KAYA SCOLDELARIO X THE LATERALS
Before The Pirates Of The Caribbean, before The Maze Runner and before her generationally transformative role on Skins, Kaya Scodelario starred in a Robbie Williams music video. Delightfully pop with a pastel palette, Kaya takes on a cheeky persona where she moves through the city as if it were hers. Robbie Williams turned guardian angel protects from an onslaught of perils like Mayhem from the Allstate commercials. Clearly, this was not be the grandeur defining moment of her career, but it is foretelling in a way. More than 15 years since the Candy music video, Kaya is now making mayhem through Hollywood, and city is hers.
Born in Sussex, England, Kaya has an English father and Brazilian mother, but her surname comes from her mother’s Italian grandfather. In effect, she speaks Portuguese fluently. Kaya first came to notice in her role as Effy Stonem on the British teen-drama series Skins. It was a remarkably brilliant show about a breed of hedonistic teens that propelled many of the cast members into stardom. What was even more noteworthy was that the series took a radical approach by casting everyday teens. Kaya auditioned at the age of 14 and was the only one who wasn’t written out of the third season. This only speaks to her capacity as an actor.
Kaya is daring in a subtle way, bringing overtone and depth to whatever character she’s taken on. She can be brilliant, warm and kinetic. Since those days, Kaya has taken on a number of projects including classics like Wuthering Heights, the larger-than-life Pirates franchise and of course, her latest role in The Pale Horse. Streaming on Prime, this mystery-drama is the perfect true crime and chill addition to your quarantine roster. In short, Kaya Scodelario has cut a novel path throughout her career. When it comes to Hollywood, she is the city’s finest.
We understand you grew up in London. How do you think your primary school teachers would describe you ?
I spent most of primary school being the shy girl in the corner of the room, but my year six teacher was the first person to notice my love of acting, and she gently encouraged me to pursue it. In my end of year report, I remember her writing that despite my struggles with English and math, (I would be diagnosed as dyslexic a year later), she could see that I shined during drama lessons. I remember it being the proudest I had ever felt of myself in school.
You bring to life a complexity in your characters that's truly remarkable. With that in mind, tell us about your first time in the limelight starring in Oliver Twist.
It wasn't exactly the limelight, more an old spotlight over the community center stage! I was 11 years old, and I remember how excited I was for the end-of-year production. At first, they wouldn't let any of the girls audition for Oliver, and I was given one line to say, and during the first rehearsal, I said it with so much pride and confidence, like I'd finally found my voice. They let me have the part of Oliver the next day, and all the boys hated me for a week. Hehe
Skins was famous for casting "everyday" teens who didn't have any real acting experience. What drew you to audition?
I auditioned because our school had been sent a fax about it. The audition was on my way home, and a couple of girls in my class wanted to go along. I stayed outside at first too scared and intimidated to walk up. I didn't think people like me could be actors, but in my heart, I knew it was something I wanted more than anything. I felt alive when I was performing, and I didn't want that spell to ever end. The creator, Bryan Elsley, came outside for a smoke break, spotted me looking nervous and asked if I wanted to come in and audition, and it went from there.
After two seasons, the entire cast of Skins was written over except for yours. How did you manage to develop your character into the third season with a brand-new group of characters?
One of the many things that I think was so great about Skins was that it focused on the two years of British college/sixth form. That's such a pivotal time in young people's lives, and the plan was always to transition into a new group after the first two seasons. Playing Effy for the first two years was a huge education for me. For a majority of the show, she is mute but always listening. I worked on making her eyes the dialogue —watching her process the things around her and planning her moves just below the surface. It was great to be able to see her open up with the second generation. She speaks obviously, but that look in her eyes is still there, and she's still drinking in everything around her.
If you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?
Don't date 'that' boy, he's an arsehole, and to not straighten my hair every day, so I could look like the English girls. I miss my Latin curls!
You eventually made the move to films (and now have a ton on your roster). What was the transition like? Is there any genre you are eager to try out?
I've always felt it was important to treat every job the same. Be it TV, a music video or a $250 million dollar Disney set, you go, do hard work, treat people around you kindly, and get the job done. I love being able to experience everything the industry has to offer, but I'm really just grateful to be working and doing something I love. I think a lot of actors take that for granted, so yeah, huge movie sets with good food and big trailers are great, but I love a custard cream biscuit in a rainy English field too.
Your most recent project is Spinning Out on Netflix (which we dizzyingly binged). Your character is incredibly courageous and complex. What were some of your biggest takeaways from this role?
I had been looking for a character that honestly and accurately portrayed someone struggling with mental health for a long time. It's a subject very personal and dear to my heart. When I read the pilot, I felt immediately connected to Kat and wanted to explore her as a character. I learned a lot about how tough it is for young athletes to balance grueling schedules and immense pressure all whilst dealing with everyday life and relationships. I can now also finally zip around an ice rink without looking like I'm constipated and terrified.
Tell us about your latest project The Pale Horse. What can we look forward to?
The Pale Horse is a great Agatha Christy novel, and I have wanted to work with the writer Sarah Phelps for a long time now. I remember watching the BBC's Agatha Christy adaptations with my mom growing up. There is something so classy and British about them yet also incredibly dark and unsettling. In this one, we explore superstition, adultery, repressed rage, and gaslighting. My character Hermia has a great scene with a leg of lamb that is probably my favorite thing I have ever shot.
You are the fresh face of Cartier’s Clash de Cartier Collection. What has this experience meant to you?
It's been a dream working with Cartier this past year. When I met with them to discuss the clash line, they really emphasized how important the celebration of duality was in this line and how they wanted to embrace both my British and Brazilian sides. That's something I've never been able to project in work so far, and I was very excited to be able to with a brand as historic and timeless as Cartier.
What does a typical evening at home look like for you?
I really love to cook and so does my husband, so if we aren't hosting a dinner party for all our mates, we'll usually make some gin and tonics, turn the music up high, and attempt to cook a random dish we've found on the internet. After that, we'll snuggle on the sofa with my French bulldog Arnie and fall asleep in front of a good crime drama.
Fun fact: You have starred in a number of music videos. What can we find on your Spotify playlist?
I love the blues, rock 'n' roll, and anything from the late 60s through the 70s. The Rolling Stones are my favorite band of all time, but I'll also get drunk with my girlfriends and belt out the Spice Girls with tears in my eyes because they are still EVERYTHING.