Betty Gabriel is no stranger to bringing depth and authenticity to the screen. From her breakout role in Get Out to high-intensity projects like Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, she has built a career portraying complex, multidimensional characters. Now, she’s stepping into the adrenaline-fueled world of Novocaine, a high-stakes action-thriller that’s already shaping up to be one of the year’s most anticipated films. Directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, Novocaine follows Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid), a bank executive with a rare condition that prevents him from feeling pain, as he embarks on a perilous mission to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend, Sherry (Amber Midthunder), after a bank robbery takes a disastrous turn.

For Gabriel, joining Novocaine was an easy decision. “I thought the script was really fun and funny,” she shares. But it wasn’t just the story that intrigued her—it was also the chance to film in South Africa. “I’ve never been to Africa at all. As an African American, this is obviously something I deeply wished for, and I can’t wait to go back. While the wealth disparity is heartbreaking, the people I met, the places I went to, the adventures I went on were absolutely sublime.”

Photography Credit: Johnny Marlow

A Mother First, A Law Enforcer Second

In the film, Gabriel plays a law enforcement officer whose drive to protect is fueled by something deeply personal. “My character is first and foremost a mother, and it’s her maternal instincts that make her an exceptional law enforcement officer,” she explains. “I don’t always feel comfortable playing a cop, truth be told, but there are cops who are Black women and mothers and daughters. So I always do my best to bring as much humanity as I can, to tap into those character-defining traits rather than just playing the person who has to catch the crook.”

Her approach to the role was meticulous, blending script analysis with cinematic inspiration. “I like to comb through a script to prepare, and I also watch a lot of movies. Lethal Weapon and Midnight Run were two films the directors mentioned as their inspiration, so I was happy to include those in mine.”

Matthew Walsh as “Coltraine” and Betty Gabriel as “Mincy” in Novocaine from Paramount Pictures.

Bonding with Her Co-Stars

While Novocaine is packed with high-octane action, it also allowed Gabriel to form meaningful connections on set—especially with her co-star Amber Midthunder. “Whenever Amber and I worked together, we would flock towards each other. Finally, another girl, we both thought,” she recalls. “It was later in the shoot sadly, but I had such a lovely time bonding with the one other female in this pretty masculine and kind of white environment.”

As for working with Jack Quaid, Gabriel has nothing but praise. “Though Jack is in fact male and white, I really enjoyed working with him as well,” she says with a laugh. “He is genuinely kind, caring, and hilarious. They both are.”

Finding Adventure On and Off the Set

After wrapping up an intense project like Novocaine, how does Gabriel decompress? “Go on a safari, of course! I love an adventure and doing things I’ve never done before, going to places I’ve never been before. That’s how I unwind.”

Matthew Walsh as “Coltraine” and Betty Gabriel as “Mincy” in Novocaine from Paramount Pictures.

She also reflects on a pivotal moment in her career—not an action-packed scene, but a stage performance. “It was actually this staged reading I did last year where I had to compose a song. The lyrics were in the script, but I had to come up with a melody and only had a couple days of preparation. It was scary. I’ve always been incredibly nervous to sing in front of people. But I recently worked with this amazing singing coach who just so happens to be my neighbor, and he’s pretty good, I guess, because I felt so free up there. Now, I’m a little more confident in singing in front of people, which is a miracle given my lifelong fear of it.”

What’s Next for Betty Gabriel?

As someone who has tackled a wide range of roles, Gabriel is eager to push herself in new directions. “I’d love to be in a dance movie! One that really highlights the legacies of numerous Black dance companies and choreographers,” she shares. “I used to be a dancer, and though I started very late in life—at least on a dancer’s timeline—it is something I feel I was born to do. There’s a tremendous opportunity to explore trial and tribulation, spirituality, perhaps a bit of romance… It is such a demanding art form, and most retire (with no pension) in their twenties. What does one do after all that hard work and physical strain?”

Betty Gabriel as “Mincy” in Novocaine from Paramount Pictures.

As for choosing roles, Gabriel embraces variety. “I love to play all kinds of characters. I would love to play a vapid, superficial mean girl and then turn around and play Elizabeth Keckley! I find joy and value in all the stories. Do we need several more stories that have the power to pierce the armor of those who would rather someone like me not inhabit the same room as them? Absolutely. Maybe that can happen in a myriad of ways, though.”

With Novocaine set to hit theaters on March 14, 2025, fans won’t have to wait long to see Gabriel in action. If her past performances are any indication, she’s set to bring something extraordinary to the screen yet again.