Here comes a Molly whop. Just before Insecure premiered its (we can barely say it 😢) final season, we called up Yvonne Orji (she / her). The actress has been laying down the law on HBO for years, but outside of her screen life, she’s penned a memoir and is now partnering with Merck on a docuseries about triple-negative breast cancer, a strain affecting Black women at disproportionate rates.

We spoke with the first-gen comedian about her own run-ins with the medical system, whether or not we’ll like her character this season, and what to do if you too are Bamboozled by Jesus.

When did you realize Black women have lacking health experiences?
When I was an up-and-coming actress, the struggle was real. I didn’t have health insurance, so for many years, I was like, “Please don’t let me get sick.” My mom was a nurse for 27 years, so I had the ability to call doctors in my family, but not everybody’s as fortunate to have that access. We know why Black people are apprehensive about seeking care. We hear the stories about Serena Williams delivering a baby and people not listening to her talk about her pain. If it can happen to someone as high profile as that… it happens [to regular people] more than is documented.

Have you ever felt like you couldn’t speak up in a hospital setting?
Absolutely! I had a situation where I was dealing with excruciating pain, and [doctors] were like, “Yeah, this is what it is.” I‘m like, “Okay, but can we—” and they’re like, “This is what it is.” At that point, I’m just like, “I know enough people in my family that I can talk to, so I’m leaving.” But in the back of your mind, you feel like, “I get that you see patients like this all the time and maybe [they] all have the same symptoms, but this is still new for me, okay? Can you give me the benefit of the doubt that something could be different?”

How’d you go from just being aware to teaming up with Merck?
I was fortunate enough to talk to amazing women. Even as they’re going through their diagnoses, they’re creating organizations to help other women navigate TNBC. It was a no-brainer when the opportunity arose at Merck… When these women talk about being able to talk to their healthcare providers, you remember, “Hey, I’m not going to take no for an answer.” That’s so important because as people of color, it’s easy to be like, “Well, this man went to school, so I guess I’ve got to listen to him.” Yes, they went to school, and yes, we have to listen to doctors, but anybody seeking medical care deserves to at least be heard.

So this is the final season of Insecure, excuse our tears. What’s that been like?
I’ve said several goodbyes. You say goodbye at the end, then you say goodbye again when the trailer drops, then you say goodbye as the season is airing. I think we do a good job of saying goodbye to these amazing characters that I’ve gotten to embody, but also that [viewers] have gotten to embrace. The hardest thing about being on a show where we are such a family is trying to figure out what you do next. My team is like, “That’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing.” I’m like, “Well then I need new lifetimes.”

Is Molly going to get her life together this season?
Oh, I didn’t know her life wasn’t together. Are you coming for my character?

Well we’re team Issa, so…
And you think I’m going to give you an honest answer after that revelation? Why don’t you call Issa and see? Maybe she’ll be more forthcoming. I’m just going to be over here.

[Laughing.] Fine! We won’t come for Molly anymore.
That was a very Molly-esque attitude, but I think you deserved it.

You also wrote a book about faith. How do you balance your beliefs with your career?
The balance is to just lean into it. I go out, I do what I have to do, and I come back and recharge. I’m like, “Alright, God, what are we doing? Where are we going?” and that’s what anchors my decisions. I never want to be so heavenly focused that I’m no earthly good.

Can people who aren’t religious get something from your book?
Absolutely! In the opening, I’m like, “Listen, if you’re not Christian, you can still ride with it because I give very practical information. And if you are a Christian, you might be mad at some of the stuff I say, or you may be enlightened in your Christianity.” This is a book about relationships. It’s about being led by one of the best relationships I’ve ever had, but at the same time, focused on humanity and empathy.