Shondalia White, taps in to her Michigan roots and captivates in her role as Karen Jones, the attorney for Terry Flenory on Starz’s breakout series BMF. The fictional story is loosely based on the real lives of the Flenory brothers from Detroit who created one of largest drug cartels in the United States, the Black Mafia Family.
With the debut season coming to an end this weekend, White speaks on the show, her acting career and so much more.
I love the BMF show, I thought it was dope how you decided to take back the case after Terry’s father insulted you. I’m excited to watch the finale this Sunday. Off stage, who is Shondalia?
A fun, down to earth, dance at a drop of a dime to a good song lady. Outside of being a stand-up comedian and acting I like to write… a multi-hyphenate woman.
How and when exactly did you realize you had a passion for acting?
Yeah, so it’s kind of funny. I never thought I would be an actress. I was an artist first. They had an acting program at my high school, but I didn’t take it because I was scared that I wouldn’t remember my lines. Following high school, I went to college and took voice acting. I used to mock commercials and films for the neighborhood. I always made people laugh. It was around that time when I realized it was always there. I then told myself I would never not do things out of fear. Once I started voice acting things begin to spiral for me. I was like whoa whoa whoa…
So, people saw it in you?
Yes, even the dudes I dated in the past said I was going to be an actor one day, probably because I was so dramatic.
What was the most difficult decision you had to make to pursue your destiny?
Going from working behind the scenes as an artist in animation to being in front. I had to make that step. I started from scratch and went out on faith. However, I’m a planner so I invested in a career coach.
What type of roles do you feel suit you best?
The type of role that suits me would be a combination of comedy and drama. BMF has a nice balance of both. It’s realistic and if they wanted to slide something funny in, they could. They became my family. They welcomed me to the set and Lucille is so sweet! Michole and Russell are in the majority of my scenes, both are veterans in the game and to be able to hold my own was fantastic.
That leads me to my next question, let’s talk about your role as Pastor Swift’s niece, Attorney Karen Jones. What skills did you need to develop to portray the role of Karen? How’d you prepare for the role?
I prepared by researching legal stuff, focusing primarily on malpractice suits because I am a lawyer. I consulted with other lawyers to better understand what happens in these suits. I’m a Michigander at heart, from Flint and lived in Detroit so I brought that to the table. I also took into consideration how black people are treated in the medical field. It’s like they don’t care about us. If you don’t stay on top of your stuff, you can be left for dead. They will hold something up on you because they messed up. She had a passion for the case, so I brought that with me.
She’s a no-nonsense lawyer and I’m a no-nonsense person. She’s also a hard-core Christian girl. She’s not going to go to crazy. Charles was trying to pull it out of her, but she kept it professional.
How was it working with Snoop and 50 Cent?
Snoop is so fun! He is such a fun person. I didn’t have any scenes with him this season, but he was a lot of fun to be around. 50 Cent is crazy professional. Not what you see on social media. He’s so professional, very welcoming and he made sure everyone welcomed me as well.
What was the most memorable moment you shared behind the scenes with the BMF Cast?
Honestly, it was the hair and wardrobe for me. I was like wow! The fashion was on point. My favorite moments had to be bonding with Michole, Russell and Da’Vinchi behind the scenes. The crew was awesome, everyone was dope, and you could feel the love.
What can the fans expect on the season finale?
Get ready for jaw dropping moments. Tasha really brought it this episode. Get ready for a lot. Also, pay attention to the overall message; everyone is struggling with values in pursuit of the American dream.
What’s next up for your career?
I have a lot of animated films coming up. One this month and two next year. One of them will be premiering next year on Netflix.
Anything else… Marriage… Kids?
No babies (laughing). Just looking forward to the holidays and for everyone to follow me on my journey. Also, they just picked up Season two! I don’t even know what’s going to happen but it’s happening.
BMF (Black Mafia Family) is an American crime drama television series, which follows the Black Mafia Family, a drug and money laundering organization. The season finale airs Sunday, November 21, 2021, at 9:00 pm et. on STARZ.
Treece Alves
