Ryan Destiny and Colman Domingo Talk Divas, Astrology, and Fried Chicken

Ryan Destiny was never much of a fighter. But for her new starring role as a pathbreaking boxing champion in The Fire Inside, the former good girl learned to knuckle up. As Claressa Shields, the sport’s first American female gold medalist, Destiny charts an intense, emotional journey from the character’s hard-knock beginnings in Flint, Michigan to back-to-back Olympic wins. After taking on television, a girl group stint, and a solo R&B music career, it’s the Detroit-born beauty’s biggest film role yet. But she’s a quick learner, as she told fellow red carpet favorite and Sing Sing star Colman Domingo when he called her up to find out just how she earned her stripes, from growing up with brothers to finding her tribe in Hollywood.

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WEDNESDAY 9:30 AM NOVEMBER 27, 2024 LOS ANGELES

COLMAN DOMINGO: I feel like every time I see you, I get to know a little bit more about you, whether it’s through your work or through your red carpet slays. And now I’m like, “Who’s this Ryan Destiny?” You’re giving cozy and glasses.

RYAN DESTINY: [Laughs] I know. Who is she?

DOMINGO: Who is she? How would you describe Ryan Destiny?

DESTINY: Oh my god, that’s such a loaded question. I’m just a girl from Detroit, Michigan who is trying to do something in the world, I guess.

DOMINGO: And when you say “do something,” let me tell you, I just watched your film yesterday on my flight and you’re such a force. First of all, the first time we see you, it cuts to you boxing in the ring. I’m like, “Who is that?”

DESTINY: It’s so different, I know.

DOMINGO: Did you know about Claressa when you grew up?

DESTINY: I did not. One of the biggest things for a lot of us when we started filming was how much we didn’t know. Which really hurts when you think about it, because it’s like, how do you not know about that? But I was in my own bubble, an artsy type of kid. I wasn’t watching the Olympics. It’s just crazy because we’re both from Michigan, and I found out a lot of things after I heard about the audition.

DOMINGO: When you were a kid, did you know how to fight?

DESTINY: No. [Laughs]

DOMINGO: You didn’t grab the Vaseline like, “I’m going to scrap with you?”

DESTINY: No, I was not a squabbler. I literally was the most tweeny, itty bitty, innocent kid. I was by the rules and just trying to stay out the way. 

DOMINGO: I was the same person. I think this is why we connect.

DESTINY: Really?

DOMINGO: I just don’t have my glasses on right now. [Laughs] I’m the third kid in my family, and the other two were good kids, but they were wreaking havoc. So I said, “I’m going to be the one that gets the grades and doesn’t try to do too much.”

DESTINY: Yeah, just stay out of drama. 

DOMINGO: What number are you in your family? 

DESTINY: I have two brothers, and I also have a half-sister, but I grew up with my two brothers my whole life and I’m in the middle. 

DOMINGO: I’m a middle child too.

DESTINY: Oh my god, everything makes sense.

DOMINGO: Doesn’t it? I think the middle child watches the chaos that’s happening in the world, and that’s our superpower as we become actors, like, “I know how to play a fool because I’ve watched fools. I know how to play all different kinds of human beings.” Do you feel that way too?

DESTINY: I do. And maybe because I’m the only girl, but I feel like I learn faster and quicker. I just feel like the older sibling in my dynamic.

DOMINGO: What did you learn from your brothers growing up being the only girl?

DESTINY: I feel like having two brothers, you definitely have a little bit more roughness to you. I fought with them. Just a little bit.

DOMINGO: Okay, because with Claressa, I loved her relationships with men, especially with the first boyfriend. That scene where you reveal trauma really broke me. I was like, “That poor baby.” And with the rough and tumble mother who just wasn’t prepared, I have such empathy for all of that. She’s doing the best she could with what she has and she’s treating Claressa like she’s her friend in the way she talks to her, and I’m like, “Yo, who’s going to protect that baby?”

DESTINY: Yeah. She has to grow up really fast. 

DOMINGO: And the most incredible thing, as I’ve met you and your mother, I see how close you are. How did you find that aspect of a mother-daughter relationship knowing that you come from, I’m imagining, a pretty healthy and loving one? 

