Soulpreneur and ‘Ruthless’ Star Michelle Nunez

Michelle Nunez lives to tell stories both on and off the screen.

From acting and producing music to traveling across the world and advocating for mental health, Nunez is filled with an array of inspiration that she loves to share with others. Although she may not be a household name yet, her journey is just beginning.

Currently, Nunez stars as Zane in Tyler Perry’s BET show Ruthless, a spinoff of the hit series The Oval. She is also a proud supporter of the LGBTQ community and recently came out publicly as pansexual. Hoping to break down barriers, Nunez hopes to bring more pan representation to film and media.

Nunez was able to take some time away from her busy schedule to answer some questions for OUT FRONT.Hi, Michelle! Thank you for taking some time to chat with me. How are you doing during these unprecedented times?
I have been 50/50. I have been listening to a lot more audiobooks and spending a lot more time with myself. I feel like on one spectrum, I have a lot more introspective and understanding of me as a person, but also, it is handling a lot of new things. All the issues and the society that have arisen in the last year, it seems very demanding for each of us personally. Just in that sense, finding out where I stand and how I can contribute to society in a way that is beneficial to all while also keeping my sanity. So, I have really been teeter-tottering between the two. My meditation practice, it was nonexistent for a month after being in my life for six years, and I realized it was everything that had to do with this year. It pulled me right out of it, and I realized the way I can contribute is by sticking to the thing that makes me sane, which is sitting, breathing, and being with myself. Yeah, it has been 50/50. Like whoa, but the other part is like, I can take this time and really zone in.

I am glad you are doing well. Now, you star as Zane in BET’s Ruthless. Without giving too much away, can you tell us more about the show and your character?
The show is intense! Like the most intense role I have ever had in my whole life, and it is an emotional roller coaster. Without giving too much away, it’s tough, but the topics that we talk about and specifically what Zane goes through in the season coming up in November, she goes through the crazy shift where she has to learn to be courageous. She is the youngest one in this cult, she has no family, there is nowhere else for her to go, so it is very intense in the sense that this is all that she knows and she is really committed to being here. So, when people start leaving her, it gets more and more intense. Overall, the show’s tone is bordering, it’s not scary, but when you watch a show and you put yourself inside these character’s shoes, it is mind-blowing.

Why should audiences watch Ruthless?
Because it’s different. It’s something that doesn’t seem to be tapped into yet, and it’s from the mind of Tyler Perry. Going from writing a comedy like Brothers and Sisters to a show like Ruthless which is number one on BET+, having a show like this come from the Madea master is inspiring. He is obviously a Black man, super successful, has his own studios, just got another People’s Choice Award, and Ruthless not only shows diversity and representation for Brown and Black people on screen, but it allows us to tell this story that is very similar to Jim Jones, the white cult leader from the 70s. Ruthless kind of takes a twist on that story and a bunch of others, and it is mind bending.

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What do you enjoy the most about working on this show?
Honestly, the people I have met. I have become so close with my cast; they are my family now. Someone is coming to visit me from Atlanta in November, and some of the girls who live here in L.A. with me, we hang out. The girl who plays Lacey and I are super close, so I am honestly most grateful for that. I am still pretty new to L.A. I haven’t really been here for a year yet, then COVID happened and I left, so I definitely have not been here for a year. So, having friends is really nice, especially having gone through this quarantine bubble together.

Have you always had a passion for acting?
Truthfully, I started acting 2-3 years ago. Like, the beginning of 2018. I started acting in Florida for two years, then I moved to L.A. late last year. Prior to that, no. I was writing blogs for music festivals, yoga stuff, and managing social media accounts. It was a very different reality. One day, I just took an acting class in Florida, and I got cast in this high-profile play in St. Petersburg. I met the best actors, and that experience alone was like wow, I need to keep digging into this and see what comes of it.You recently decided to come out publicly as pansexual. Do you hope to bring more pan representation to film and media?
Yes. Technically, I came out on socials. I have already been out for years, and it felt appropriate at this time. It felt appropriate for me to say hey, by the way. And most people already know this about me. My friends know, my sister knows, but this was a moment where it felt hard. This isn’t something I can just be scared of because my mom or someone is going to judge me. My mom commented on that post with hearts, like that was the kind of approval I hoped for.

