Microaggressions, tokenization, code-switching, and the emotional exhaustion of being Black in white spaces only scratch the surface of the sinister tale told in Hulu’s “The Other Black Girl.” The series — adapted from of the same name — captures the experiences of two Black women working at a white-owned book publishing company who, although they share some commonalities, walk completely different paths — one more disturbing than the other.

For a while, Nella Rogers (Sinclair Daniel) was the only Black woman working at Wagner Books until new hire Hazel (Ashleigh Murray) came along as the eponymous other Black girl. The two coworkers bond and become fast friends, but things get strange when Hazel’s true intentions are exposed by Nella and her protective best friend, Malaika (Brittany Adebumola). As “The Other Black Girl,” developed by Harris and Rashida Jones, uncovers a toxic work environment in racist corporate America, it also explores something even more heinous happening to Black women behind the scenes.

Spoiler alert

The 10-episode series, which premiered on Sept. 13 during the since-ended WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, concludes with the discovery of a dark scheme in which Black girls are being brainwashed with hair grease to join a “sisterhood” that makes them conform to white America’s standards. The cliffhanger finale sets up an obvious second season already being demanded by viewers, but for now, the cast is playing catch up on promoting their series post-strike. 

BET.com caught up with “The Other Black Girl” stars Sinclair Daniel, Ashleigh Murray, and Brittany Adebumola to discuss their Hulu series. The trio also delved into their connections to the show’s relatable plot and their respective characters.

BET.com: As the lead stars of “The Other Black Girl,” how tough was it to have the show premiere during the actors’ strike?

Murray: Really tough.

Daniel: Yeah. It was hard because we worked really hard on this. We had so much fun, and I feel like all through filming, we would talk about, "Oh, I can't wait to get out there and tell people about this show. It's so new and fresh and funny, and you really have to hear about it." So, not being able to do that was definitely a bummer, but I'm still happy that we got to come out. It was also just cool to see how many people still saw the trailer and, therefore, watched the show even without us promoting [it] on our end. I mean, it was hard to hold my tongue, but it was also really reassuring and affirming to see how many people still got into the show and still were having conversations amongst themselves, friends, and family.

BET.com: “The Other Black Girl” breaks down microaggressions and racism in the corporate world, but as actresses, how does the series mirror your journeys in Hollywood?

Adebumola: I mean, for me, just the desire that Nella and Hazel have just to have community and sisterhood where there isn't. I think both the book and the show are really honest in the sort of yearning that these characters have for that, and for the safety that comes with that, or I should say the potential safety that comes with that, and security and the feeling of being seen through your sisters or your brothers. I felt that going to a predominantly white school, I've felt that in predominantly white acting classes that I've been in. And so the moment that Nella sees Hazel in the office for the first time, it's like her senses tingle, and she perks up like, "What's going on here? Who is this?" I thought that was really honest and a very visceral thing to see portrayed on television because that's an experience I've had repeatedly.

Daniel: Yeah, I'll say my time in Hollywood has been brief, but you kind of notice a pattern in every industry that, as you ascend and get "more successful" as a Black person, you start to see fewer and fewer people who look like you towards the top in general. I think it is a disturbing correlation that you want to be the best that you can be at anything, but it almost always means you're going to be one of few. And then sometimes you're even pitted against the other few that are there. So, it's universal to many industries. I've worked in other industries longer than I've worked professionally in Hollywood, and that definitely translates. 

Murray: The short answer is yes, I've experienced it. I worked in corporate America for probably six years before I started “Riverdale.” So, being on the show and watching Sinclair live out these moments that I have experienced firsthand was difficult. I've been Nella and I've been Hazel — wanting to be more confident in myself and stand up for myself and not be afraid to shrink. I think one of my favorite things about being a part of this show is seeing a portrayal of all of us, especially us as Black women, and the fact that, in the book, Hazel's character is just evil. But in the show, that wasn't how I saw her. Based on the writing that we were getting, I felt like it was something far more nuanced, and it wasn't so simple. I appreciated the fact that the writers allowed me to guide this character in a direction of actually wanting camaraderie out of Nella versus her being an adversary and a mark. 

And I really enjoyed the fact that the show, even just as a viewer, we have our own preconceived notions of how a situation is going to go down. We have our own internal biases and struggles that are put on us. Like Sinclair said, it's a crab-in-a-barrel mentality. We didn't create the barrel, and yet we keep getting thrown into it. So, I wanted to present an opportunity where you might think it's that situation, but it is actually something a little different.

BET.com: You all got to bring your interpretations of who you think these characters are in the show instead of how they’re written in Zakiya Dalila Harris’ book. What are the biggest differences and similarities between you and your characters?

Adebumola: Malaika is a lot of fun. She’s very passionate, unfiltered, uninhibited, and I think overall a good time. I think I'm a good time. I think I'm fun.

Murray: You are.

Daniel: I'll concur. I'll co-sign that.

Adebumola: I think I'm passionate, especially about the people in my circle, the people that I love, and I think Malaika is very protective of Nella. Nella is like a sister to her. She's chosen family and she wants the best for Nella. She also just wants Nella to wake up and see her worth and stop taking all the bullsh*t and whatnot. Sometimes it comes off as very harsh, it's not always packaged well, but it is always coming from a place of love, and I think she and I are similar in that way. One thing that I really enjoyed about playing Malaika is just being able to step into that sort of confidence and that carefreeness that she has.

Daniel: What initially excited me to play Nella was that we've had very similar backgrounds and upbringings on paper. So, a lot of the things that Nella is comforted by, or turned off by initially, I related to. As the show continued, I became more frustrated with Nella's decisions. It makes good TV, but I was also like, I would never do that. I think Nella is a little less skeptical, which is not a bad thing. She just kind of goes into things a little more... Some might call it hopeful, some might call it naive. And I feel like as I've moved through the world, I've got to be a little more on my guard and I think Nella comes to that conclusion by the end. But, yeah, she's a little more trusting than I am, I'd say.

Murray: The thing that was easiest for me to do playing Hazel was find her empathy because I'd never played anybody who was, on the page, and what you saw in moments on the screen, nefarious. I don't lead with that kind of behavior in my life. I lead with compassion and support and love and openness, especially when I'm in a community of other Black women. Because, like everybody said, the further you get into this industry that we are all a part of, the less and less you start to see yourself and it's very lonely, and I don't want to be alone. It's so much easier to just have my heart open. And so I was trying to find the spaces in Hazel where her heart was open, and that was great. It reads really well, but I was so viscerally uncomfortable having to be a little mean. I did not enjoy that. 

BET.com: One word that sums up your whole experience being on the show?

Daniel: Affirming.

Adebumola: Affirming times two. 

Murray: I say transformational.

All episodes of “The Other Black Girl” are streaming now on Hulu.

*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.