It’s been a minute since we’ve had a true Black coming-of-age story—but Forever is exactly what the culture needed.

The new Netflix series stars Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr. as two teens navigating life, love, and everything in between. But what sets this show apart? There’s no trauma driving the narrative, no pain used as a plot device. Instead, Forever follows two Black teens as they experience the awkward, sweet, and complicated parts of growing up—and it’s genuinely refreshing to watch.

Forever proves that Black youth deserve stories where they’re allowed to just be—to make mistakes, fall in love, laugh until it hurts, and deal with regular teenage problems like everyone else. Simone and Cooper bring an honest, natural energy to their roles—it feels like watching your younger cousins, or maybe even a version of your younger self. With a tone that’s both nostalgic and present-day, Forever isn’t just for Black teens—it’s for anyone who’s ever wanted to feel seen, heard, and understood.

In our interview, Simone shares that she’s always been a deep feeler. Since childhood, she’s had a strong sense of passion—so strong, she had to learn how to manage the intensity that came with it.
“One of my biggest don’ts was ‘don’t get too loud too fast,’” she says. There was a time when that emotional fire came across as aggression, but now she’s learned to pause, breathe, and respond instead of react.

Cooper, on the other hand, keeps it simple: “Brush it off and keep it pushing.” It’s a mantra that’s clearly guided him through his rapid rise in the industry.

On-screen, we’ve got an Aries and a Scorpio. Off-screen? Lovie’s a Sagittarius who thrives on travel, food, and new experiences, while Michael is a Pisces who cherishes solitude and quiet moments to reflect.

When asked to recall the chaos of their own teen years, both stars remember the moments that shaped them. For Simone, it was almost missing her shot. During her senior year of high school—right after she booked Greenleaf, a major breakthrough—a call from school nearly derailed everything. Her grades were slipping, and she thought her big opportunity was about to disappear.
“I went into the bathroom and asked myself, ‘How could you let it get like this?’” she recalls. Thankfully, her teachers gave her grace. With some extra effort, she pulled through, made it to Georgia, and launched the career she had dreamed about.

As for Cooper, acting came fast. He landed his Forever role in 2020 and has been figuring it all out ever since. Like his character Justin, he has ADHD. They’re both a little messy, a little scattered—but they’re learning. He credits his mentor, Sanaa Lathan, for helping him navigate the journey, especially with one piece of advice that stuck with him:
“Instill patience.”