A Madea Homecoming took the world by storm when it released late last month, topping Netflix charts both in and out of the US. Despite being the twelfth entry in a decades-long franchise, it still introduced audiences to even more previously unknown members of the infamous matriarch's family. Most of them came from her daughter Cora's side of the tree, including great-grandson Tim (Brandon Black, Dear White People) and granddaughter Ellie (Candace Maxwell, Katy Keene).

Candace Maxwell in particular is no stranger to the world of Tyler Perry, currently starring in his BET+ series All the Queen's Men as Dime. Her character in A Madea Homecoming is actually a point of conflict for some relatives, as she is a proud cop who doesn't necessarily see eye to eye with her loved ones and the role of law enforcement in the community. Though it's only an uncurrent through the film, it points to a larger willingness to dive into relevant topics despite the comedic nature of the story.

Related: Brandon Black Interview: A Madea Homecoming

Maxwell spoke to Screen Rant about her headcanons for Ellie's role in the Madea-verse, as well as what to expect for the future of All the Queen's Men.

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A Madea Homecoming (2022). L to R: Tyler Perry as Madea, Brendan O’Carroll as Agnes Brown, Geneva Maccarone as Sylvia, Candace Maxwell as Ellie, and Gabrielle Dennis as Laura. Cr. Steve Dietl / Tyler Perry Studios

I very much enjoyed A Madea Homecoming, but you already have a very diverse filmography. You are also well-versed in dance and stage performance. How do you think that your professional background has informed your screen acting?

Candace Maxwell: I think it's had its challenges, but it makes it easy in ways. I feel like I have good facility over my body being a dancer, so it's easy to hit marks and repeat things and find this seamless synergy on set.

And I feel like dancers are kind of in the background; we wait in the background. Having to step into more of a leading role - or a supporting character with A Madea Homecoming and then my show All The Queen's Men is more of a leading role - is intimidating at times, to be honest. But it's cool. I think it serves you; everything you do in life serves you for the next thing.

What is it like collaborating with Tyler Perry, and what is he like as a mentor?

Candace Maxwell: He's somebody who I haven't had much one-on-one time with, but a lot of time working on set. And that's a mentorship in itself, because I'm watching someone work at such a high level. [Someone] who not only is the director, but the writer, the producer, and the creator. He does it all. It's really fascinating to watch somebody like that work and just see how fast his brain is really.

But also, how he has built a team around him of really wonderful people who are phenomenal at what they do. I've just learned that it's really important to keep good people around you who are great at what they do, because it's all synergy. I feel so much synergy when I'm on set working with him, regardless of how chaotic or how fast it may be. Because Tyler works really fast, which is also special in itself, but it just keeps you on your toes.

And I really love that he's based in something; in his spirituality and his beliefs. I think that's a personal journey for each and every person, and I have my own. But I love that no matter what, we come together as a studio to pray first thing in the morning.

He just seems very grounded, very humble, but also very ambitious and true to his fans. He doesn't care what critics have to say, he cares about the people who support and love him. And I'm like, "Yes, I love that." Keeping that energy in your life and that focus on the positivity is so great.

Another thing that I assume must be chaotic is keeping track of Madea's ever-expanding family, which you are now part of. How do you do it? Who is Ellie closest to in your mind? Were there discussions that you had, or just your own head canon of her place in the family?

Candace Maxwell: It was definitely my own creation. Ellie was my own creation. Madea's my grandmother, so I based a lot of Ellie off the fact that Madea is my grandma and Cora is my mom. How do these two women correlate? How do I get some traits from Madea and some from my mom to create this new bundle of Ellie? I just thought about my own life. In what ways am I like my grandmother, and in what ways am I like my mom? How did that funnel down into me? A really simple way

Madea's just so spicy. She's not afraid to say what she wants to say and be herself. She's so authentic, and that's what I love most about Madea - and I think what the majority love. What the world - I mean, number one on Netflix, even if it was for the weekend - understands about Madea is that she is fearless and says what she needs to say. And I think we do need more of that. I look up to Madea fully.

Where I fit into the family? I'm that fun, spunky little sister who everybody needs in their life, but who also is a badass police officer.

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A Madea Homecoming (2022). L to R: Geneva Maccarone as Sylvia, Candace Maxwell as Ellie, Jennifer Gibney as Cathy, and Brendan O’Carroll as Agnes Brown. Cr. Tyler Perry Studios

It was surprising to have the role of police officers really be a topic of conversation. What was it like to bring that to life, and did you feel an added responsibility about the fact that you're introducing this topic?

Candace Maxwell: I did, because it's a controversial topic. This is a comedy and it's light, but also, we want to bring truth to the table.

We just touched on it, and I think a lot of what we do here is, "Let's touch on this so that people can, when they're done watching the movie, have a conversation with their family and friends." It wasn't our moment to push our full-on beliefs on you, but it's opening up a conversation. And I think that's important. That's the purpose of putting commentary in comedy.

Tim and his not-so-surprising confession to the family is another important piece of commentary that is included in this film. What do you feel Ellie and Tim's dynamic is?

Candace Maxwell: Ellie adores Tim. Hands down, that's her little baby. That's my nephew; that's my sister's baby. I watched him grow up.

I think when you watch people - again as an actress, but I'm speaking as Ellie now - grow up and blossom, it's one of the most beautiful things. They go off to college and accomplish all these things. And he's the first in his family to do this, or in our leg of the family. I didn't go to college, in my mind, so it's beautiful to see him growing up and be such a wonderful young man.

His confession didn't matter to us, because we knew. And that's the message of the film: you love people, regardless of their sexuality or their religion or their race. It's love. That's the message I got from this film: love. Pick yourself up during hard times and open your heart back up.

Between Katy Keene on the CW and STARZ's Power, you've done such a wide range of projects. What is it you most enjoy about the roles you choose, and what makes you want to be part of a project in general?

Candace Maxwell: I just love working with good people. And I'm an actress actress - I want to be working. How do I creatively get my juices flowing? I feel silly if I'm not working. It's a huge part of my life.

I like working with people who are fun, who are not afraid to try things; to experiment. And, of course, respectful. Respect is number one, and integrity. But people who love what they do, honestly. If you love what you do, and you show up, that's who I want to work with.

And projects? I want to do at all. I want to do some comedies, I want to do some deep dramas - give me that drama - and some musicals. Just see where my career goes and enjoy the journey.

With a new season of All the Queen's Men coming, what can we expect for DJ Dime?

Candace Maxwell: I can't give it away, but just know that there's a cliffhanger. For you guys, if you have not yet checked out season 1 of All the Queen's Men, it is streaming now on BET+. You can get fully caught up and know where we're picking up at the top of season 2.

But just know that it's bigger, it's badder, it's better.

Is there anything else that you're tackling in the year 2022? What are you hoping to achieve, and what else are you working on?

Candace Maxwell: Oh my gosh. I'm sort of a vagabond, right? I swear, since 2020 happened? Man, I felt like I was displaced, and then moved and moved and moved. I'm ready for grounding, honestly. Grounding yet expansion, if that makes any sense.

More: Tyler Perry's Madea Cinematic Universe Explained: Every Movie & Show That Counts

A Madea Homecoming is currently available to stream on Netflix, and the first season of All the Queen's Men is on BET+.