Tyler Perry Applauds Teyana Taylor’s Growth In Netflix’s “Straw”

Tyler Perry is watching Teyana Taylor shine, and he couldn’t be prouder. The powerhouse writer and director is back with a new film Straw, now streaming on Netflix, and he brought a familiar face along for the ride. Teyana, who first made audiences laugh and shout “Byron!” in Tyler’s Madea’s Big Happy Family back in 2011, is now leading as Detective Kay Raymond in his latest drama.

Speaking at a special screening in New York City on June 3, Tyler, 55, beamed as he remembered her beginnings. “I gave Teyana her first movie where she was saying ‘Byron,’ ” he said with a smile. “So to see her, where she’s come and all the levels she’s hit, it’s been really moving.”

In Straw, Teyana plays a sharp-witted detective who crosses paths with Janiyah, a single mom (played by Empire star Taraji P. Henson) whose life is spiraling out of control as she tries to care for her sick daughter. It’s a gritty role — and Teyana nailed it.

While Perry gave the 34-year-old some advice here and there, he made it clear she didn’t need much. “…Teyana’s her own very special talent,” he said, adding, “She’s very brilliant. She’s gonna figure it out for herself, and she delivered on this thing, for sure.”

Tyler said he always had Teyana and Sherri Shepherd in mind when casting the film. Sherri plays a no-nonsense bank manager named Nicole, rounding out what Tyler calls a “diamond” cast. Explaining, he stated, “Because it’s this diamond, where Taraji sits at the top, and you’ve got these pillars holding her up. It’s really fantastic. So for [Teyana and Sherri] to say yes is really incredible.”

Even Taraji was thrilled to be in the same project as Teyana, though she’s hoping for more screen time together next time around. “Teyana and I need a do-over because we had no scenes together [in Straw] except the very end. So Teyana, girl, us again on the same screen, right?” she joked.

The cast also includes Glynn Turman, Sinbad, and Rockmond Dunbar — all coming together in a film packed with emotion, drama, and heart.