Laila Pruitt Is a Passionate Star on the Rise

Laila Pruitt is poised to take the TV and film industry by storm. As a child actor, she was introduced to the screen very young. Yet, her current breakout role has catapulted her star to new heights, and she continues to shine brighter. We sat down with Laila for a hilarious girl’s chat about her role in the critically acclaimed BMF series, acting career, HBCU student life, balance, self-care, and her vision for the future. 

Who is Laila Pruitt? She is a vivacious, talented actress from the Metro Atlanta area; Snellville, Georgia, to be exact. The county she lived in did not offer a performing arts high school, so she attended Parkland high school and took acting classes at an independent studio. Until she arrived at college, she had only been exposed to film acting. Now, she is studying theatre specifically. Pruitt recalled how her acting journey began. 

Mhonaé: Did acting choose you, or did you choose acting?

Pruitt: It definitely chose me. I didn’t know anything about it initially. I started when I was five. My grandmother sent my picture to a few agencies, and one of them picked me up, and I auditioned for the Haribo gummy bear commercial and booked it. I really liked the vibe on set, so I have just been chasing to get back on set ever since. That is how it happened. I didn’t get deeper into the craft of acting, writing, directing, and all of that until later in life. 

At age five, an adorable Pruitt humored audiences with her famous line, “That’s why you make the big bucks.” The debut role in the Haribo commercial sparked an everlasting joy that she was eager to feel again. It was confirmation that acting was her purpose. She went on to book a featured extra role in the drama Flight starring the incomparable Denzel Washington. She was 10 years old, witnessing the execution of the art form on an entirely different level. It was an amazing experience that taught her so much and drove her to continue auditioning. 

Pruitt has since starred in a couple of shorts and the TV series Everything’s Gonna Be Okay. In 2022, she received roles in the Paramount+ original movie Secret Headquarters and the TV movie Rolling into Christmas. Yet, the highlight of her career is her breakout role as Nicole Flennory in the critically acclaimed drama series BMF which she obtained in 2021. She has been captivating audiences throughout two seasons. 

Mhonaé: Tell me about your character Nicole Flennory in BMF and how she has evolved in season 2.

Pruitt: Nicole is the little sister of Meech and Terry Flennory, two infamous drug dealers and legends in the hip-hop game. She has been growing up in season 2. When first introduced in season 1, she was a spunky, sassy kid following her mom and brothers. Now in season 2, she has a job and is handling her own responsibilities and trying to keep the family together while they all fray and spread apart. She’s trying to hold it all together. So it’s been fascinating to watch her grow and try to be the adult as the youngest person in the family.

Mhonaé: What is your process for tapping into this character?

Pruitt: I’m very musically inclined, so I make playlists to get into my different roles. I made a whole playlist for Nicole. It has all 80s rap like NWA, Tupac, Biggie, and various artists. That gets me into that mindset away from who I am. I did a lot of research on BMF as a whole. Before filming, I looked up what I could about the family.

Pruitt (cont.): There wasn’t much information on who they were, but luckily Nicole Flenorry is still alive, and we speak to this day. I ask her about who she was and how she would have reacted to different situations in the script. So, it’s incredible to get to talk to her. It’s just a lot of communication. I think about how I would react to a situation and then how Nicole would react to a situation, and I see if there are any parallels. Usually, some of the magic happens when there are parallels.

Mhonaé: What do you hope to get out of Nicole for season 3?

Pruitt: In season 3, the family is inevitably going to splinter because, as we know, Meech goes to Atlanta, and Terry stays in Detroit. Also, Charles and Lucille go through their situation. Nicole will be a little older, so we will see Nicole continuing to find herself. Yet, in the ark of her trying to save the family, I hope to see her accept that she needs to put herself first and try to heal what she’s going through instead of only prioritizing the entire family because she’s the youngest. She is still in grade school and is watching all these things happen around her, so she deserves time to be selfish.

Mhonaé: What have you taken away from the experience of being a part of BMF?

Pruitt: So much! The one thing I have taken away is that listening is so much more valuable than speaking. The people that I have as castmates, Ms. Michole White, Mr. Russell Hornsby, and even Da’Vinchi, are such amazing people to learn from on and off-screen. I listen a lot! Mr. Hornsby has poured into me a lot. 

