Taylor Polidore Williams said she found herself as surprised by the developments in Tyler Perry’s Netflix drama Beauty in Black as viewers have been, describing the series’ scripts as consistently shocking and full of swift, dramatic turns.
Speaking to Decider during a studio visit a day before the first part of Season 2 premiered, Williams said the cast receives all of the scripts in advance and films in a manner she called “unique,” which left her digesting large tonal and narrative shifts at once. "As I was reading them, I’m like, ‘What? What?’ I’m so shocked,’" Williams said, summarizing her reaction to Season 2 material.
The show picks up from Season 1’s cliffhanger, in which Kimmie, an exotic dancer who marries Horace Bellarie (Ricco Ross), assumes control of the Bellarie family’s Beauty in Black cosmetics empire. The first eight minutes of Season 2, which Netflix released shortly before Williams’s interview, end with Kimmie introducing herself to the Bellarie family as “Mrs. Bellarie” and taking a seat at the head of the company.
Williams said the rapid transformation of her character — from underdog to corporate leader — offered her a rare acting opportunity. "As an artist, as an actor, getting to have a character where there’s such a transformative evolution ... the CEO of the company is just like a dream come true," she said, adding that the compressed timeline between seasons allowed her to play multiple facets of Kimmie in quick succession.
Season 2 raises the stakes within the Bellarie household. Williams identified Mallory, played by Crystle Stewart, as Kimmie’s chief rival this season, saying the pair are “gunning for the same thing.” She described a marked shift from Season 1, when the two actresses’ storylines ran in parallel; Season 2 brings them into direct confrontation for the first time. "Season 2 was our first time having these face-offs, and I was like, this is so fun," Williams said, characterizing the on-screen showdowns as both surprising and exhilarating.
The series continues to explore collateral storylines introduced in Season 1. Williams declined to disclose whether the character Angel, who was framed for a carjacking at the end of Season 1, will secure his freedom in Season 2, but confirmed he remains part of the season. She also hinted at expanded involvement from Officer Alex (Bryan Tanaka), whom other characters assign to be Kimmie’s driver and monitor; Williams described Alex as a "layered" figure who could be an ally, but left audiences to judge for themselves.
Williams, who previously worked with Perry on Tyler Perry’s Divorce in the Black, said returning to Perry’s creative circle has deepened the trust between actor and director. She noted that repeated collaboration created more space for play and risk on set. "The more times you get to collaborate with somebody, the deeper the trust goes," she said.
Fans and critics have drawn comparisons between Beauty in Black and the HBO drama Succession because both focus on family-run empires and intra-family power struggles. Williams said she was honored by the comparison and cited familial dysfunction and corporate jockeying as the common threads, while emphasizing that Beauty in Black stands on its own narrative footing.
Veteran performers including Debbi Morgan and Richard Lawson co-star in the series. Williams described working with them as an opportunity to absorb industry wisdom and to receive direct affirmation from established peers. She called the broader cast a tight-knit ensemble, saying off-camera camaraderie helps bolster performances in high-tension scenes.
Outside of Beauty in Black, Williams said she executive produced and starred in a short film aimed at raising awareness about endometriosis, which she said is personal to her. The short is being submitted to festivals with hopes of a wider audience next year.
Williams also said she would be open to additional projects connected to shows she has guest-starred on, including a spinoff from FX’s Snowfall centered on Gail Bean and Isaiah Johns’ characters. She described the period-set pilot as an intriguing prospect and said she would join if asked.
On the broader future of Beauty in Black, Williams expressed hope for another season but emphasized that continuation depends on decisions beyond her control. She encouraged viewers to watch Season 2, Part 1, which Netflix has released, without confirming whether a Season 3 is planned.
Beauty in Black’s second season continues to expand the world of the Bellarie family while deepening personal and political entanglements introduced in the first season. Williams’s account of the scripts and the production approach offers audiences a glimpse into how the show’s rapid tonal shifts are conceived and performed, even as many plot outcomes remain tightly guarded until their on-screen reveal. Season 2, Part 1 is now streaming on Netflix.