Rising star Xavier Mills turned his ‘on-court’ hustle into extraordinary acting success in new film ‘Is God Is’

How did your background as an athlete shape your path into acting?

First off, God  I could not do it without him. As far as the athletic background, I played basketball my whole life. My dad instilled in me the love of sports. That’s where our family came together.

At Winston-Salem State, my HBCU, I got to see so many different characters and so many different people. It shaped me differently because I would just imitate people. Someone said, “Oh, you sound like Will Smith  you could be a Will Smith impersonator,” and people just kept speaking it into me. “You should be an actor.” And I thought, you know what, maybe I should try it.

Then I saw Good Will Hunting and right after that, Antwone Fisher. Those films spoke to something in me  maybe I needed that therapy in some way. They made me cry, and I thought, how can I get on screen and allow people to feel? Never having been in those situations, the impact still hit hard. Film allows us to escape this world or to feel seen.

So I joined an acting class right there in Winston-Salem, and that teacher connected me to an agent who saw my value even when I didn’t fully see it myself. What I did in sports, I applied to acting. I told my agent, when we step in, I want to be part of projects that are important and tell great stories.

What did your HBCU experience at Winston-Salem State give you that you couldn’t have found elsewhere?

When you go to an HBCU, you get to see so many pockets of where you could go. Growing up, I honestly only saw myself as a basketball player. That’s what I knew and that’s where my discipline came from.

But then I got to see how people carried themselves, how they presented themselves. And I’m going to tell you  it might be 9 a.m., but somebody is going to have a nice outfit. Already. Getting to see that helps shape you. You don’t feel alone. Find your people.

You starred opposite Sterling K. Brown and Janelle Monae in ‘Is God Is’. What did you take from sharing that space with Sterling so early in your career?

That’s a really great question. Walking into that space, I’m not going to lie  I was a little nervous. You speak yourself into these rooms and then when you get there, you wonder how it’s going to feel.

Somebody like Sterling K. Brown, when you see them in person, they have such a light about them. The room gets brighter. But what struck me was how smart he is when it comes to film. He understands the shot, how to use the camera, and how to make that tear fall when the camera gets close.

What I got to see was the art of relaxation. Sometimes we put so much pressure on ourselves to be great that we don’t leave space for the character to come out. The actor can’t be tight. There can’t be tension. Watching him, I understood that completely. He’s someone who took me in, put egos to the side, and the whole project felt like a team  like a big cookout. It felt like I was back at my HBCU.

Tell us more about your character Scotch in ‘Is God Is’ and what do you think audiences will feel when they see this film?

I play Scotch, and I’m one of Sterling K. Brown’s kids in the film. When you see my character, I’m a product of my father. The way that I am is something that’s been learned.

Kids are a certain way because of their upbringing. Parents are very important  they help shape and mold us, especially when we’re younger, because that’s how we go out into the world. Scotch has his wildness and is a little bit out of control. There’s this desire to be dominant, and this idea of what it means to be a man, that to have control, to maybe talk to women a certain way, is how he earns respect. That’s what he’s seen, and that’s what he knows. But he goes through his own things.

You’re returning as Nashaan Leonard in Chad Powers season two with Glenn Powell. What can fans expect?

Definitely more intensity. You might want to call him Nashaan now, because he’s blinged out a little bit this season. He’s more talkative, and he’s going to speak about what he wants from his quarterback.

Their relationship really develops this season. A quarterback and a wide receiver in the NFL  the QB has to be your best friend because they’re going to get you the ball. Nashaan is going to talk his mess. Think Chad Johnson, Chad Ochocinco  he’s one of those type of guys.

You’re also in Fight for 84 coming to Netflix, a boxing film where you trained alongside Jamie Foxx. Tell us about that role.

Fight for 84 is such a touching film. It’s rooted in the 1984 Olympic team that’s trying to win for the USA in boxing. I was on the 1980 Olympic team, but he didn’t get on the plane because he was injured  and that plane crashed and everyone on it died. So this 1984 team is trying to put the USA on the map in boxing and carry the memory of that 1980 team. Still actively fighting to win in his own life, this character is also carrying the weight of those who never got their chance. It’s a roller coaster of emotions.

What can audiences expect from Undercard with Wanda Sykes?

In Undercard, you’re not seeing me be the antagonist. You’re seeing someone who is loving and who looks at Wanda Sykes’ character as a mother figure. He’s actively fighting for a championship, and the question becomes: is this team able to help me get there?

My character has to make decisions that are bigger than himself in moments that shape whether he can truly become a champion. And sometimes saying no is the hardest thing.

As an athlete turned actor, how does the discipline from basketball still show up on set?

You only get to where you are by consistently showing up and giving 100%. There will be wins and losses, but they do not define you. In the audition space, you’re constantly working to get the next thing, and yes, sometimes you won’t hear back. It’s easy to let that define you  to ask, what am I not doing right? But if you know your end goal and you know who you want to be, don’t let those small moments define you.

We’re trying to build championships, and that takes being specific. Don’t just think, I want to be on TV  champions study, they prepare, and that’s when preparation meets opportunity. That’s what I bring from basketball: discipline, and the certainty of knowing where I’m headed.

What does excellence look like for you in this season of your life?

Honestly, I’m still developing it. Stepping into things I’ve spoken out loud  being on great projects, being around people who think outside the box  that’s where I am right now.

My dad told me about something called “brainchild.” You birth a thought in your mind, give it life, and nurture it  just like a baby. After working on Is God Is, my mind shifted. When you actively think outside the box and don’t judge your thoughts, you can truly make something great. Alicia Harris changed me. So I’m still actively looking for what’s next and what excellence means for me.

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