If you’re just discovering Amber Reign Smith, consider this your official introduction.

While many of us first saw her in Beauty and Black, she actually filmed Joe’s College Road Trip first and it was during that project Tyler Perry really saw her. This later led to her being brought into another role.

For Amber, working at Tyler Perry Studios as a Black woman based in Atlanta wasn’t just another job. It was full circle moment.

What makes this film special, though, is its balance. She told me one of the biggest takeaways is that you can learn history without it being painful and it shows. This film is funny, fast-paced, and rooted in culture, but it still teaches.

And if this is Amber’s momentum going into 2026, she’s just getting started.

Tyler Perry’s Joe’s College Road Trip is streaming now on Netflix.

Check out our full interview with Amber below: