Every actor wants to make a change, but not everyone gets the chance. And it seems like Tory Devon Smith has gotten the golden ticket. He’s already making waves as flamboyant yet charming Valenté on BET’s Zoe Ever After and on August 12 we’ll see him as an “outrageous, off-kilter gangster” on Netflix’s The Get Down. We chatted with the actor about his mission as an actor, his consciously “boring” lifestyle and getting the pep talk from Brandy. Here are 10 things you should know about Tory Devon Smith.

He Decided to Become an Actor In the Church

Smith was about seven years old when he realized he really enjoyed visiting his foster grandmother’s church. “That’s where the spark happened for me, reciting Bible verses in Sabbath school,” he recalls over a phone call, “and then it ricocheted from there. Then I started getting involved with the school performances. I continued performing throughout high school. Then came the TV shows."

He Believes Hollywood’s On The Right Track

Smith has recently Instagrammed a series of Hollywood-related headlines that prove ethnicity is no longer an issue in the movie industry as all sorts of different actors were getting major parts in big projects. Does he actually think that Hollywood is finally getting diverse?

“I think so. I think there’s been a great outcry for diversity. People want to see themselves getting represented on screen. Especially in the explosion of the television, I think that we’re going through a renaissance in terms of TV. I remember a while ago there was nothing but reality TV; no great scripted series. It was all around the writers’ strike era. Now you see so many different and unique shows. That’s a very exciting time for diversity as well. Because diversity equals different stories of different people. Like Kerry Washington said: 'Heroes look like all of us.'”

He’s Happy Playing a Black Gay Character

Move over, Titus Andromedon: there’s a new black gay character on TV to steal your diamond-encrusted thunder. Tory’s breakthrough role is Valenté, assistant of Brandy’s Zoe Moon, on BET’s Zoe Ever After sitcom. “I think now we’re finally seeing black gay representation on television," he admits. "The majority of gay characters on TV are still white. And although people are saying that there’s too many gay characters on TV, that actually needs to happen. Because there needs to be an influence. Then people out there will know that it’s okay. And they won’t go into a club and shoot 50 innocent people because they’re internally struggling with their own homosexuality. If we have examples in the media, in community, in politics, then people will realize it’s okay. For so long it has been so taboo.”

Now He’s Playing an Aloof Gangster

Smith is about to cement his status as one of the most exciting newcomers on TV with the role in Baz Luhrmann-created Netflix musical/'70s drama series The Get Down, which premieres August 12. “I play Little Wolf. He’s a fictionalized gangster in the fictionalized mob of gangsters head by the matriarchal leader Fat Annie played by Lillias White. I’m the right hand man of Cadillac (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). Little Wolf was described to me as Joe Pesci’s character from The Good Fellas. He’s a short, loud, outrageous, funny, off-kilter, goofy, aloof gangster. Towards the end of the series he will have more responsibilities. I actually only received half of the scripts, so I’ll discover everything with the rest of the world.”

He Learned Confidence from Brandy

Working side by side with Brandy is a priceless master class. What exactly did he learn from his Zoe Ever After co-star? “I was having a hard time paying attention to a lot of the online criticism of myself. There would be things that popped up and judged me on my looks, my character, the fact that there are so many gays on TV. Brandy simply inspired me and told me, 'I’m an example of someone who survived the same thing for so many years.' So to have someone who is so much more popular than me telling me to stop paying attention meant a lot to me.”

He’d Love To Play James Baldwin

When asked about his dream roles, Tory makes a pretty bold choice. “I’d love to play James Baldwin in a movie or a play. Richard the III or Walter from A Raisin in the Sun. I’d like to do a lot of classic roles on stage.”

He Doesn’t Sing

“Singing? Oh Gosh, if I could sing, that’d be great! I am tone deaf. A secret dream of mine is to be in a Broadway play,” he divulges. But his own music palate is rather eclectic. “Usually I listen to a lot of Edith Piaf. I love to turn her on in the morning. I’m also really into Disclosure and Rudimental. I absolutely adore Kendrick Lamar. And of course I’m a huge Beyoncé fan.”

He’s Not A Party Guy

Don’t expect Smith to stay up late after filming is done and head to the nearest bar. “I’m sort of a boring person, so I stay home. I’m reading a lot, especially the classics that I haven’t read before. I’m reading Lolita right now. I’m also taking acting classes on my off-time.” Don’t offer him a drink either. “I’ve been clean and sober for the last four years. I keep myself very sane and in order to do so I keep myself pretty boring. But I do go to theaters and movies a lot. And I can’t resist a nice dinner with friends.”

He’s Naturally Fit

Given the fact that Zoe Ever After revolves around a cosmetics company, Tory has to know a thing or two of how to take good care of himself. “I’m sort of a naturally fit person. I’ve been very athletic my whole life. I walk a lot, I bike a lot. I do have a personal trainer and work out four times a week. I love to dance. It’s important to stay active. I want to be as active as I can even if I’m 90.”

He Like to Give Back to the Community

When he's not filming, Tory likes to get involved with charities. “I do want to become a foster care advocate. Mainly because I was a former foster kid, so later this month I’ll be going to LA Mission and volunteering there. They’re hosting a party for the kids on Skid Row and giving them school supplies.”