Michole Briana White is having a moment. Known to millions as Lucille Flenory on Starz’s hit series “BMF,” the Chicago native is channeling her success into something deeply personal: reconnecting with the city that raised her. Her first large-scale public event in Chicago — a watch party for the show that changed her career — represents more than just a celebration. It’s a homecoming with purpose.
“I’m like, why didn’t I do this years ago?” White reflects on bringing her success back to Chicago. The actress, who has spent years in the entertainment industry, credits “BMF” as a turning point in her career. Playing a real person — someone she can actually call and ask questions — has transformed her approach to the craft. The real Lucille Flenory has become like family, adding layers of authenticity to a role that resonates deeply with viewers.
But White isn’t content with just acting success. With two singles already streaming — “Miss Tang” and “Mother Earth Is Dying” (featuring Doodlebug from Digable Planets) — and an EP dropping soon, she’s expanding her artistic footprint. Add to that two recurring roles on upcoming shows she can’t yet discuss and a film called Cheapwell, and it’s clear White is building momentum across multiple fronts. Her approach to success, however, remains rooted in lifting others, particularly Chicago artists, as she rises.
What inspired you to bring this watch party moment home to Chicago and why now?
It just popped into my head. I’ve been wanting to do things more at home for some time and the opportunity just presented itself. I have my wonderful publicist, Clarissa Wright-Thomas, who was very encouraging about the idea and we just kind of put two and two together and started this whole thing. I’m just really excited to have begun this process and I look forward to doing more of it.
How has playing Lucille on “BMF” shaped you personally and professionally?
Playing Lucille has shaped me personally because just this show itself has changed my life in so many ways. I’ve been in the business for a very long time and this has definitely been a turning point for me in my career by getting “BMF.” I’ve never played someone who’s alive, a real person that I can actually talk to and ask questions about who they are. What did you think about this? What made you do this or where were you at this time or whatever, and it’s been amazing.
The real Lucille feels like family to me. I was hoping that she would come tonight but she actually sent me a beautiful note saying why she couldn’t. But it’s a very special role. It’s a very special show and I’m really thankful to be a part of all of it.
What does it mean to you to celebrate this moment with the city that raised you?
I don’t know if I could even put it into words but I’m like so freaking excited right now. I’m just like, “Why didn’t I do this like years ago?” It’s like this is your home and this is where people love and will embrace you. I’m just so happy to be back. I mean, I come back all the time but not in this way and I’m really happy to lift other people up here in Chicago.
So, it’s really nice to have all these other Chicago actors here and just other artists in general people that are working on other shows here in Chicago and just to kind of hype them up too. It’s like “let’s build up our community” and I’m really excited about that.
How are you using your platform to uplift your hometown community and how will you inspire the next generation of artists coming from Chicago?
I think I just have to keep doing what I’m doing and keep telling people that I’m from Chicago. It’s interesting because I used to have an issue, and sometimes I still do, but just a problem with allowing your light to shine and not dimming my light.
And I realize now that when I allow my light to shine, I help to open the door for others and inspire others to allow their light to shine and sometimes it feels like, “Oh no, I don’t want to be too big” because I feel like it will make someone feel uncomfortable or I might lose love because of it or whatever. But, really, the more you allow your light to shine the more you create space for other people.
And so, even if other people might be uncomfortable for a time, just to really allow that space to be okay right now. Because by allowing your light to shine, you’re serving the greater good of all and I have to keep reminding myself of that. So, it’s like you just keep going. That’s how I would inspire myself.
What do you do for self-care during quiet times?
I do love a good spa. I’m going to talk about the infrared room because it boosts your immune system. It’s just good, it’s great for your skin, it’s great for balancing out your weight and stuff like that and it’s just really good for you all the time. So, I really love to do that. I meditate, I also do energy work. I do integrated energy therapy, which is very similar to Reiki and that has really changed my life and my career and everything actually. So, that really balances me out by doing that. So, I give myself attunements and when I’m around other people and I’m able to give energy or give love and light I really try to share that in everything I do.
Why is it important for you to share that light?
I think it’s necessary because it’s like when you receive a gift, it’s very important to share the gift. When you share the gift, it solidifies the gift for you as well as inspiring someone else. So, it’s really important to pay it forward because it’s serving the greater good of all.
What can people expect from you in the future?
Oh yeah, lots of things are coming up next. So, I have two recurring roles on two different shows that I can’t even talk about right now but I’m going to tell you that much so there you go. And I’m also in a film called Cheapwell that I’m really excited about. It’s a wonderful role and really wonderful but it’s going to be coming out soon I think. What else can I tell you? And then I have two singles that are out now.
One is called “Miss Tang” and you can find it on all streaming platforms. I’m really excited about that. They just played it on WVON and I’m just beside myself with that. That song was produced by my dear friend Rob Mullins and we co-created the song together. And then I have another song out called “Mother Earth is Dying” with Doodlebug from Digable Planets. Remember Doodlebug? I’m cool like that, all that.
They just had this resurgence of their music and their music is awesome but Doodlebug is awesome and it’s also with AD Empire. So, the three of us, the four of us, AD Empire is two brothers, Adrian and Lucas. And anyway we all collaborated, co-wrote the song together and with DJ Skill Spins is on it as well and they just played it on, I think it’s Access Hollywood or it’s the smaller version of that but it’s with the same host.
They just gave us a shout out and anyway it’s amazing. They show my face on the video and I’m like, “What?” So, it’s called “Mother Earth is Dying.” It’s on all streaming platforms and you can look it up under any of our names but under my name is under Michole White. Normally, I go under Michole Briana White, that’s where “Miss Tang” is but look for it and you find it but they’re two really great songs and I have an EP coming out really soon too so look for that and that should be coming out next month. And I just sang on “BMF.”
Why is Black music so important now more than ever?
Why is Black music so important now more than ever? Black music is always important. Black music is healing and we are definitely in some trying times now where we need to heal from a lot of different things. I won’t get into politics and all that kind of stuff. That’s not really my bag, but it’s really scary what’s happening in the country and all of that stuff right now. But it’s an important time for music period, to uplift us all and yeah and it’s an important time for music because I’m making some.
