EXCLUSIVE: Brian Tyree Henry Chats His New Movie, ‘The Fire Inside’

Now in theaters, The Fire Inside follows the true story of female boxer, Claressa Shields. The story follows Claressa as she begins her boxing career as a high schooler in Flint, Michigan to the aftermath of her becoming the first American female to win an Olympic gold medal.

BB got the chance to hear from one of the stars of the new movie, Brian Tyree Henry. During his chat, he talked playing the role of Jason, working with his costar, Ryan Destiny, and so much more. Check out what he had to say below.

On how he came to play the role of Jason and what it means for him to play this character:

“I think every actor with their weight in salt looks for that moment where we get to actually play somebody that’s real, that’s actual living and breathing. But so rarely do you get a chance to do it where they’re still making history, where they’re still doing what they do. And much like them [his fellow cast members’, I did not know the story, unfortunately of Claressa and I remember getting the script and I was pissed. I was like, oh, well, why don’t I know that? And then I sat down, I was like, oh, I know why I don’t that. Okay, so how do we make sure people never forget it?

And I wanted to explore the kinship between Claressa and Jason. We so often see movies where we see boxers, men get in shape and do all this eat a can of tuna, and all of a sudden they’re like, girl, that is the best actors in the world. But this is an actual story of this young black woman from Flint, Michigan. Who went on to do something that no one has ever done after her. And probably won’t. It’s not gonna happen again. And I wanted to explore what that relationship was like with Jason because he is a character and a man that we so rarely see projected in Cinema.”

On his character Jason:

“He’s this mentor, this man that is still in Flint doing this for the kids, not for fame, not for fortune, but because it’s what he wants to do. And I know that I needed to see role models like that. Especially portrayed in cinema. I needed to feel like I was giving back to my mentors that did that for me.

Also, I didn’t have to train. So I was like, cool, I ain’t gotta do it. I ain’t gotta do what Claressa is doing. Great. But I really wanted to get into the heart of that, because truly the heart of this movie is about this champion being made that goes on and breaks all these different records and, you know, is still doing it. It’s still a story that’s living and breathing. Like the end title cards had to change like seven times. ‘Cause Claressa is still out here doing what she’s doing. That was really inspiring to me.

On working with his costar, Ryan Destiny, and the film’s director, Rachel Morrison:

“Just to be in the passenger seat with these two women was really intriguing to me. I had heard of Ryan Destiny for quite a while. And to be there to watch her star shine like this was really awesome for me. I was really excited about it. And I know Rachel’s work, but to actually see her with the director’s lens was also intriguing as well.”

On establishing the relationship between Claressa and Jason:

“Where to begin with Ryan Destiny? I was the newbie. They [the cast and crew] had been a part of this for a while and I wasn’t. I came in, I think, post COVID, you know? They were finally digging back in, having to pick up from where they left off. So technically that was a gift and a curse because I was like, ‘Well, now I have to go in and establish like who I am’. However, because of the documentary T-Rex, I will say there was a blueprint of what I was walking into.

And some of the greatest moments of that documentary are watching the two of them ring [side]. You know, like when he’s checking her grades or when they’re at home. ‘Cause their chemistry is something that I’ve never seen before between coach and athlete, especially male coach, female athletes, especially in boxing. But there was this amazing, amazing familiarity and familial tone between the two of them. And what you could always see is that they truly trusted each other. There was an absolute trust, like he knew he had the greatest fighting machine on the planet.

And she knew that she had one of the greatest coaches that was gonna see that. When you watch this documentary, you can truly see it. What I love about what Rachel did in this is that there are some shots from T-Rex that we put directly in the movie. We had to honor.

But then you meet Ryan, right? And then you are just like, ‘What is about to happen?’ She’s so sweet. She’s so bubbly. She’s just Ryan Destiny. Then you get in these scenes where you gotta put these pads on, and she’s like striking these things and you’re like, ‘What is going on?’ And that was my first day. I was like, Rachel didn’t say this is gonna be. And Ryan’s like, ‘No, you gotta put your hand up like this. Okay, now I’m gonna do”. She is so dedicated. She’s truly dedicated. Because look at who she’s playing. Right?

This is a real life you’re portraying. You have to really handle it with the care that it deserves. But what I really wanted was what happens in between takes. who are Ryan and I when the camera’s not rolling? Like what is she eating right now? I’m like, ‘What is she listening to?’ Like how can I make her laugh? Is she in her head too much? Am I in my head too much? It was really about those moments in between.

