I met Krys through one of my favorite friends, Elizabeth Minett, at her chic birthday brunch in Malibu. She was striking, lively and warm. I’m so glad we stayed connected after that day and I was so proud when she landed the role on The CW’s Supergirl. Not only was I proud of her but I also was geeking out because being a boy mom long before I became a girl mom, Zion and I used to always read and watch the chick superheroes because it was the only way to keep my interest lol.
Krys has been on This is Us, which is everyone’s favorite show, she plays “Purity” a steady bad “guy” on Supergirl, she’s been on every kind of commercial and ad you can think of. She has an unforgettable lightning smile and can lip sync in the car with the best of them, so, without further ado, get to know my friend, Krys! ::
What does the “Art of Being Female” mean to you?
“Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.” ― Maya Angelou
I really love this quote and for me it resonates with my relationship with being female. Constantly in this business, people test your boundaries to see how far they can push you, or what they can take that they know they don’t deserve. But to me, the Art of Being Female is the ability to, with grace and confidence, stand up for yourself and thereby standup for women everywhere.
Share with us a few highs and a few lows of being a working actress in Hollywood.
For me, there’s no greater feeling than when I get to the set of a new job. There’s never a time in my career where I feel more closely aligned with my purpose. I love selecting her costume, I love meeting my fellow actors and having those quick conversations about how we “see” the scene, or ideas we’d like to inject into the atmosphere. I love sharing my thoughts with directors and I love hearing their feedback or adjustments I can make to the performance. Whether I’m on set for a tv show, or in rehearsal for a play, I feel like time truly flies by, because I’m having so much fun.
As for the lows? Where do I begin?!!? I feel low when I feel like my career is out of my control. There are nights where I work my butt off on a character; memorizing, creating, and really giving myself over to the role. I write down stories of things that have happened to me; deep, intimate, personal things, and I relate them to the character, and use that in my work. Sometimes, I work for days on a single 5 page scene. Then finally, you head to your audition, you show a room full of strangers all your inner-most secrets, and then you head back out into your day, feeling a bit naked. There is a strange sense of loss. I’ve given so much of myself to this project that ultimately doesn’t belong to me. I don’t feel that everyday, but on the big ones I do!
What are the biggest // coolest // most important roles you’ve played?
To gain entry into most Drama schools, you have to perform one contemporary and one classical monologue. My classical choice was from Julius Caesar, playing Portia, Brutus’ wife. I was only 16, and at the time, every girl chose Juliet, Ophelia or Miranda from the Tempest. But there was something so entrancing to me about this terribly courageous woman, who stands up to her husband and commands him to confess his secrets. The role is typically played by women twice my age, but I was gutsy then and didn’t care what people thought of me and it worked! I got into 12 of the 14 schools I auditioned for.
You were on the insanely popular tv show, This is Us. What was it like working with that cast and crew and being on set with them?
The morning I got to set for This is Us was the Friday before the Golden Globes. Sterling was nominated for his role on “The People v O.J” and the set was abuzz with people congratulating him, agents tugging on him, and stylists asking him questions; all VERY intimidating to me. He walked right up to me and struck up a conversation that lasted the whole day. We chatted about work, about marriage (I was engaged at the time) and about our favorite restaurants in LA. It made me feel so special, so important, and instantly my nerves went away. That show really is a “No Ego” environment, and I think it shows in the performances.
You’re on Supergirl on The CW now. How much fun is it to play an action packed villain?
VERY fun. There’s something so juicy and delicious about really getting to unleash the venomous, conniving part of your personality. As women, we’re constantly reminded to “Smile. Be sweet.’ or “Don’t be too strong or you may threaten the men in your life.” “Let him take the lead.” These words of wisdom passed down by our mothers and women in our culture, certainly have their place, but often times these kinds of “reminders” are detrimental to female empowerment. Rarely in polite society am I able to express the darker sides of my personality. And as an actor, I’m not only allowed, but I’m encouraged. I love that.
What kind of training do you have to do for a role like this?
On Supergirl, we don’t get much notice for when we’ll be shooting a very physical scene, so we have to stay ready at all times. Aside from the show, I feel my best when I feel strong and am working out. I love Barry’s Bootcamp, and Burn 60 and I’ve recently gotten into cycling and now I’m totally hooked.
When it comes to fight scenes, the stunt team on Supergirl is the best in the business. The stunt coordinators and choreographers basically come up with a mock-version of how the fights will look on the set. They then teach it to the actors, and shoot one version with the “stunties” and one with the “realies”, and in post-production they marry the two takes together. So, I’ve pretty much got Barry’s Bootcamp and my stunt double Maya to thank!
If you wanted to be type-cast what type would you be?
The Bitch. I love playing the bitch! She gets the best lines and the most nail-biting story archs.
When did you know you wanted to be an actress?
I can’t remember there ever being a time when I didn’t want to be an actress. I do remember being little and seeing the Cosby Show and not realizing that they weren’t a real family. My mom explained to me that they were all actors, who were hired to pretend to be a family, and I remember saying aloud to myself “I want that.”
Have you ever had a “casting couch” experience? This industry is known for that and with the #metoo movement happening do you think it’s important to share or better to keep personal and vulnerable stories private?
