by Tim Gordon
When actor Tosin Morohunfola appears on screen, there is an unmistakable calm strength beneath his surface. Whether in Run the World, The Chi, or Black Lightning, his performances often radiate quiet conviction. In Tyler Perry’s new Amazon film Finding Joy, Morohunfola brings that same grounded presence to the role of Ridge, a humble farmer whose life stands in sharp contrast to Joy’s high-fashion hustle. Together, their worlds collide in an unexpected love story that explores healing, forgiveness, and second chances.
Speaking with TheFilmGordon.com, Morohunfola reflected on how his own roots helped him shape Ridge’s character. “As an actor, you always want to dig into the culture and the world you’re portraying,” he said. “I had a little help because I come from Kansas and spent several years raised in rural Kansas. I remember riding horses and watching people cattle farm. I called on those memories to ground the role, and then I thought about Ridge’s emotional life. He’s a man who doesn’t say much, who keeps a lot to himself. There’s a toughness to him, but you realize it’s because he has so much going on inside.”
That inner world is what makes Ridge more than just a romantic lead. His quiet strength hides pain and secrets that slowly unfold as Joy, played by Shannon Thornton, begins to unravel his walls. “He spends a lot of time alone, doing his own work, thinking about his past,” Morohunfola shared. “That isolation becomes a way of coping. So when Joy enters his life, it forces him to face parts of himself he’s been avoiding. She helps him unlock what he’s been hiding from.”
The dynamic between Ridge and Joy is one of the film’s most powerful elements. Their connection feels both unlikely and inevitable. “That’s the magic of it,” Morohunfola explained. “You get two characters who are opposite, who have nothing in common, and want nothing to do with each other. Then you put them together, and it can either explode or turn into something beautiful. You don’t know which it’ll be until you see it unfold.”
For Morohunfola, a first-generation Nigerian American, cultural identity continues to inform his craft even when it’s not central to the story. “Being Nigerian influences how I approach work,” he said. “We’re taught to be disciplined and to work hard, and that definitely shows up in Ridge. He’s relentless about his farm and about taking care of what’s his. But part of that hard work is also a distraction. It keeps him from thinking about the things that hurt. That’s why he needed Joy. She helps him stop hiding from his pain.”
The film’s central message, that love and connection often find us when we least expect them, resonated deeply with Morohunfola. “I’ve definitely fallen in love in unexpected places,” he said with a smile. “And not just romantic love. Friendships too. People don’t give friendships enough credit. Especially in this business, it’s so important to have people you can trust and who lift you up. Hollywood isn’t always easy, and good friends can keep you grounded.”
That sense of grounding seems to be the thread connecting both Ridge and the man who portrays him. As Finding Joy unfolds, Ridge’s story becomes a meditation on healing and rediscovery. For Morohunfola, it’s a reminder that joy, like love, is rarely found where we expect it, but it’s always worth the search.