NKD Mag - Issue #89 (November 2018) by NKD Mag

ISSUE #89 - NOVEMBER 2018

by Catherine Powell

NOV. 2018 04 MOLLY MCCOOK

24 JESSICA PARKER KENNEDY on playing nora west-allen + the advice she’d give her younger self

on growing up on screen + his new series, origin

06 VIOLETT BEANE

28 KAYLEE BRYANT

52 DANIELLA PERKINS

on understanding the business + her two latest roles

42 TOM FELTON

on her new show, god friended me + advicating for animals

on taking things step-by-step + the first season of legacies

on following her dreams + her latest show, knight squad

10 KATELYN TARVER

30 NICOLE MAINES

56 MERRITT PATTERSON

on growing up + her latest ep, kool aid

on her struggles growing up + joining the cast of supergirl

on traveling the world for work + unbroken: path to redemption

14 MADISON ISEMAN

36 SPENCER SUTHERLAND on evolving his sound + his first national tour

62 ATTICUS

on writing, fame + the dark between stars

20 PATRICK DRONEY

40 LUXTIDES

64 NYCC: CLASS OF 2018

on prioritizing her happiness + goosebumps 2

on finding inspiration in different cities + his debut EP

on releasing “shadows” + her goals for her new project

featuring the casts of gotham, the gifted, the 100, siren + more

CATHERINE POWELL

publisher, editor, photographer, designer, writer

SAMANTHA BAMBINO

RACHEL HILL

CHRISTINE O’DEA

CARLY BUSH

STACY MAGALLON

LOUIS OPRISA

ELIZABETH FORREST

NICOLE MOOREFIELD

VANESSA SALLES

writer writer writer

IAN HAYS writer

writer writer writer

OLIVIA SINGH writer

molly mccook Words by OLIVIA SINGH Photos by CATHERINE POWELL Glam by EMILY DAWN using ORIBE & MARC JACOBS BEAUTY

Molly McCook has been surrounded by show business her entire life. Growing up in Los Angeles, both of her parents had careers as actors. Her father, John McCook has starred on The Bold and the Beautiful since the ‘80s and her mom, Laurette Spang, appeared on shows like Happy Days and Battlestar Galactica before fully dedicating her time to being a parent. “I grew up literally in my dad’s dressing room and on the sets, and really being around it my whole life.” Molly says. “My parents didn’t really know I was interested in it until I got into singing and I immediately wanted to be in the spotlight.” Molly says that her parents were cautious of her “following in their footsteps” because “they know that kid actors can be led into some scary paths in the future.” Instead, she was encouraged to do theater, sing, and join acting classes – which she gladly did for a while. “I continued to fall in love with theater and musical theater and acting, just plain and simple and as it is, which was really important I think because I think a lot of kids now are falling with the idea of being an actor, and the idea of fame, which is so scary,” Molly says. “But I really fell in love with what it means to me and how it makes me feel before I really started getting into the professional scene when I was about 15. But even then, it was a very slow process.” At 15, Molly booked her first audition, which turned into a guest-starring role on Monk. Being on the show “was an incredible experience,” but Molly “didn’t work for a handful of years.” “I just kind of began the difficult career of a struggling actor,” she says. Molly went on to land roles on series like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and

Modern Family. Now, she’s found a home on FOX’s Last Man Standing. The sitcom originally aired on ABC, but was canceled after six seasons. When it was picked up by FOX, actress Molly Ephraim (who played Mandy Baxter) chose not to return. With the part available, Molly was immediately drawn to the show. “The fact that I get to be in front of a camera and have an audience laughing and applauding, it’s definitely a combination of the two loves of my life,” Molly says. “That alone has always been one of my dream jobs.” “It seemed that what the show has to tell is important,” she adds. “I learned since being on it that the show covers real issues and real political views and what it’s like for a family to have different views and how they continue loving each other and talking through those views.” Prior to Season 7 airing in late September, Molly noticed that fans were voicing their opinions about her playing a role that was previously done by someone else. “It’s a matter of comfort and what we’re used to and a lot of us just don’t like change and I totally get that,” Molly says. “But I think in order for people to really enjoy what’s coming up, they’re going to have to accept that change has happened and I think they’re really going to like what we have planned.” Molly adds that her version of Mandy is going to be different, and the show will also introduce some new characters and new actors. “I think after a while, all the changes of the whole show in general will grow on everyone,” Molly explains. “But that’s just what’s real. Families grow and they change and people grow up a little bit and I think that the fans will be excited to see all