DESTINY: Yeah, it’s definitely something that I’m so blessed to have. To have someone able to protect you, especially in the industry as long as she has, and look out for you when you don’t really understand a lot of things. But with this story in particular, the way I could relate to it was regardless of how things are, the relationship between mother and daughter is always going to be complex. There’s going to be things that you wish were better. My mother was also a young mother, so it’s that same dynamic with Claressa’s mom of her learning along the way. And they have a way better relationship now, which made me really happy to hear from her.

DOMINGO: Here’s a question that I think people would want to know, because people ask me this question. Colman Domingo, Ryan Destiny. Real name, fictitious name, partial name? Because the name is too good, Ryan. 

DESTINY: So technically it is my real name, but it’s not my full name. My full name is Ryan Destiny Irons.

DOMINGO: The RDI.

DESTINY: The RDI. [Laughs] That’s what people used to call me!

DOMINGO: Are you serious? Wow, I’m feeling something. I like Ryan Irons. 

DESTINY: I know, but cutting it off at Destiny is way better. My dad would squeal if he heard me say that, but it’s solid. Colman Domingo is your actual name.

DOMINGO: It is. It’s also my father’s name. It was a name I had to grow into, to be honest. I mean, imagine growing up as Colman Domingo. There’s no Colman Domingos running around the world. People were like, “What is that? Is there an E in it?”

DESTINY: They get it wrong.

DOMINGO: Yeah. What’s your sign?

DESTINY: I’m a Capricorn. What’s yours?

DOMINGO: Sagittarius. My birthday’s tomorrow.

DESTINY: Happy early birthday! Are you doing something for it?

DOMINGO: I think because this year I’ve been doing the entire most—

DESTINY: I wanted to come in saying that. I’m blessed that you even had time to do this because Mr. Booked, Mr. Busy, I don’t know how you do it. So you’re not going to have time for your birthday.

DOMINGO: No. What I really want to do is go on a hike and then just take stock. I’ve had this tradition since I was in my early 20s where on my birthday I go somewhere and get a great glass of champagne and some really good oysters and reflect. I live out in Malibu now, so I’m trying to research some places. This year has been so blessed and so good and I just like to sit in those blessings. I don’t need to turn up.

DESTINY: I love that. I know we keep saying it, but I really am the same way. My last birthday this year, I threw a party because I’ve never thrown a party in my life. Worst thing ever. I’ll never do it again. I regret it so much.

DOMINGO: What happened?

DESTINY: So many things. It was really stressful to plan and then when you get in there, you’re not actually having fun because you’re trying to make sure everyone else is. It’s just a lot of pressure, and then when it’s over, it feels like you just did a bunch of nothing.

DOMINGO: I’m with you. How many people were there? 

DESTINY: It was a lounge that we rented out, so I think maybe 200 people.

DOMINGO: It’s funny because people think that we’re public-facing people, but I’m just like, “Actually, I like to chill.” 

DESTINY: I really like doing activities with a max of 10 people. Like you said, going for a hike or going go-kart racing or something. That sounds great to me. Anything over that, I’m so overwhelmed. 

DOMINGO: Where do you live? You don’t have to tell me the neighborhood.

DESTINY: I’m in the Valley. I’m on the outskirts of everything, which I really like.

DOMINGO: See, I have lived on the outskirts of L.A. since I got to L.A. It’s real life. It’s normal people, and I’m down with it. Do you find that you need a place to retreat?

DESTINY: Definitely. I look forward to coming home to my safe space, and I just feel like I can reset here. I don’t know if this is the same place that you live, but I remember watching the house tour you did. 

DOMINGO: That was in Southeast L.A., in Downey.

DESTINY: It was so beautiful. I’m into creating a home that feels very lived in. I’m not there yet, but that’s my goal.

DOMINGO: Well, I had that house for eight years. I still own it. I’m probably going to put it up for sale, but I wanted to create a home. I ain’t going to lie, I love nice furniture, I love great architectural design, but I don’t want things to feel precious. That’s why I always have cowhide rugs. I want people to feel warm and cozy. I have a history of people coming to my house at 2:00 in the afternoon and not leaving until 2:00 at night because I make them feel cozy. I like taking care of people and hosting and smoking ribs and stuff like that.

