For busy actor Brian Tyree Henry, a change between projects seems to be as good as a rest

If you ask Brian Tyree Henry about taking time off, he bursts out laughing.

Since breaking out as rapper Paper Boi in the FX series “Atlanta,” he's become one of the busiest actors in Hollywood. He's worked consistently — with directors including Barry Jenkins, Steve McQueen and Chloe Zhao and big-name actors like Brad Pitt, Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Hemsworth and Melissa McCarthy. Henry's been nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Tony Award and an Oscar.

His latest role is in the limited series “Dope Thief" for Apple TV+ premiering Friday. Henry and Wagner Moura play Ray and Manny, two longtime friends in Philadelphia who pose as federal agents, conducting fake raids to steal drugs and money. It's a series of easy scores until they rob the wrong people and become targets themselves. Soon they're hiding out from the real DEA and a drug kingpin while trying to keep their family safe.

“The minute that Wagner and I met each other, it was an instant electricity... We just felt like we knew each other all our lives," said Henry. "That is exactly what you needed for Ray and Manny.”

The first episode was directed by Ridley Scott, and the series was created and written by Peter Craig, adapted from a novel by Dennis Tafoya.

Craig describes Henry's versatility as an actor as "like a jazz musician... It’s fantastic for a writer, because you can throw him all kinds of added moments, and he’ll incorporate and use them all.”

When the opportunity to star in “Dope Thief” came about, Henry was ready for that long-awaited break — from TV. He wrapped “Atlanta” and had “about two days off” before going into another FX show, “Class of ‘09,” where he played a character’s past, present and future, and he was exhausted.

“Television is hard, you know? Like, I hear myself complaining about it; I know it’s a first world problem, but you get very attached when you’re doing a series. You're living with the character for quite a long time."

So, there Henry was at 3 a.m. on a night shoot of “Class of ‘09," wearing prosthetics as his character’s future self, when his manager presented him with the script for “Dope Thief.” “Within the first 10 pages I was incredibly attracted to Ray and also the bond he has with Manny.”

Time off otherwise really hasn't been his thing (hence the laughter), but Henry is quick to remind that he’s had two long breaks from acting. One was during the lockdown phase of the pandemic, and the other was during the Hollywood strikes.

“When you’re a person that’s constantly on the move and the universe tells you to sit your (expletive) down, you kind of have to listen,” said Henry. “I don’t think I would have stopped had the universe not said stop.”

Production was underway on “Dope Thief” when the Hollywood guild strikes were called in 2023. Henry opted to stay in Philadelphia.

“I didn’t go anywhere. I made sure to be there just in case," said Henry, who for the first time was an executive producer on the project. He wanted to be close in proximity to his local crew. They had a cookout with bouncy castles. “I would explore, or we'd go tubing and I would drive to this little town called New Hope that has a wonderful ice cream shop called Moo Hope. It was truly amazing to be present and experience that part of life for myself.”

Henry doesn't just bond with the crew on his sets but actors too, often walking away with new friends who happen to be very famous, like, say, Julia Roberts — whom he's currently filming a movie with in London. “She's somebody I truly cherish,” he said.

“It’s never going to stop being weird to me," Henry admits. “The part that is really hard for me — that I’m still fighting with — is when they tell me they’re fans of my stuff and I’m just like, ‘Shut up!’ I literally say it to their face.”

The biggest revelation about working alongside these accomplished actors is that Henry is now one of them.

“At the end of the day, now, these are my peers, these are my contemporaries, and I can’t continue to act like they’re not. I can’t continue to act like I have to shrink myself to fit in these spaces. I no longer have to do that. And what I also love is that they’ll reaffirm that for me, too ... and that's the great part.”

Brian Tyree Henry poses for a portrait on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in New York. (Photo by Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP)

Brian Tyree Henry poses for a portrait on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in New York. (Photo by Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP)

Brian Tyree Henry poses for a portrait on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in New York. (Photo by Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP)

Brian Tyree Henry poses for a portrait on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in New York. (Photo by Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP)

The first stage of Mohamed Salah’s rehabilitation at Liverpool is complete after the Egypt forward returned to the team for its 2-0 win over Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.

The question now as Salah heads off to the Africa Cup of Nations: Is there a future for him at Anfield when he comes back?

Salah, who let rip last weekend about his current frustrations at Liverpool, entered as a 26th-minute substitute to a big ovation and set up the second of Hugo Ekitike’s goals as the defending champion extended its unbeaten run to five games in all competitions.

Also Saturday, Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 and was set on its way to victory by Cole Palmer’s first goal in three months. First-place Arsenal hosts last-place Wolverhampton later.

Salah held talks with Liverpool manager Arne Slot on Friday in an effort to overcome their issues and the result was that Salah was recalled to the matchday squad for the Brighton game. He had been a substitute for the last three Premier League matches before being left at home for the midweek Champions League trip to Inter Milan as a punishment for his explosive comments to reporters last weekend.

“It was an easy decision to put him in the squad," Slot said. “I have said many times before what has been said between us will stay between us.”

Liverpool's fans demonstrated they are willing to excuse Salah for his show of anger and gave him a rapturous welcome when he came on as a substitute for the injured Joe Gomez midway through the first half.

By then, Liverpool was leading 1-0 thanks to Ekitike's rising shot inside the first minute and Salah showed glimpses of his class, especially on the counterattack. It was Salah's corner kick that was headed in by Ekitike for the second goal in the 60th, sparking another round of chants for the Egyptian.

Slot said Salah was a threat all game.

“Pleasing to see but not a surprise,” Slot said.

Salah could be away for more than a month if Egypt goes all the way in the Africa Cup.

It was a second straight start for Palmer, whose season has been blighted by a groin injury that has restricted him to seven games in all competitions.

There looked to be nothing wrong with Palmer when he ran onto Malo Gusto's pass and slipped a finish inside the near post to give Chelsea the lead in the 21st minute at Stamford Bridge.

However, Palmer said after the game that he wasn't at his best yet because he was “still dealing with an injury.”

“It’s just a matter of not doing too much too soon,” Palmer told the BBC. “Literally, it’s just a day-by-day thing. Hopefully it gets better.”

Gusto added the second goal in the 45th minute for Chelsea, which jumped to fourth place.

Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Chelsea's Cole Palmer celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Everton in London, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool fans hold placard depicting Liverpool's Mohamed Salah before the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, left, challenges for the ball with Brighton's Lewis Dunk during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)