Tessa Thompson is rapidly ascending the ranks in Hollywood. Thanks to her significant roles in blockbuster hits like Thor: Ragnarok, Creed, and Westworld, she’s transformed from being that familiar face you can’t quite place to the kind of celebrity who turns heads on the street.

Tessa Thompson

A pivotal moment that contributed to her remarkable journey was a science fiction film released back in 1997, when she was just 14 years old: Men In Black. 

Tessa Thompson Always Loved Men In Black Franchise

Tessa Thompson expressed her admiration for Will Smith, explaining that she was a huge fan of his, both then and now. She grew up watching The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and emphasized the significant impact of Will Smith’s rise to becoming a global movie star while authentically representing his Black male identity in various spaces.

Tessa Thompson

Tessa Thompson told NPR:

“I was — I still am — but then was a massive Will Smith fan. I grew up watching The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and it’s easy to take for granted now, but what Will Smith did at that time, becoming sort of the global movie star that he did, and bringing his identity, his black male identity to those spaces is hugely impactful,” she says. “I’m not sure that if I didn’t grow up watching him on television, I would have thought it would even be possible to do what I’m doing now.”

Tessa Thompson graced the screen in Men in Black: International, the last film in the Men in Black series. In this film, she takes on the role of Agent M and teams up with Agent H, portrayed by Chris Hemsworth, to embark on global adventures, combatting intergalactic threats. This reunites her with Hemsworth, with whom she previously shared the screen in Thor: Ragnarok. Much like Ragnarok, Men in Black: International is packed with extraterrestrial beings, explosive action sequences, and all the signature elements of a blockbuster Hollywood action film.

Tessa Thompson Likes To Keep Things Appropriate

The excitement surrounding Michael B. Jordan reached a peak following the launch of his sizzling Calvin Klein ad campaign. The online community went into a frenzy over the actor’s sculpted physique, sparking curiosity about whether there might be more than just a platonic connection between Jordan and Thompson.

Michael B Jordan and Tessa Thompson

Tessa Thompson put any doubts to rest in an interview with ET, making it crystal clear that she would never reduce her “colleague” to mere objectification, emphasizing that their connection is purely rooted in professionalism.

Thompson told ET:

“I’m just very proud of him. I don’t objectify him, I never would, he’s my work friend so I keep it appropriate,” she said. “This is great work he’s done. Some of it is God-given. Some of it is hard-earned.”

Thompson playfully mentioned the idea of wallpapering her home with the ad campaign but quickly added that she maintains a respectful stance and would never reduce Jordan to an object. Her remarks serve as a pleasant reminder that, even when collaborating with someone as charismatic as Michael B. Jordan, maintaining professionalism and respecting boundaries in the workplace should remain a top priority.

Men in Black: International is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.