Words by Carol Wright |Photographs courtesy of jc-pr
We got to chat with Makayla about Mr. Mercedes, actors she would love to work with, and feeling nervous before a performance.
Actors get the chance to escape their reality each time they work on a project. Growing up did you often read or play make believe to take yourself somewhere else?
Ever since I could remember I would always pretend to be different people and create new worlds in my head. I still love the feeling of living in a different realities and the liberation of being whoever you want to be.
What was your first foray into acting? Did you learn anything new about yourself from that first job?
My first acting job was for NBC’s Parenthood and that experience made me instantly fall in love with the world of film and television. Seeing all the other professionals working their craft made me realize I still have a long way to go before I get to their level.
What was the audition process like for Mr.Mercedes? What drew you to the role of Barbara?
I actually auditioned for Mr. Mercedes by self-tape, which was cool because I got to do it as many times as I wanted before submitting it. What really drew me to the role of Barbara was that she is so similar to myself. Barbara is very organized, loves to sing, and is wise beyond her years. Getting to play her felt very close to home.
Have there been any truly moments on set when you were scared or on edge?
I always get nervous before performing, even though I’ve been acting for so long. But all those nerves go away once the director calls action. From there I can step into my character and it’s like the cameras and stage crew don’t even exist. I’m fully in the moment.
Do you hope to act in more movies in the near future?
Of course! I hope to act in anything that comes my way. The thing I really hope to catch would be a strong recurring role or a feature film.
Is there a certain actor you’d love to work with?
An actor I would love to work with would be Samuel L. Jackson. I feel like he could teach me so many great lessons from being in the business so long. As for directors it will forever be a dream of mine to work with Quentin Tarantino. His characters are so cool and complex, plus you could get a lot of great dialogue to play with.
Outside of acting what are some of your other creative outlets?
When I’m not acting I’m either singing, writing, painting, editing, filming or watching movies. I try to constantly create and get inspired by the work of other talented figures.
What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
To anyone looking into getting into the film industry I would say “PRACTICE!” The more you practice the stronger you get. The more auditioning you do the better you get at it. It all takes time to become really good at a skill, that’s something I remind myself every day.