Rome Flynn reflects on his journey, Viola Davis and portraying Frank Lucas

Rome Flynn is carving out his place in Hollywood as an undeniable talent. His journey began not on a grand stage, but in the humble confines of his childhood home, where he would entertain family members with a variety of accents. It was in those small moments that a love for storytelling was born, a passion he fully embraced at the age of 22 when he made the bold decision to move to Los Angeles to pursue acting. Despite the challenges and uncertainty, he felt the support of his family, which helped fuel his determination.

Growing up, Flynn was captivated by sitcoms and comedic icons like the Wayans Brothers and Will Smith. “As an actor now, I appreciate his versatility,” Flynn says of Will Smith, who inspired him early on. That same appreciation has shaped Flynn’s approach to roles that showcase range and emotional depth.

One of Flynn’s most surreal moments came when he saw himself on television for the first time. During his run on How to Get Away with Murder, he would host watch parties, celebrating his progress with loved ones. While working on the show, he recalls initially being unsure of how to address Viola Davis on set. Initially, calling her “Mrs. V” until she encouraged him to just call her Viola. That was a moment of ease for Rome as they would share intense scenes with one another. Their shared scenes eventually helped him feel that he had earned her respect as a fellow actor.

Flynn’s pride in his Afro-Latinidad shines through his work. His role on Amazon’s With Love was a pivotal opportunity to represent his Latino roots. “I love taking on projects that represent the world around you,” he shares, emphasizing the importance of authentic representation in storytelling.

Another role that marked a milestone in his career was portraying Frank Lucas in the latest season of Godfather of Harlem. “Playing Frank was a gift,” Flynn says. “As an actor, it’s always a dream come true to play an actual person.” Understanding that his version of Lucas preceded the infamous years portrayed by Denzel Washington in American Gangster, Flynn approached the role with fresh eyes: “I get to see Frank as a blank canvas and carve out why he becomes who he becomes.”

Outside of acting, Flynn finds peace and focus in basketball, which he describes as “therapy.” The sport grounds him, fuels his competitive spirit, and helps him strive for excellence in every aspect of life. That competitive spirit allowed him to get the MVP award at the recent NBA Celebrity All Star Game with many online praising his basketball skills, but that competitive spirit lives on in all aspects of his life, where he truly wants to be great, he understands that often he can be the underdog and embraces the challenge in anything he does.

As for the future? Flynn isn’t too concerned. “Whatever God has in store for me is cool. All I know is that I’m going to work hard.” With undeniable talent and grounded determination, Rome Flynn is poised for greatness. Catch his compelling performance now on Godfather of Harlem, streaming on MGM+.