, turned into something far deeper than a typical post-screening Q&A—it became a masterclass on storytelling, emotion, and the craft of acting.
One of the most poignant moments came when Hornsby shared the lesson that changed his approach to acting forever: a piece of advice given to him by none other than Denzel Washington during their time filming “Fences”. “Fences”, written by August Wilson, is a Pulitzer Prize–winning play that explores the life of Troy Maxson, a former Negro League baseball player turned garbage collector in 1950s Pittsburgh. The story examines race, family, bitterness, and broken dreams. Premiering on Broadway in 1987, it earned four Tony Awards.
In 2016, Denzel Washington directed and starred in the acclaimed film adaptation, alongside Viola Davis and Hornsby. The movie brought Wilson’s powerful work to the screen.
Hornsby has long been known for his emotionally grounded performances—from “Grimm” to “The Hate U Give”, and now “BMF”—but he credits a conversation with Washington as a defining moment in his journey as an artist.
“This Isn’t About You”: A Wake-Up Call from Denzel Washington to Russell Hornsby
It was during a pivotal scene—one where Hornsby had planned a grand, emotional performance—that Denzel stepped in with some real talk.
“We were doing our last scene, you know, when Corey comes back,” Hornsby recalled. “And I had this huge thing I was going to do, and it was going to be just grand, and I was going to do all these tears… But it’s just not working. It’s just not hitting at all.”
Washington paused production and told everyone to break for lunch. When they returned, he pulled Hornsby aside and asked him one simple question: “What are you doing for him?”
“He said, ‘This isn’t about you. It’s about him. That’s your brother. You love him. You’ve lived your life. It’s about him.’” That shift in perspective changed Hornsby’s approach to acting forever.
“What he really taught me is it’s not about serving you. It’s about serving your scene partner. How can you help the person opposite you? If you’re there in service of them, all that other stuff is gonna happen because you’re tuning into what they need, not what you want.” Hornsby said that moment was a turning point—not just in that scene, but in his entire process as an actor.
“From that moment, I believe my acting just took it to another level because I stopped being selfish and I was there to say, ‘Whatever, what do you need? We can make that happen.’”
The lesson Denzel gave wasn’t about technique or delivery—it was about humility, presence, and the power of listening. For Hornsby, it wasn’t just great acting advice; it was great life advice.
More Than a Performance —A Philosophy
The Denzel moment was more than just great acting advice—it was a philosophy that Hornsby now carries into every role. As he told the Vibes & Views audience, acting isn’t about shining the brightest; it’s about showing up for your scene partner, serving the story, and putting ego aside.
That spirit of collaboration and humility was on full display at the event—and it’s exactly what makes Hornsby’s performances in “BMF” so compelling. He’s not just acting—he’s listening, supporting, and building something real with every scene he steps into. “BMF” episode 407 is out tomorrow on STARZ.
More On:Movies Vibes and Views