Interview by Carol Wright | Photos Courtesy of East 2 West Collective
We got to chat with actress Kylee D. Allen about her role in The Underground Railroad and her advice for aspiring, young actors.
By the age of 6 you knew you wanted to act. Who were some actors that inspired you early on?
At that age, I was constantly watching television shows on Disney and Nickelodeon. Zendaya and Skai Jackson are the two that will always stick out to me as inspirations. As young black girls in the business (and on my TV every day!), they let me know that if they could do it, then I could be an actress too.
You auditioned twice for The Underground Railroad before booking the role of Molly. What initially interested you in the project?
Years ago, my family used to watch a show called “Underground” and it was a series about slaves escaping from the South. It was really good and I was so disappointed when it got canceled—right at the good part of the story! Since this is my ancestor’s history, I was excited to be a part of another story and learn more.
What did you do to step into your character Molly’s shoes?
The American Girls Collection has a character named Addy, who escapes slavery in the 1800s with her mother. I read ALL of those books in the fourth grade! Learning about Addy’s journey from her eyes helped me get into character for this role. I also had to do lots of dialect training before we even started filming.
The story the show tells is incredibly important for people to see. Has it been rewarding to see audiences connect with the show?
Yes! So many people have messaged me on Instagram or commented on my photos from the show. Everyone tells me that they love the series and they usually add how many days it took them to watch it all! I was so nervous when we first started filming because The Underground Railroad was my first big role, so when I see all of the great feedback, it lets me know that I did a good job and makes me feel special to even be a part of a project this huge!
What did you learn from working with Barry Jenkins and your castmates?
The first time I met Barry, I was super nervous! I had never been on TV before and I was about to be directed by an Academy Award winner!!! He would always give me advice and make sure that I was comfortable in all of my scenes. The best thing he ever told me was, “There’s no reason to be nervous now. The audition is over and you got the job! Now put the nerves to the side and transform into Molly.” That really stuck with me because it was totally true and very encouraging. Barry would always call me “Boss Lady” because he knew it would make me laugh. Most of my scenes were with Thuso Mbedu, who plays Cora. Seeing how easy it was for her to go from laughing behind the scenes to crying with sadness when the camera started rolling was mind-blowing! She’s so talented and she also gave me good advice on and off of the camera.
What advice do you have for young, aspiring actors?
To be successful in this business, you have to be really tough and determined! There is a ton of rejection that comes with acting, so you have to keep your mind on the long-term goal. It’s also encouraging to celebrate the little “wins”—like actually getting an audition. Any chance to be seen in this business is a step closer to your goals.