Patina Miller on Raising Kanan’s Raquel Thomas’ Development

Patina Miller’s performance as Raquel Thomas in Power Book III: Raising Kanan was not just another acting job; she created one of the most complex and powerful characters on television. Miller’s interview on ‘The Toure Show’ revealed her process of building the queen-pin matriarch from the ground up.

From Politics to Power

After finishing six seasons of Madam Secretary, Miller’s career was at a crossroads. The end of a long run provided a rare opportunity for reinvention, and she knew exactly what she needed to do next: take risks.

“I wanted to do something dangerous,” she told Toure. “A character that was bold and big and really called on all the things that I personally would want to tap into.”

She was not interested in cookie-cutter roles or playing another man’s accessory. Power provided her with the challenge she craved.

Enter Raquel Thomas

Miller learned of a mysterious spin-off in the Power universe while meeting with casting directors in L.A. Character names are not present, and there is no script, but there was a sense of a brewing special something.

“The heart of what the show was going to be about was in that first script,” Miller said. “I didn’t know it was Kanan. I didn’t know it was Raquel. But the family element, the dynamic between mother and son—it was all there.”

After reading the part, it clicked for her.

“The character just popped off the page,” she recalled. “Yes, she’s a queenpin. But what else? I wanted to make her three-dimensional. It can’t just be, ‘Oh, she’s hard. She’s sassy.’ That doesn’t interest me.”

Building Raquel: Not Just a Gangster

Raquel Thomas is a character who could easily succumb to stereotypes: a cold-blooded and no-nonsense drug lord. Miller approached the role with nuance, depth, and intention.

“What excites me is getting to the truth of the character,” she explained. “Why is she hard? Why does she make the choices she makes? What’s the reason behind the armor?”

She credits her theater background for giving her the tools to sculpt Raquel from the inside out. Miller believes that finding the emotional root system is crucial for every role. Exploring Raquel was about discovering the woman behind the power: a mother, a protector, and a strategist.

The Marathon Mentality

Miller isn’t just looking for intensity in acting; she’s also a five-time marathon runner. She recently ran the London Marathon in 4 hours and 1 second, just short of her goal of surpassing the 4-hour mark. Despite everything, she believes that the true victory lies in persevering.

“Pain management sets in around mile 16. By mile 20, it’s just about survival,” she laughed. “You have to talk yourself through it. It’s about remembering your ‘why.'”

Her work directly reflects her grit. Acting, just like running, necessitates mental stamina, focus, and emotional strength.

“You have to stay the course even when it gets rough,” Miller said. “There’s something to that. That’s why I love it.”

Recognition Without Ego

Despite the accolades, Miller is not content with trophies, including a Tony for Pippin. Her Tony is placed in her husband’s office, not as a place of worship, but as a reminder of resilience.

“I don’t love focusing on the awards,” she said. “But when I need a pick-me-up, when that little voice creeps in to tell me I’m not enough, I look at that and remember: I earned this. I worked for this.”

Why Acting Matters

What is it about acting that she loves the most? The freedom.

“I get to be anyone I want to be,” Miller said. “There’s something incredible about creating a character, telling a story, and throwing yourself into it fully.”

That’s precisely what she has accomplished with Raquel Thomas. She didn’t just play a drug lord—she created a fully realized human being, layered with pain, ambition, love, and sharp intelligence. If you inquire with viewers or critics, Miller did not just join the Power universe—she elevated it.