How Pageland Native Patina Miller Trained For Her New Badass Role Despite A 'Rough Go' With COVID-19

After a long battle with coronavirus, the Tony-winning actress shares exactly how she recovered her mind and body for her role in the new Starz drama Power Book III: Raising Kanan.

Patina Miller's career took off in 2011 when she made her Broadway debut as Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act — a role that not only earned her a Tony Award nomination but also showed her the importance of prioritizing her physical health. "As I took the stage, I quickly realized that it takes a lot of stamina to be in a lead role," she tells Shape. "Performing nearly every day, eight times a week, is not easy. The vocals were very demanding, too. I knew I wanted to invest in my body as much as I was investing in my overall performance."

So, she did just that, working with a trainer for the first time and hitting the gym four times a week — on top of doing shows and rehearsals, of course. "That was the only way I was going do the job that I so desperately wanted to do with greatness," says Miller, who's maintained that mentality for every role she's prepared for — be it Leading Player in Pippin (for which, BTW, she won a Tony Award) or Commander Paylor in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — since. And her latest project playing Raquel (Raq) Thomas in the Starz drama Power Book III: Raising Kanan, which started July 18, is no exception.

Power tells the story of James St. Patrick, an intelligent and unforgiving drug dealer who goes by "Ghost" on the DL. The series also follows Patrick's best-friend-turned-foe, Kanan Stark, portrayed by 50 Cent. Power Book III: Raising Kanan is the prequel to the original Power series and gives fans a glimpse into Kanan's upbringing in the 90s, focusing on his relationship with his fierce and compelling mother Raq, played by Miller.

"Raq is a complete boss," shares Miller. "She is the sole provider for her family, she is always on the go, and you know, she is the queenpin." For this role, Miller wanted to curate her training to represent Raq in all her badassery.

"She's a female in a man's world. So she takes pride in her appearance — from her strong physique, down to her make-up and hair," explains the 36-year-old actress. "Everything with Raq is deliberate and well thought out.