When I first moved to LA, I had a manager who tried to pressure me into auditioning for some “Skinemax” movie that was full nudity and essentially soft core porn. Of course I graciously declined the audition, but then he proceeded to berate me over email about how I was ungrateful and I should at least attend the audition out of respect for the casting director. I then made it clear, that it was actually MORE disrespectful to audition for a project I had absolutely no intention of doing, and repeated “thank you for the opportunity, but I decline.” Finally he had his female business partner call me and she reprimanded me about how I was “undedicated” and lazy. That good opportunities don’t grow on trees. That lots of actresses began their careers doing “blue movies” and I ought to change my attitude if I ever wanted to “make it” in this town. In the end I held out and DID NOT attend the audition, but sadly was too naive and afraid to leave the management company despite their clear abuse of power. I worked with them for another 2 years before I finally got the courage to tell him to F*ck off.
What do you think about all the recent changes in Hollywood?
I think they are LONG overdue. Including stories that feature women of color, or trans-women, or older actresses- doesn’t take away from mainstream entertainment, it enhances it. It seems that people are inherently afraid of change, and there is a pervasive fear that by including our stories, it will somehow dilute or erase “American Culture”. But that’s just not true. A movie like “Black Panther” is proof-positive that our stories are not only beautiful and engaging but they are BANKABLE. There is real money to be made by investing in diversity. We still have so much further to go, but I feel like it a good time to be alive.
How does it feel to be a female actress at the moment?
There is a collective awakening that is occurring at the moment, that is very exciting to witness. This past pilot season I saw so many scripts with complex female leads, and POC (people of color) in top billing positions. Years ago when I first graduated school and came out to LA, all of my auditions were “Hooker”, “Junkie”, “Waitress”. It was infuriating. I’d spent 4 years and hundreds of thousands of dollars to train at a top conservatory, only to play “Stripper #2”?? Now we’re seeing less and less of that. We’ve come a long way, but we still have so much further to go.
Do you think there is a relevant reason to discuss specifically being an African American actress in Hollywood? What is that like? Are there roles written for you that you respect and enjoy?
Yes and no. When I was younger, it wasn’t as easy to be accepting of my looks. I was very aware of the “colorism” in casting and would see that commercials with lighter skinned or bi-racial girls, far outnumbered darker skinned girls who looked like me. The trend was big bouncy curls and wavy hair, not tight kinky curls and an afro like mine. So I straightened my hair to look like theirs and I avoided the sun so I wouldn’t be “too dark” and I would cross my fingers and hope it helped. But as I got older I began to embrace that, “Yes, I am a black woman, I love that fact, and I will no longer apologize for it. Any character I play, regardless of how she was written, will look like me, because I’m playing her. And if you don’t want to hire me, fine, I’m not your girl.”
Your fellow actor from This is Us gave a notable speech on how appreciative he was of the writing for This is Us as a black man. Do you find it relevant to discuss race in your field because there’s a need for more progress? Tell us how you feel…
I couldn’t agree more. So often when black actors are cast in a project, the story centers around their “blackness”. The story is about racial injustice in the 80’s, or police brutality in the 90’s or a historical tale of slavery in the 1850’s. All of these stories are important AND all of those stories are just a tiny portion of my experience as a black woman. I am a descendent of slaves, yes, but I am also a woman who likes and dislikes the same things any other woman does! I have drama with my girlfriends about where to take the next girls’ trip, I have arguments with my mom about not coming home enough, I bicker with my husband about who’s the messy one! I don’t go through my day thinking about integrated schools, or the middle passage. So although I’m very grateful for those types of stories about Black History, I also find it terribly limiting and narrow-minded. We are so much more than the curriculum of Black History Month.
Was your family supportive of this dream to become an actress?
Some parents may have reservations and think acting is a pipe dream. My family is my backbone. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve called my mom in tears because I “got the call” or “haven’t heard back”. It’s a constant roller coaster of rejection and validation, and having my mom and sister and husband stand beside me and remind me “You can do this” is what keeps me going.
Is the schedule while taping very grueling?
It is extremely grueling. Supergirl shoots in Vancouver, but my life, husband and dogs are all in Los Angeles, so I was essentially commuting between California and Canada for months. On the show we typically shoot 12-14 hour days, so they are long and can be very taxing. It’s important for me to keep up with healthy eating and exercise as much as I can, because the cast and crew is really counting on you to be at 100%
What do you do to decompress?
I love to travel and if i’ve got some downtime, I’m looking at flights and researching our next big trip. I love the feeling of entering an entirely new environment, with new foods, and new languages, where I’m forced to full immerse in a culture. There is something so freeing about travel.
What are you watching on tv?
I LOVE watching TV. I know I’m supposed to say something much more high-brow than that, but it’s the truth! I love intelligent TV like House of Cards and Homeland, and I love junk TV like Naked and Afraid and Married at First Sight! I love it all, which means I’m probably in the right business 🙂
Who are your favorite actors and actresses?
I’ve got a HUGE crush on both Mahershala Ali and Riz Ahmed. I think they’re both insanely talented and not bad to look at either. I think Claire Danes is so solid and I admire the many years she put into getting where she is today.
What is some advice you can give aspiring actrssses? How do you keep the faith when you get negative feedback or don’t get a role you really wanted?
As Rihanna says, “WORKWORKWORKWORKWORKWORK.” There is no secret, no magic pill, no special class to take, or person you can meet. All you can do is work your ass off every single day and when you feel like you can’t work any more, take a breath, and get back at it.
