It’s a transformation that could easily feel implausible, yet in Williams’s hands,
it feels fully lived-in. When she first connected with creator and director Tyler Perry
(House of Payne and The Haves and the Have Nots), about the role, she was
determined to understand the full trajectory of the story. “I was nervous at first,” she admits.
“I needed to know where the story was going because it felt so big.”
That clarity ultimately became essential to her process. “Once he walked me through what was
coming, especially into the second season, I was instantly excited. I realized this journey was
going to be incredible.” Rather than rushing Kimmie’s transformation, Williams approaches it
with restraint, allowing the character to grow into her new reality in a way that feels earned
rather than performed.
From season one to two, we see a dramatic transformation from Kimmie; Williams used her costume and fragrance choices to embody the character’s evolution. “The perfume helped me feel richer and more confident,” she says. “Costume played a huge role too. In season one, Kimmie’s world was the strip club and a rundown motel. By season two, she’s moving into offices and mansions, and her wardrobe shifts to suits and heels, which really helped me step into her new life.”
“Kimmie is just as shocked as me and the viewers,” she adds, laughing at the series’ twists.
Behind the scenes, the pace of filming a Tyler Perry production requires intense preparation. “At Tyler Perry Studios, we’ll shoot 16 episodes in two weeks; production moves really fast.” Scripts are provided in advance, allowing the cast to understand the full story arc before filming begins.
“We’re given all 16 episodes up front, so I kind
of approach the script like a
play. As soon as
we step on set, it’s go time”
Williams began building that discipline early while studying Mass Media Arts
with a concentration in Film at Clark Atlanta University. “Some of the best training an
actor can get comes from real-world experiences. Seeing how people navigate challenges, joy,
and everything in between — that’s what I bring to my characters,” she says.