The actress who plays Faith Mitchell just directed her first episode of the ABC drama, marking a major career milestone she’d written down as a goal six years ago.
Iantha Richardson, known to millions as GBI Special Agent Faith Mitchell on Will Trent, has officially added director to her resume. She made her network television directorial debut with an episode in the show’s ongoing fourth season, a moment she describes as surreal and deeply personal.
For Richardson, this wasn’t just another job. It was the fulfillment of a goal she literally wrote on a Post-it note back in 2020 and stuck to her mirror. The note simply read: “Direct an episode of network TV.”
“In 2020, I had a new set of goals in life, and one of them literally said, ‘Direct an episode of network TV,’” Richardson shared in a recent interview. “I didn’t even clock that I meant network television. But when I look back at that note now, I’m just in awe. Thank you, God. It’s a full circle gift. And the fact that it happened at all still blows my mind” .
The episode she directed aired recently on ABC, and Richardson has been opening up about what the experience meant to her both professionally and personally. She describes it as a “really cool opportunity” that allowed her to bring her unique perspective to the screen .
A Voice Only She Could Offer
Richardson didn’t just step behind the camera to fill a slot. She brought intentionality and her lived experience to the director’s chair. She emphasized that directing allowed her to tell a story through a lens that is exclusively hers.
“Personally, it meant that I got to tell a story through a lens that is only mine,” Richardson said. “From a perspective only I can offer, especially in an environment that doesn’t always look like me, even when it’s incredibly supportive. That made it special. It’s a voice that isn’t always visible, but it’s deeply honored here. And I’m excited to go even deeper as a storyteller” .
Her journey to this moment wasn’t accidental. Before directing this episode of Will Trent, Richardson had already begun building her skills behind the camera. She shadowed directors on the set of American Soul and funded her own short film called J’ouvert with help from family . That short film was a turning point. It confirmed for her that directing wasn’t just a passing interest but a craft she wanted to pursue seriously.
“I realized I loved the gritty work. I wanted to get better. I wanted to grow,” she explained .
The Episode Itself
While Richardson has been open about the experience of directing, she has kept the focus on the work rather than drawing attention to herself. The episode she directed fits seamlessly into the high-stakes fourth season of Will Trent, a season that has already put characters through intense situations .
The current season has been anything but easy for the GBI team. Will Trent (Ramón Rodríguez) recently survived a kidnapping. Angie Polaski (Erika Christensen) is navigating pregnancy. Michael Ormewood (Jake McLaughlin) is dealing with a brain tumor. And Faith Mitchell, Richardson’s character, just went through the emotional wringer discovering that a man she was falling for, Malcolm, was actually a wanted criminal .
In Episode 5, titled “Nice to Meet You, Malcolm,” Faith found herself in serious danger after unknowingly dating a bank robber. The episode ended with a promo showing Faith getting caught while snooping, leaving viewers worried about her fate . While Richardson did not direct that particular episode, the intense storyline gives her character plenty of material to work with as the season progresses.
Will Trent airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC and streams on Hulu . The show, based on Karin Slaughter’s bestselling book series, follows Special Agent Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, who uses his unique perspective—shaped by a difficult childhood in foster care—to solve crimes .
More Than Acting
Richardson’s move into directing reflects a broader trend of actors taking creative control behind the scenes. For her, storytelling has always been the throughline, whether she’s in front of the camera or behind it.
“My life’s mission is to tell stories that allow younger generations to be who they are, to live non-monolithically,” Richardson said. “Another way to do that is by controlling the narrative” .
Her background in performance started early. Dance was her first creative outlet, especially after she lost her father as a young child. She tried other activities, but dance was where she processed her grief. Acting came later, almost by accident, when she joined a roommate in an acting class in Los Angeles .
“I realized I loved the work. I didn’t care about money, I just wanted to do it,” she recalled. “Looking back, I think I was always acting. I used to listen to Michael Jackson’s music and act out the stories alone in my room. That was probably the beginning” .
Fans who have followed Richardson’s career since her breakout role as Adult Tess on This Is Us know she brings emotional depth to every project . On Will Trent, she has made Faith Mitchell a grounded, relatable character who balances professional competence with personal vulnerability.
What This Means for the Show
Having a cast member direct an episode often brings a different energy to the production. Richardson knows these characters intimately. She has played Faith since the series began and understands the dynamics between the GBI team members on a deep level .
The Will Trent showrunners have been supportive of cast members expanding their skills. ABC has also positioned itself as a network that encourages artist-driven storytelling . Richardson specifically credited the Will Trent team for “shepherding the cast and crew into the next phases of their lives” .
For viewers, Richardson’s directorial debut means an episode shaped by someone who genuinely cares about these characters and this world. It also means the potential for more episodes from her in the future. She has already expressed excitement about going “even deeper as a storyteller”.
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The Bigger Picture
Richardson hopes her journey encourages others to pursue their own audacious goals. She wants people to see her story and realize they can do it too.
“People say, ‘How did you pivot?’ But your life doesn’t have to look one way,” she said. “You can embrace where God leads you. If something big and audacious is put on your heart, that’s a note to follow it. Do it because that’s big magic” .
She also spoke about how her growth as a storyteller will continue because her life will continue to expand.
“I know now that what I have to say matters,” she said. “And what excites me about the future is that this only expands because my life will expand. I’m going to do more, see more, become more, and I’ll have even more to offer the world” .
For now, fans can watch Richardson’s directorial work in the current season of Will Trent. They can also keep watching her performance as Faith, a character who is currently facing one of her biggest challenges yet after the shocking reveal about Malcolm in the latest episode .
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