Pruitt (cont.): Now that I am in theatre acting at school, I’m always bringing stuff back to set, telling him about it, and figuring out how to incorporate it in the scenes. He gets super excited, so we go back and forth because we’re both passionate about the craft. So, it’s awesome to sit back, listen, and ask people questions. Being a sponge and learning is the biggest takeaway, and I am thrilled to have had this experience with all of them.

The first two seasons of BMF are available on the STARZ app. Congratulations are in order for the cast and creators of the series who were recently greenlighted for season four. Filming for season three has already been completed, and fans are desperately awaiting its premiere. Pruitt has been coming into her own as an actress. With talent and hustle came new opportunities, and with new opportunities came success and fame. Still, she has managed to stay humble and focused. When the grind gets tough, she remains motivated. 

Mhonaé: What keeps you motivated in such a cutthroat industry?

Pruitt: The support system around me, for sure. This industry tends to sneak up on you in a negative way if you let it. If you have a sound support system around you, it helps. Both of my parents, my friends, and my brother have poured into me for so long. I go to them when in doubt, or I remind myself, ‘This is what I want, and I’m going for it.’

Pruitt (cont.): I feel like you need that in this industry. You must have some agency and self-confidence that you can do this, and you can. That’s how I deal with it. I look within or go to the people who have poured into me.

Pruitt’s tenacity is compelling. The 19-year-old is navigating a successful career and college life. She is true to the red, white, and indigo blue as a proud student at the illustrious Howard University. Dedicated to her passion, she is majoring in Theatre Acting. She desires a deeper understanding of her craft, intrigued by how a production comes together on camera and behind the scenes. Pruitt utilizes what she learns in class on set. She was real about balancing a demanding weekly schedule and the self-care routine that serves her.

Mhonaé: How do you balance a full-time college schedule and being a full-time actress?

Pruitt: I don’t feel you have to sacrifice one for the other unless you feel compelled to. You can be a student while also being a professional. Of course, you have to work harder and make some sacrifices, but you can execute them both simultaneously. So having a “can do” attitude as your backbone and having something grounding you and reminding you that you can seriously do it counts.

Pruitt (cont.): For me, that is prayer, listening to sermons, podcasts, and reading my bible daily. It keeps me centered on what is real in my life. I also have my calendar with me consistently. I am writing things down constantly and communicating with people. Keeping everything organized, including my brain and my space, and having my ducks all in a row is the main thing that keeps me balanced.

Mhonaé: What forms of self-care do you utilize to be the best version of yourself daily?

Pruitt: Self-care, to me, comes in minimal actions. Sometimes I might not have enough time in the day to go through a whole skincare routine or paint my nails but self-care to me looks like ‘Grab that cupcake if you want it. Grab that slice of pizza if you want it. Treat yourself!’

Pruitt (cont.): It’s even ‘Go to bed at 10 o’clock. Just do it because you should. You don’t have to stay up until 1 a.m. doing homework tonight. It’s okay.’ So, it consists of stuff like that where I know I have to work hard but realize that I also need to relax. So, I get that pizza, eat those fries, and go to bed early. That is my self-care. Sometimes it is really that simple.

The product of a hardworking family, Pruitt appreciates the grind but exercises grace. She stands on the foundation of HBCU pride and values that will carry her throughout her life. Her southern charm and infectious smile brighten any room that she walks in. With God as the author, her success story has only just begun, and she is looking forward to the exciting new chapters that will illustrate her career, education, and lifelong pursuit of happiness. And we are rooting heavily for this queen! As the interview concluded, Pruitt elaborated on her future dreams and advised aspiring actresses of the lessons she learned.

Mhonaé: What more would you like to accomplish in your career?

Pruitt: My mom and I always say I would be blessed to work consistently at the highest levels. I don’t care about being famous. I just want to work successfully at the highest levels the Lord has in store for me. On a more specific note, I would love to play a superhero or supervillain. 

Pruitt (cont.): I would also like to play someone really smart, like The Social Network or a superhero movie where the character is very smart but lacks social skills. I love that type of character, and we don’t see a lot of black female actresses playing those roles. So, I just want to push those walls down and play characters people are surprised by. 

Mhonaé: What advice do you have for other young aspiring actresses?

Pruitt: Stay consistent. Be a sponge. Never shy away from learning or having a new experience; prioritize balance. Plus, there is great value in discernment, knowing when the right time is to do things.

Laila Pruitt is a passionate star on the rise!