the new stuff that they have planned.” Molly will also star on The Fosters spin-off Good Trouble, which premieres in January 2019. The show focuses on Callie (Maia Mitchell) and Mariana’s (Ramirez) new lives in L.A. as “adults in their ‘20s.” Molly plays Rebecca, a conservative lawyer who works alongside Callie as a clerk. “I auditioned for Good Trouble in a really good week,” Molly says. “I was having a really rough year of auditions leading up to this one. So I wasn’t feeling that great about where I was at.” When Molly heard about Good Trouble, her then-boyfriend and current fiancé encouraged her audition. When she went in, “it just felt right” and she got to discuss the character more in depth with the writers, producers, and casting directors. “Rebecca is hard to understand because I think a lot of people will love to hate her at first,” Molly says. “What’s important as an actor with those kinds of roles is finding why someone is like that, why she’s unlikable, and why she’s misunderstood.” The following day, Molly got engaged. The day after, she was at Disneyland when she found out that she got the part. “Good Trouble will always be special to me for so many reasons,” Molly says. With two shows that she’s thrilled for fans to watch, Molly is pleased with where her career is at. “I think I’ve struggled for enough years and I’ve lost enough jobs and I’ve had enough bad auditions to know that where I am right now is a really big deal for me,” says. “I also am aware that in this crazy industry, I can lose it any second. So all that I can do is work hard and make a good environment for the people that are working with me and appreciate where I’m at.” NKD NKDMAG.COM

violett beane Words by NICOLE MOOREFIELD Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

For nearly a decade, Violett Beane has told all kinds of stories — she’s played a superhero, a cancer patient, a demon-tormented teenager, a school shooting survivor, and now a journalist seeking to explain the supernatural on CBS’s God Friended Me. While Violett is excellent at delivering someone else’s voice, she is still finding her own. When Violett was 10, her family moved from Florida to Texas. “That’s what sparked the creativity inside of me,” she remembers. 9-year-old Violett had yet to find her passion, “but when I moved to Austin, every single type of art opened up to me,” from acting to sewing to building furniture. Violett began taking acting classes at her performing arts high school and got an agent shortly after. Even while balancing a burgeoning acting career, Violett was still a normal teenager. “When I was in high school, I had the brilliant idea — as high schoolers do — to ride on the back of a car,” she recalls. The first trip went safely, but “on our way back, the driver sped up, and I got scared, so I jumped off.” She landed on her heel (the thickest bone in her body, says her Instagram bio), cracking it in half. “I had to be rushed to the hospital in an ambulance,” she says, and spent two months in a wheelchair and on crutches. Senior year, when Violett’s classmates were applying to col-

lege, “something in me just clicked” that the traditional academic path wasn’t for her. She stopped applying and focused wholly on auditions. Her first big role after graduation was reenactment documentary Tower “about the first mass school shooting in America that happened 52 years ago at [The University of Texas],” she explains. Violett played Claire Wilson, who survived but lost her boyfriend and unborn child. “The documentary tells the story of a few of the survivors, and how people deal with something so tragic,” Violett says. “It was just a really special project to be a part of, especially in the world that we’re in now. This being one of the first ones, no one even knew what was going on,” Violett adds. Her new role on God Friended Me is much more hopeful. “The show is just a really uplifting, positive hour of television,” Violett shares. “I think in the world that we’re in right now, people need something like this.” God Friended Me is unlike other shows on television right now “that you walk away from and you don’t feel necessarily good about the world or yourself,” she notes. “I hope that people can watch it on a Sunday and just feel a little bit better about what’s going on in the world and feel a little bit more connected to the people around them.” The show follows podcaster Miles Finer (Brandon Michael Hall) who

