Interview by Mckenziee Belton |Photographer: Jim Warren
We got to chat with actress Sydney Mikayla about her role in General Hospital and her experience training at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy.
Can you tell us about your character Trina on General Hospital and how you would describe her to your fans who haven’t met her yet?
I would say Trina is strong, beautiful, unfiltered, and honest. If you haven’t met Trina yet, I would say that she lies to no man! Get ready to hear the truth about yourself, even if you didn’t necessarily ask for it.
What can we look forward to from Trina this season on General Hospital?
Trina is really struggling with who to trust. After finding out that her dad faked his death for months, the betrayal, hurt, and the anguish she feels is affecting all parts of her life.
Along with playing Trina, you also voiced the character of Wolf on the hit animated series Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts how was it different preparing for this role versus preparing for a traditional acting role?
I had to make sure that Wolf was the action-packed superhuman, in a ten year old body of course. Playing a young girl living in a post-apocalyptic world took a lot of visualization and playing around with the different registers of my voice. It was imperative that my voice captured the essence of who she was.
In 2014 you played Gabby Douglas in the Lifetime Original Movie, The Gabby Douglas Story with the incredible Regina King, what was it like getting to work together and what did you learn from that experience?
Ms. Regina King was absolutely incredible to work with. She taught me the importance of being a team player, and making sure that you give your best performance to benefit yourself and your scene partner as well.
You had the opportunity to train at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, which is phenomenal! What led you to pursue dancing?
It was actually after the Gabby Douglas story! After I had done gymnastics for those few weeks, I wanted to try it. However, I thought that at 10 years old I was way too old to start gymnastics. Fortunately dancers can truly start at any age. So I started dancing, and I’ve stuck with it…between my acting schedule that is.
You’ve studied contemporary ballet, contemporary tap, and hip-hop. Where do you see yourself dancing next? Broadway, Dancing with the Stars, or maybe even music videos?
Yes, yes and yes! Because of the pandemic, Broadway is now becoming more live action movie musicals, which I love because they are more accessible to everyone. I hope to be part of those one day. I also would love to be part of Dancing with the Stars! I talked to Ingo, my coworker on General Hospital, about the experience, and he said he absolutely loved it! Also, a cameo in a music video would be super fun!
You’ve worked across many genres in Fuller House, Criminal Minds, Community, Parenthood, Yo Gabba Gabba, Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, Hot in Cleveland, and currently in General Hospital. How have the roles influenced your acting style, and what genre have you enjoyed tackling the most?
I have to say, there is nothing like a live studio audience. Fuller House is the last show I did with a live studio audience, and with COVID-19, live studio audiences may become completely extinct. But that energy, the real laughter from smiling faces…that’s what makes an actor just light up inside. Seeing those fans up close and personal, that’s what I loved.
What advice do you have for those looking to follow in your footsteps?
Train! Oftentimes with social media, everyone wants quick fame and easy followers. And I admit, that may work for some. However, the goal is to build a career! So if you want to dance, learn the technique so you can dance forever. If you want to bake, take classes so you can create your own recipes. And if you want to act, take acting lessons so that you knockout every audition.