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J.B. Smoove plays a friend and friend and protector to Chris Rock’s characted in the new film Top Five.Evan Agostini/The Associated Press

In Chris Rock's Top Five, the comedic actor J.B. Smoove, best known for his recurring role in Larry David's HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm, plays the security guard, assistant and friend to Rock's conflicted comedian character.

We spoke to the upbeat, animated Smoove from … well, actually, we never did nail down where he was.

But we did find out where he was coming from.

How are you today?

I'm doing amazing, brother.

Undoubtedly. Where are you calling from?

I'm calling from Earth, baby. Normally I'm an interplanetary guy. But I've grounded myself on this planet for a little while, you know?

Grounded is good. Now, you're a friend of Chris Rock, and you're in his new film. Did you get the sense that Top Five was a make-or-break moment in Chris's career, specifically as a director and writer?

Yeah, man. He loaded up the cannon. I told him on the set. I said, 'Man, you have loaded this up big time.' He's done a lot of things. But this is the one that turns that corner, as far as his respect level when it comes to acting, writing and directing. He's a mind reader or time traveller or something. He's found a way to tap into what's going on in the world.

Did you read his essay in The Hollywood Reporter, on the racial divide in the film industry?

I did. It was a damn good piece. There's an amazing honesty about Chris. And he has a take on everything. We, as comedians, have a unique ability to take what's going on in the world, process it and submit it to you for your approval. We put a spin on it, to make it manageable. When it comes to how people receive things, it's all about the dosage.

In the essay, he wrote that Hollywood was a white industry. In Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm, you play Leon Black, who is literally a black guy in a white world, right?

Leon's not a colour. He's a character. Whether you're black, white or Hispanic or whatever, everybody knows a Leon. He doesn't have to be a black dude.

You could see Leon as a layabout, living off Larry. But it's a mutually beneficial relationship, isn't it?

He's a hustler. But he has Larry's back, because Larry has his back. He's not taking from Larry all the time. Larry takes Leon's advice. He wants to hang around Leon. They became friends.

In Top Five, your character is toned down from Leon, but he's a protector and friend to Chris's comedian character. Can you talk about that relationship?

When you're an entertainer, like Chris's character is, you need someone like that. I have a buddy of mine who does exactly what I do in the movie. His name is A.B., and he does security, scheduling and all these things. Now, here's the thing: I can hire a guy to do what A.B. does, but I cannot hire someone to be my friend. You know what I mean? That's just something that's not on a résumé.

This interview has been condensed and edited.

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