strives to debunk the existence of a God. In the pilot, Miles is friended on Facebook by an account claiming to be God. “Being the atheist that he is, he denies the request a bunch of times,” Violett explains. When Miles eventually accepts the request, he starts receiving friend suggestions who then appear in his real life. As these strangers are thrown into his path, Miles helps solve their problems. Violett plays Cara Bloom, one of the friend suggestions. Journalist Cara moved to New York to reconnect with her mother, who left when Cara was a kid. Miles asks Cara for help unmasking the God account and discovers how intertwined their lives really are. As the debut season progresses, Violett shares, the audience will see Cara’s relationships grow. Not only will she and her mom let go of old grudges to strengthen their bond, “you’re also going to see a little bit of some romance brewing in various ways,” she hints. Violett’s favorite things about working on God Friended Me are her castmates and filming in New York. “Cara is a New Yorker,” Violett adds. “She moved here to find her mom, but she has a life here now.” Even though she has yet to brave a winter, “I personally love living here so far,” Violett shares. “There’s something for everyone.” For Violett, the best part of acting is the opportunity to live a thousand NKDMAG.COM

lives. “It’s pretty amazing to just step outside of yourself and experience a world that you wouldn’t have known before,” she explains. “When I played Lily on The Resident, she was suffering from terminal cancer, and that’s something that fortunately I’ve never had to go through.” A role like that “gives you a perspective on people’s real-life situations, and humbles you a little bit and makes you [more] empathetic.” In addition to serious roles, Violett had the opportunity to have some fun in a leather suit as Jesse Quick on The Flash. Though Jesse is currently “busy on another Earth fighting bad guys,” fans of the show shouldn’t write her off just yet, Violett reveals. “It’s definitely possible you could see her again,” she teases. “Acting has been a really great experience and has pushed me in ways that I’ve never known,” Violett shares. In high school, she “didn’t know anything” about acting and “just blindly went into it.” Now, with more experience, “I know that there’s a lot more that I want to do and a lot more roles in the industry that I want to play,” she reveals. “I’m just really excited to do the next thing,” she adds. Having already crossed superhero off the list, Violett’s dream role would be a real-life person, like a CEO. “If they make a biopic about the makeup company Glossier, I would play Emily Weiss,” she volunteers. Of all the characters she has played, Cara is the character with whom Violett has connected with the most. “We’re kind of in the same place in our lives,” she says, and share determination, curiosity, and “a drive to get to the bottom of things.” The biggest difference between 08

them is that Cara, being a journalist, “has discovered her voice,” Violett supposes. “I think it’s something that we all constantly are working on and trying to figure out,” she adds, “being confident in our own beliefs and even knowing what our own beliefs are.” While Violett shares that she is “not quite sure” what she wants to put out in the world and what she wants people to hear, she has started to find her voice as an animal rights activist. Violett is an outspoken advocate for plant-based diets and has led campaigns for PETA. “I’ve always loved animals,” she explains, and has been surrounded by dogs, cats, and chickens (and now a rabbit) her whole life. “I look at [my pets] and I can’t separate them from farm animals or animals that people kill and eat. I think that all animals deserve our respect, and I think that our production of meat in the world today is dangerous for humans and it’s inhumane for animals.” Violett has been vegan for almost two years now. Not only does she feel better morally, she has more energy now than when she ate animal products. “A lot of people are worried, I think, that they won’t get enough protein,” Violett addresses, but that has not been her experience. “I’m lighter when I go to the gym, I feel like I can lift more weights, I can stay there longer — I just feel like I have more energy.” As Violett continues her quest to find her voice, she never wants to force her beliefs on anyone. “I think spreading awareness is the biggest key,” she says. “I just want people to not go blindly into their choices and [to] know all of the options before they just assume that meat is the only way.” NKD

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katelyn tarver Words by CARLY BUSH Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

Five years ago, Katelyn Tarver was a bubbly blonde Nickelodeon star. Now she’s a serious artist with something to say. The journey began 15 years ago, in a suburb of Savannah, Georgia. It was 2003, right on the heels of the finale of the first ever season of American Idol, and the show’s producers had announced the launch of an upcoming spin-off series exclusively for children called American Juniors. Katelyn was 13. After impressing the judges at her first audition in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Katelyn progressed steadily in the competition and ultimately secured a spot as a finalist in the top ten, alongside Memphis-born Lucy Hale, who went on to achieve success in Pretty Little Liars and on country radio. Though the competition, much like American Idol itself, was grueling, Katelyn recalls it as a time of intense excitement and thrill in which she became addicted to performing. She began fixating on what