DESTINY: I want to get to that really bad. Maybe one day. I got to take pointers from you and people around me that have these great places.

DOMINGO: What’s inspiring you now? Especially right now where there’s a lot of noise in the world in every way. What lifts you up?

DESTINY: I think it’s always music and meeting people. I feel like I’ve been meeting so many new and different people and it inspires me in different ways depending on the person. And music is a constant for me. I’m always discovering because it’s endless in that way, and I have been inspired by it my whole life.

DOMINGO: Do you miss that show, Star?

DESTINY: I can’t say I miss what I was doing versus the people. I really formed a family, and I miss that camaraderie a lot of always going to work and being in that fun space. It felt like we were in college or something. It was just fun all the time. But it was just a different environment of creativity. 

DOMINGO: It was a chapter. 

DESTINY: Yeah, it was a really, really good chapter and I’m really thankful.

DOMINGO: What a blessing. Are you connected to any famous girl groups? I’m friends with Kelly Rowland and every so often I’m like, “You’re Destiny’s Child.” You know what I mean?

DESTINY: I love Kelly and she’s the sweetest person ever to me. It’s always weird when she does talk to me because I’m like, “You’re Kelly Rowland.” It’s nuts.

DOMINGO: But she’s so modest and chill, and you’re like, “You do know that you are an icon.”

DESTINY: I don’t know if she always realizes it. But yeah, I’m friends with Normani and she obviously was in a girl group as well. I love that world, and I am always rooting for every new girl group I see. I love Flo. Flo’s the newest girl group out of the UK.

DOMINGO: I got to check them out.

DESTINY: They’re so, so good and so R&B. It’s great.

DOMINGO: I’m going to put them on my Spotify the moment I get in the car. Who are you listening to that makes you feel good? 

DESTINY: To just feel good?

DOMINGO: I’ll give you mine and you tell me yours. Mine is PJ Morton.

DESTINY: Oh, I love PJ.

DOMINGO: It really feels good in my soul.

DESTINY: I have a few. I have always said Brandy. Any conversation that anyone ever brings up about music, I feel like she’s always my answer for something. And India Arie. She’s so soothing to me, so if I want to feel like that, she’s the one.

DOMINGO: She has great storytelling. Okay, I’m going to bring something a bit more flashy to this conversation. People have been saying to me that I’ve been reinventing men’s fashion on red carpets. And I dress like the men that I admire from the ’70s, like Teddy Pendergrass or the Ohio Players. I dress like Black men that I grew up with pinky rings, shirts open down to the navel. Like my daddy, who’s from Central America, he was very much an Afro-Latino man walking around with chains and a canary yellow Cadillac. I met your stylist, but who inspires you in your style? Because you have great style and it’s very elegant.

DESTINY: Thank you. Coming from you, I love it. I feel like I pull from different people depending on how I want my vibe to be. I feel like my ultimate is always Diana Ross.

DOMINGO: I was going to say, I didn’t know if you were a Diana Ross fan, because you give me that glamour of Diana.

DESTINY: Really? Stop.

DOMINGO: You do. You were wearing this green dress recently and I was like, “That’s Diana right there.”

DESTINY: Thank you. I feel like I’m always referencing her. I always am in awe and have just a bunch of Pinterests of her, whether it be her characters that she played—

DOMINGO: Like in Mahogany. 

DESTINY: Yes. My dad was obsessed with Mahogany, and he always was like, “You better do a Mahogany remake.” I’m like, “Listen—

DOMINGO: Hold on, I might have to co-sign your daddy. He’s right.

DESTINY: He would literally love hearing you say that, so I have to tell him.

DOMINGO: Any readers of Interview want to make this happen, let’s make it happen.

DESTINY: She is incredible. Someone else I always also pull from is Aaliyah, but she’s a no-brainer.

DOMINGO: She had good simple streetwear style, but it was feminine, and also very strong.

DESTINY: And effortless.

