You got cast as Omar on The Wire after only one audition. Is it true that your character was only supposed to be short lived?
They kept it real, and told me, "Omar is only supposed to be in seven episodes. We're very sorry that we wrote to kill you off." By the end of those seven episodes, I'm waiting to see how I'm going to die. Here we are three years later and I'm talking to you about Omar.

How was the character of Omar described to you?
"He's mid-thirties, he's African American, he's a mean motherfucker that doesn't take any shit. He's a gangsta, gun-toting motherfucka and oh, by the way, he's openly gay." They put in big letters: "He's absolutely, positively non-effeminate."

Did you have any reservations about playing an openly gay character?
I'm a character actor, I always look for challenges. I look for things that are going to make me stand out. I'm a black dude from the projects of Brooklyn with some talent. It's like, "Get in line." I knew I needed to stand out from all of this motherfuckin' talent out here. When I read Omar, I didn't look at it and say, "Why does he have to be gay?" I said, "Oh, this is it. He's a homo. That's what I need." I took it as a blessing. The minute I read Omar on that paper, I embraced all of him. I never regretted any of it. I fell in love with him on the paper when I read the breakdown, before I even read a script.

What reaction have you gotten from the streets and what reaction have you gotten from the gay community?
I've got two words - all love. It's remarkable. If you think about it, Omar is non-traditional. He doesn't dress fancy, he doesn't wear jewelry, he doesn't drive fancy cars, he doesn't live in a fancy place, he's openly gay, he doesn't use drugs, he doesn't sell drugs - this motherfucka doesn't even curse. Why do they love him? All I can say at the end of the day is that you might not agree with his lifestyle, methods or motives, but you've got to respect him. He stands up for what he believes in. He lets you know the game. He lets you know his rules, and he doesn't switch up on those rules. I think that's what the streets love about him.

Do you enjoy watching The Wire?
I'm in love with the show. I'm in love with the writing. David Simon writes from a code, which comes from the street. He keeps true to that. That's what makes the show so intricate. I'm in love with the other characters, the writing and the other actors. I love that show from the inside out. My coworkers, the writers - they make me look good.

The fourth season of The Wire is in production now. What can we expect from Omar next season?
First of all, I don't know shit. Those motherfuckas over there are tightlipped. All I do know is what they told the trades. They are delving into the school system. It's going to deal with the kids and what is going on in the school system in Baltimore this year.

What I could guess from my point of view - when I left Omar last year, he was in major conflict. When you saw him throw his guns in the water like that, that was a big sign that something has got to change - something's got to give. Even though Stringer had to go, that took a lot out of him. That particular murder and the way they came at his grandmother - it was ugly. Omar didn't take pleasure in killing Stringer. He didn't want to do it.

Omar is in his thirties. He can see that the game is changing. There's no more code in the street, it's all about the money now. He's in turmoil. He threw his guns in the water. I don't know where Omar is going, but he's at a crossroads.

Do you ever worry about getting typecast?
I love my thug roles. I love them to death. I’m from East Flatbush, Brooklyn, if you know that area. That's what I know, that's what I do. Robert DeNiro didn't have any problems, Al Pacino didn't have any problems - these motherfuckas got awards for playing thugs. Look at Denzel Washington. Denzel had a career of playing stand up, forthright characters, but his best role [in Training Day] was a thug. Personally, I feel like I'll get my award for playing a thug. It would be my hope to get an accolade for playing a thug - and not a thug cop, I mean a real thug.

As long as the story depicts my character as a complete and full human being, I'll take that thug in a minute. I know these people. I'm not a thug, but I know thugs. I grew up around thugs, I can call thugs if I need my thugs.

What do you do to unwind? What kind of hobbies do you have?
I just like to party. Life's a party. That's my hobby. My hobby is to always have fun in whatever I'm doing. I love to cook. I love to invite people over to my crib. Making people feel sexy, that's my hobby. Sex, drugs and rock 'n roll. Actually, no - sex, drugs and hip hop - how about that? Sex, weed and hip hop.

Tell us something nobody knows about you.
Nobody knows how spiritual I am. I've got a love affair going on with Jesus Christ right now. Nobody knows, they think that this just came about, that I lucked into this shit. But a lot of prayers went into this experience. A lot of prayers, a lot of tears, a lot of blood, a lot of hard knocks, a lot of footprints in the sand. I've got to let that be known. I represent J.C. all day, every day.

We've got one last thing for you here. We are going to do a word association. We'll just throw out a name and tell us the first thing that comes to your mind.

Madonna.
Fearless.

Tupac.
Prophet.

Omar.
Truth.

Baltimore.
Fun.

David Simon.
Genius.

Michael K. Williams.
Humble.

The future.
Hopeful.

Interviewed by Joel Murphy, August 2005. For more information on Michael K. Williams, visit his official website. To read our follow up interview with Michael K. Williams conducted in December of 2006, click here.