The Mother Brain Files Underrated Actors Special: Jeffrey Wright

When I saw the remake/reboot of Shaft in 2000, I admired the all-star cast of Samuel L. Jackson, Vanessa Williams, Busta Rhymes, and Christian Bale just to name a few. But the real breakout star of the movie was this actor I knew nothing about named Jeffrey Wright who was playing this Scarface-esque drug dealer and his scenes had far more impact than the majority of the film. Four years later, I saw him speak at the American Black Film Festival where he was interviewed by Elvis Mitchell. Unlike the part he played in Shaft, I found Jeffrey Wright to be articulate and fascinating to listen to as he discussed his craft and his passion for creating memorable characters.