DOMINGO: I’m just thinking about Diana Ross because a friend of mine was talking about his journey of feeling worthy, and I said, “When Diana Ross finishes a song or a concert, what does she do? She holds open her arms and she acknowledges the gift that she has and the effect she’s had on others.” It’s an open-armed, “We did that.” That’s helped me navigate this industry. You have to acknowledge and say thank you. I get annoyed with people who shy away. It doesn’t have to be ego, but my hope for you is that you continue to step into where you’re rising, because I think that you are rising. And if you keep your arms open like Diana Ross, you’re going to do it all with humility. Who do you look to as actors that you admire?

DESTINY: I love Zoe Saldana. I think she’s really great. I love Angela Bassett, obviously. I love Angelina Jolie too. I feel like it’s never-ending with the women that I grew up watching. And as I keep going further in the industry, I’m realizing how hard it is to continue to work how they do. I find that I’m really inspired and in love with my peers as well.

DOMINGO: Have you formed some good friendships in this industry?

DESTINY: Yeah, I have. I feel like a lot of people within our community are very supportive, so we instantly click a lot of the times. People like Dominique Fishback, who is so incredible and just a really good person. We’ve definitely connected really well. I love Chloe and Halle so much. There’s definitely a few.

DOMINGO: So you found your sisterhood?

DESTINY: Yeah. And I’m thankful for that, because it can be tricky. But I think if you step into a lot of these rooms and situations open to people and actually nurture them, they can form into something important. I had to learn that because I’m somebody that, again, likes to sit back and be out of the way. And I’m really happy you made the point about Diana Ross too, because a lot of people throughout my life have reminded me of that. I have to keep getting reminded of that because I do it too much. So thank you for saying that.

DOMINGO: You’re very welcome. I think sometimes people see it as ego, and I don’t think it’s ego. I always believe it’s not about me, it’s about all of us. So the acknowledgement, for me, doesn’t cost you anything. If I acknowledge my work, I’m also acknowledging the work of all these people who have worked with me. We did that, didn’t we? Let’s be here together and let’s extend ourselves to each other. As long as it’s heart to heart, it’s good.

DESTINY: For sure. I’ve definitely had to learn that.

DOMINGO: I’m going to end this with some rapid-fire questions. Favorite color?

DESTINY: Blue.

DOMINGO: Beach or city?

DESTINY: Beach.

DOMINGO: Painting or drawing?

DESTINY: Painting.

DOMINGO: Ribs or French food?

DESTINY: Ribs.

DOMINGO: That’s the Blackest question I was going to ask. [Laughs] Fried chicken or ribs?

DESTINY: Fried chicken.

DOMINGO: Really?

DESTINY: I’m sorry, I love fried chicken. If the right person makes it, yes.

DOMINGO: I need big mama with the flapping arm making it. If she’s making it, you know it’s good.

DESTINY: Exactly.

DOMINGO: Last question. Sunrise or sunset?

DESTINY: Sunrise.

DOMINGO: Why?

DESTINY: I’m a morning person. It’s probably my most peaceful time of the day, and I feel like I usually don’t catch the sunset.

DOMINGO: This is why you feel like a little sister to me because that’s exactly my answer. I wake up every day to catch the sunrise. It feels like the possibility of what’s going to happen. Sunset for me feels like an ending, and I like beginnings, I guess.

DESTINY: Me too.

DOMINGO: That’s our time.

DESTINY: You’re just incredible at everything. I don’t know how you made this such a normal conversation. I’m so thankful for you, Colman. 

DOMINGO: I’m thankful for you and our burgeoning and continuing friendship. I look forward to seeing you more and being able to sit at a meal with you. Just know that you got me as a champion for you. I think that you’re an incredible actress and I want to make sure that you have what you need to thrive and you have that community in me.

DESTINY: Thank you so much. I hope you have an amazing birthday tomorrow.

DOMINGO: Thank you, Ryan Destiny. I’m sure I’ll see you out in these streets in the next month. 

 

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Hair: Davontae’ Washington using Wella Professionals at OPUS Beauty.

Makeup: Ernesto Casillas using Dior Beauty at OPUS Beauty.

Nails: Ginger Lopez using Dior Vernis at OPUS Beauty.

Photography Assistant: Amalia Irons.

Fashion Assistant: Luis Cruz.

Post Production: picturehouse + thesmalldarkroom.

Production Manager: Cecilia Alvarez Blackwell.

Location: Angelina Wong.