And I definitely want to bring awareness. Just in the last year of doing research on pansexuality and seeing Brendon Urie, Miley Cyrus, Janelle Monáe, all these people coming out. This was a term I didn’t even know was a thing maybe 1-2 years ago. Doing research on it, I was just like, this is me. They have a word for it. So, now I have my Pan Pride sticker on my car. This is it!

Outside of acting, you are a soulpreneur. Can you talk more about that?
Definitely! I studied yoga and meditation for a year, and I was just sticking to that for a while. I love being in a space of healing with other human beings. Whether that be yoga, meditation, breathing together, or honestly, just talking. I have some different sort of ideas that I am working with a business coach on about expanding that area of my life further. I spent two years of my life intensely studying Eastern based yoga and really digging deep into a meditation which I now do every single day, and I am talking about yin yoga. Not like hot, sweaty yoga which I used to teach. So, I am excited because I know working with my business coach who is also like a soupreneur, there are good things coming from that.

Why is mental health so important, especially in the LGBTQ community?
Not to get too personal, but people very immediate to me and my family, I don’t want to say suffer, they don’t suffer from it, but it is just a reality of existence right now in their lives. Mental health is something that is strong and known. You know yourself, and I think it is so important that we are aware, awake, and compassionate toward all these things. Everyone experiences anxiety and depression. A couple weeks ago, I was depressed for a day and half. I didn’t want to get out of bed, I forced myself to go surf with my friends, and I was miserable sitting on my board the whole time. There is something there. It is not just a few chosen who are experiencing all this. This has to be normalized and we cannot be afraid to talk about it. We need to be aware and cognizant of what is happening to people, especially the ones who are the closest to you. I feel that it is wrong to not be aware of mental health.

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What are some tips and advice you can offer to help people who never take a breather and are constantly on the go?
Wow. Honestly, that is literally me. One day, I didn’t leave my bed and I was kind of feeling shitty about it. Throughout the day, I watched like two children’s movies on Netflix. They fed my soul, and other than that, I just layed in bed. For me, there’s that voice that is going to be like, you need to get up. You need to do shit. That thing that is always talking is like the judge. Personally, for me, the best way I found to combat it, even though sometimes I stray away from it, is meditation and sitting. Let those thoughts go through. So, I was sitting in my bed for 7-8 hours. I’m like, I hear you, but my body does not want to get up. So, I just watched films. I woke up the next day and felt awesome. I had an audition and did my things. Like, this is good. This is why I needed that day. I think the biggest thing about taking a breather is realizing that it is not bad. We need it. It’s called balance. My aunt would always tell me this growing up. Balance is key.

Another passion of yours is music, and you are a music producer and DJ in your free time. Aesthetically, what kind of music do you gravitate towards?
First, I love music so much. I have a half sleeve that is dedicated to music. I used to write for music festivals and travel to all these events. I still freaking love this stuff, and I cannot wait to be able to go to music festivals again, but I gravitate towards two different genres. There is one genre that is like underground bass music, and it is usually like lo-fi music and the lyrics make you feel good. Then on the other spectrum, I love reggae and good vibe tunes. I don’t DJ that kind of music yet, but I usually DJ electronic music.  Do you have any music projects in the works?
Yes, I have a couple. I call them my unfinished works because I was working on them, then I took this six month music program and graduated right before we went into the quarantine bubble to shoot Ruthless. Since that, I have been so busy, but things will come out soon!

You grew up as an Army brat, and that has contributed to your interest in exploring new places. What are some top places currently on your list?
Oh, man. Maybe Costa Rica to just surf for a month. I know that may seem like really basic right now because everyone goes to Costa Rica, but it’s phenomenal. Also, Ireland. Weirdly enough, I have been looking at getting a dual citizenship in Ireland. Ireland, Wales, and of course going into London, I am really drawn to. Also, my family’s descent on my mother’s side is Spaniard, and my grandparents went to the Dominican Republic from Spain on a boat. So, I would like to spend a few months in Spain so I can re-learn Spanish. That is on my list for sure. Everyone in my family is fluent as fudge, and I’m like, why am I the most American one here?

Before we wrap up, is there anything else you would like to mention or plug? Any other upcoming projects we should be on the lookout for?
Yes! I have a few upcoming projects. Some unannounced, some announced, and I have a couple of features I worked on before moving out here coming out next year, which is awesome. Other than that, I am going to continue living a good life and promoting that!

To stay up-to-date with Nunez, follow her on Facebook and Instagram, or visit her official website. Season two of Ruthless premieres November 26 on BET+.

Photos Courtesy of Kienobi Media Photos