Our trailers were right next to each other. I was always at her door. I was always in her face. You know, she was eating protein all the time. I was eating Cheetos. But it was to have those moments so that it felt real. Because there were some moments in this movie where you watch Claressa and Jason have that crunch. And you watch them have that. And you have to take it there. You know, there’s a pivotal scene when Claressa runs away, and I’m driving through Flint trying to find her. I just remember knowing that that was gonna be a true feat for Ryan, because there’s no telling how many takes we had to do. But I had to embrace her. Really embrace her, find her, and hold her. And, you know, I don’t think we would’ve been able to establish that if we didn’t have that safety with one another, that care for one another. Like, I’ll ride for Ryan now. Anybody say something about Ryan, I’ll ride on you. And it should feel that way. Cause it felt like that between Claressa and Jason. I mean, you can see it. It’s undeniable. So I think for me, when you’re playing real people, and real situations, you have to be real with the person you’re playing it with. You just have to bring that. So I’m really glad that Ryan was open to that. I’m really glad I didn’t irk her nerves too much.”

On what he hopes people will take away from being able to see this relationship between Claressa and Jason that may be so different from what has been seen in other films about boxing??

“That’s real, though. Like, that’s really a big deal. Because I just think about my coaches and the people who saw me. You know, when I was running around not knowing what I wanted to be in this world. And, like, those people who believed that in you and see that in you, you have to listen to them. It’s living proof We’re living proof of it.

And I hope that those mentors and those trainers and those people know that about themselves. So that’s why I really wanted to make sure this movie was made. Cause I feel like he needed to see that, for himself, and, you know, and believe that.”

On if this role made him reconsider anything in his own life experiences:

“Working with Ryan again. It’s good. In a good way. No, it’s crazy because I didn’t think I was in a place in my career to feel like I was in a position to mentor anyone or show anyone. I just show up and I just didn’t think. But Ryan reminded me all the time that she was watching me, and that she wanted to pick my brain about stuff. And I was like, ‘Okay.’ I don’t know what I can really. But, I would work with her a million times over. Or just to be in the corner to watch her. Because it’s insane that when you se somebody’s star rising and they’re just in it, and they don’t really know. You know what I mean? And so I’m like, looking at her. And I was like, “She has no clue.” No idea what’s coming for her, man. No idea. And to me, that’s really why this movie is so special.

I may give her a hard time all the time, but she has no clue what lies ahead for her. And so it was one of the best gifts I got, to watch this young woman go up and, like, live in her body and be who she is and embody Claressa. Like, this is a task that thousands of other women wanted, and she got it. And she did it, you know? And so, like, I don’t know. Just to be a fly on the wall to watch Ryan, like, ascend the way that she’s ascending was truly the biggest gift for me.

On what he told herself to get into the fighter’s mindset when he was on the set of this film:

“Gratitude was a big part. Because when am I ever gonna say that I was standing next to an Olympic, like, boxing ring watching a flag come down because this black woman just won the gold medal? And getting to do it take after take. And, take after take, I was sobbing. Every time the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ would come on and you would see Ryan as Claressa cheese-ing, holding this gold medal. I would just start crying. I’m like, this really happened. Like, this really, really, really, really happened.

There are so many moments of gratitude where I was, like, they’re walking down the hallways, and you see the banners for the Olympics, you know? And you see, like, just wearing my T-Rex t-shirt, you know? But also having those moments we’re in the bowling ring, having to sell the shirt. Like, it was such a gratitude. Because, like, at the end of the day, what I loved about this story is, like, Claressa just feels like family. Like, she feels like somebody I grew up with. She feels like somebody I would’ve sat at the lunch table with. Like, she just feels home, right?

And to watch that be actualized on screen, and to watch her to go prom, and to watch her have the school, I mean, it was a charge, man. It was a charge every single day. And I was emotional. I got really emotional in places I shouldn’t have been emotional. I was like, you ain’t supposed to cry here. Jason ain’t crying at this point. But I was just so grateful to know that that happened and that I was able to walk those halls and be in those places to watch this champion, you know, be made, and it was truly just gratitude. A well of gratitude.”

On what message does he hope audiences will take away from The Fire Inside:

“If you think you know what it’s like to truly get back up, step into a ring and get in the head once. Like for real. I thought, like, when I went into this, I was like, at some point, Ryan’s gonna get hit. I remember thinking that. I was like, at some point, Ryan’s gonna get hit. I didn’t have to worry about that. And I was like, ‘Cool, all right.’ But, no, truly, like, what’s the proverb of like, it’s not how many times you fall, it’s how many times you get back up, right? But, like, in boxing, you get hit. That’s what it is. So, like, what do you do when that first hit happens? How do you come back? How do you strike back? You have to take your licks in boxing.

But what I love about that is all about the resilience. The elasticity of who you are. To actually get back in the ring. People don’t know this, but getting in the ring in and of itself is hard. Which rope to go in, how to jump in and out. Then when you’re in there, you’re in there. And I think that’s a beautiful metaphor for who we are as a people, for the city that Claressa’s from, for who she is. For women in boxing and sports, period. Women, period. The resilience. And so, you know, take your licks, but at the same time, you know, like, there is a resilience that comes from that. There is a strength that comes from that. And give it to them just as hard as they gave it to you.”

The Fire Inside in now in theaters nationwide.

Photo Credit: Stewart Cook/Amazon MGM Studios via Getty Images

*This interview has been edited for length and clarity