“I grew up watching Shirley Temple movies and had an incredibly old-school mentality of how Hollywood worked because no one near me was in the industry to guide me.” Says Our 21st Anniversary Edition Kat Graham, Check out here latest Interview right here!
From Sci-fi teen idol, singer with multiple hit records to Netflix’s romcom queen, Kat Graham is one of the most versatile artists of the moment. So, what is next for the UN ambassador? Kat Graham talks exclusively to L’Officiel India in this month’s special 21st-anniversary issue about her new films and Modern Nirvana!
In regards to foundation, I’ve been wearing L’Oréal since I was 15 years old but I also do love Danessa Myricks Beauty, Fenty and Dior’s glow foundation.
Hi Kat, Welcome to L’Officiel, we wanted to know how the little Kat who appeared in the Barbie commercial when she was 6 years old felt back then while acting?
When I was shooting commercials as a child, I remember being hyper-aware of everything that was going into it. Even to this day, I remember the Barbie handlers and I remember the lighting guys. I remember being incredibly excited to be there but more than that, I remember feeling incredibly focused to do it right. I always took my work seriously even as a kid.
You have been in this industry for a long time now, what’s the one thing that you wished that someone should’ve told you when you were starting your career?
I was always under the assumption that in Hollywood you get “discovered”. I grew up watching Shirley Temple movies and had an incredibly old-school mentality of how Hollywood worked because no one near me was in the industry to guide me. The reality is, you’re going to have to decide who you are in this industry and work towards it accordingly. No one is going to discover you. No one is going to give you a handout. You need to take the steps yourself, whether you’re ready to or not.
I had never actually planned to sing. From becoming a beatmaker, I wanted to become an engineer.
You look really gorgeous, especially with your beautiful hair, do you follow any particular makeup regime, and what do you do when it comes to fitness?
In regards to my hair, I definitely keep it conditioned. Because of the pandemic, I really learned how to work with my super tight and oftentimes frizzy hair. I actually use a lot of L’Oréal Elvive. My makeup routine always starts with the skin. I’ve recently discovered different products like herbal face food’s the cure x, 111Skin’s repair serum, and Sunday Riley’s vitamin C serum. Going to bed with Sisley’s ecological compound moisturizer has also really helped me. I really love skincare and I always feel that your base is what’s really important first. My makeup routine differs because my makeup looks depending on what I’m doing. In regards to foundation, I’ve been wearing L’Oréal since I was 15 years old but I also do love Danessa Myricks Beauty, Fenty and Dior’s glow foundation. When it comes to fitness, I always have to make it fun. I’m a dancer so at the end of the day dance will always be my number one go-to. But I’ve recently been getting into different apps like the Sweat app or the FitCoach app so I can work out at home. I do a lot of walking running and cardio.
Not only an actor, but you are also a flawlessly melodious singer, from where did you get the inspiration for the same?
What’s funny is I started off as a dancer at around age 4 and then I got into acting at around age 6. I started to work as a dancer at around age 14. My mom would drop me off at the boys and girls club, which is a youth centre in Los Angeles because she was a single mom working long hours. It was in that youth centre that I learned how to DJ. One of the volunteers would bring in crates of old-school hip-hop records so I began to learn how to DJ on vinyl around age 13. That soon progressed into wanting to be a beatmaker. I had never actually planned to sing. From becoming a beatmaker, I wanted to become an engineer. I learned how to engineer and got a degree in recording engineering. Once that happened, I decided to start rapping. I wanted to be the female Pharrell. Actually, singing has been a somewhat new journey for me and in reality, I didn’t really start singing until 2009, long after I learned how to produce my own records. My passion for singing now comes from wanting to tell stories in the same way I do within a series or film which is what Toro Gato is about.
I would love to play a superhero that uses her inner power, whatever and however that means. Because to young girls is says that you don’t need anything external to be powerful.
As a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, and you were given a chance, what is one thing that you would like to change in the world?
If nothing else, I hope that the difficult two years we’ve all experienced through the pandemic and in the midst of tremendous geopolitical instability have helped us see our common humanity. We all have the same fears, hopes, and dreams. We all thrive for access to safety, health, education and the right to live in peace. And, as such, I’d love for countries to be more supportive of refugees who are the victims of circumstances out of their own control. Any one of us could, overnight, join their ranks. Now is not the time to close our borders. Now is the time to show empathy and solidarity.
If a real superhero comic is made and you were to be in it, what would be your superpower and why?
I would love to play a superhero. I would love to play a superhero that uses her inner power, whatever and however, that means. Because to young girls, it says that you don’t need anything external to be powerful which says a lot more to their subconscious minds as they grow and become leaders. In a way, I’ve definitely done that playing Bonnie Bennett for eight years, and I think that has also contributed to why I still have such a big fan base from it.
My next films are Netflix’s Love in The Villa with Tom Hopper and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as well as the indie film Collide that I did with Ryan Phillippe.
What are your next projects?
My next films are Netflix’s Love in The Villa with Tom Hopper and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as well as the indie film Collide that I did with Ryan Phillippe. I’m also currently working on a Time Studios documentary. I have more music coming in a big way this summer and I’m so excited for everyone to hear it. I’m not ready to announce it yet but I will in the next month or two. My wellness company with Frank Elaridi and Bryant “Ikar” Wood Modern Nirvana is having its third annual Modern Nirvana conference this year. Last year we honoured the great Deepak Chopra who has been a great deal of support in guiding us in the wellness space especially as it relates to consciousness.
We are delighted to have you on board and so are our readers, what message do you have for the people who aspire to become like you?
What I’ve learned on my journey is that you don’t want to aspire to become like anyone. You want to aspire to become the greatest version of yourself. There is only one you. It’s one thing to look at somebody’s success and want the same level of it. But to try and be like anyone, takes away your power, and that’s a message I’ll never promote.
