Does rising star Bryshere Gray credit his new-found fame to big screen veteran Will Smith? According to the Philly native, it was Smith’s words of wisdom that gave Gray the push he needed to pursue his big Hollywood dreams.
“[He tells me] to stay strong, keep the realness, stay truthful to your character, stay truthful to yourself, and keep your family around you,” the “Empire” star recently told People. “Keep God first.”
In fact, Gray, who rose to fame on Fox “Empire,” a hip-hop drama, which follows a music mogul who must choose between his three sons who are battling for control over his multi-million dollar company, while his ex-wife schemes to get what’s hers, says that his biggest influence has always been the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” alum. “He excelled in music and acting and modeling at such a young age,” the actor, 22, says. “I think I can do that too.”
Don’t let his brand new fame fool you. Gray reveals that he stays grounded with the help of his mom, grandmother and manager. “They keep me focused and centered,” he says. “They remind me of where I came from, because I know sometimes, people can forget where they come from. It’s all about remembering your stepping stones. It’ll add to you.”
It hasn’t always been easy though. Growing up in an one-parent home, Gray has had his share of roadblocks to get where here he is today. “If you’re having trouble with getting to where you need to get to … you’ve got to just stay on it, don’t be discouraged,” says Gray. “I mean, sometimes I felt discouraged but I woke up the next day and I said, ‘I’m going to keep going.’ If I didn’t have a show, I would make a show. I’ll go out in public and perform. You just gotta do it! Don’t ask for handouts. Go get it!”
Of course, “Empire” is just the beginning for Gray, aka Yazz the Greatest, whose set to appear in an new untitled biopic in 2017. Although there are slim to no details surrounding the project, we anticipate great things from Hakeem.