now seemed like an attainable dream. Her success on American Juniors opened doors for her, most notably “access to people who worked in TV and film.” Young and eager to learn as much as she could about the industry, when she was encouraged to pursue acting, she said yes without hesitation. “I just kept exploring it, because I enjoyed it, and I wanted to see where it would go, and was getting lots and lots of opportunities,” she says. She maintained roots in Georgia throughout her teenage years, which allowed her a sense of normalcy even as more and more industry executives approached her. She balanced her studies with music and acting while living at home during high school; it was inevitable that she would make the move to Los Angeles upon graduation, but she was surprised to find that the industry took notice even while she was living the small-town life. “Even from being home, and doing auditions that way,

I started getting callbacks.” Katelyn actually managed to land the fan favorite role of Jo Taylor on Nickelodeon’s smash hit Big Time Rush, before she had moved westward. “I had gone out to L.A. to visit while I was starting to plan my move,” she recalls, “I think that was when I had auditioned the first time, and at the beginning, it was, like, a little unclear what the role was throughout the whole show.” The writers of the show had not initially intended to make the character of Jo a permanent fixture, and even now Katelyn is admittedly a bit baffled by the development of her character. Though she had originally auditioned with only one line for a single appearance in an episode, the writers began inserting more and more Jo storylines. Seemingly, fans had latched onto the relatable, peppy, girl-next-door persona that was Jo Taylor. Katelyn’s onscreen chemistry with Kendall Schmidt, who played boy band heartthrob Kendall Knight on the series, NKDMAG.COM

was undeniable, and the characters’ relationship remains one of the most memorable story arcs of the series. “We worked well together and had a lot of fun,” Katelyn says, “And I guess they just liked the storylines and realized that they wanted more from that character and wanted her to be a little more involved.” Though Katelyn was excited about securing her first major role, she and her cast mates lived in a sort of limbo for a few months as the producers quickly moved to recast certain characters, uncertain whether the show would even get made. “I don’t think a lot of people know that, but there was a moment where they were trying to find the right people for the group,” she says. She was under a different contract than the series regulars, so she was free to audition for other projects — and landed a lead role on a pilot which never ended up going forward. Fans of Big Time Rush will remember this period of time in which the character of Jo was temporarily written out and brought back as a surprise. “When you shoot a pilot, you don’t know if it’s going to get picked up for a whole season, so just in case, to cover all bases, they wrote me out just in case that show ever ended up going. And then when it didn’t, they were like, ‘Let’s bring Jo back!” In her young adulthood, there were periods of time 12

where Katelyn set acting aside for music and vice versa, choosing to focus all of her attention on individual projects rather than become overworked. “It can definitely be hard to compartmentalize both careers,” she admits. “As much as they’re alike, they are pretty different, and it can kind of be mentally challenging trying to balance both. But it can also be a fun challenge.” Currently, Katelyn plays the character of Jesse of HBO’s dramedy Ballers while heavily promoting her latest EP, Kool Aid. Was it challenging to move from the Nickelodeon world, which demanded a certain wholesomeness, into a space where her authentic adult self could be expressed creatively? Katelyn feels it was a “pretty natural transition”. “I don’t think there was ever a moment where I had to come up with some big scheme of how I was going to shift from Nickelodeon actress to adult. Maybe it’s because I wasn’t pressured. I’m sure it feels complicated to figure out how to even do that, because you sort of have to make a drastic switch to help people see that you’re not a kid anymore,” she says, “But for me, I feel like I was kind of lucky enough to be able to take the time I needed to figure out what felt honest.” She feels grateful that she didn’t feel as though she was required to take a “hard left turn into something completely different”, and that her

music is representative of how it feels to go from being a kid to being in your twenties. “It’s a switch, but it’s kind of subtle, and you don’t really realize how much you’re changing — and how much everyone around you is changing,” she says. Katelyn did do one thing that set her apart from her Hollywood peers: she got married young. Tying the knot with David Blaise, formerly of This Providence, in 2014, provided both musicians with security and stability. Katelyn’s music has reflected her maturity and wisdom gained from four years of marital bliss, but there is an overarching theme on Kool Aid that can’t be ignored. Many of the tracks talk about conformity. “Labels” is an edgy pop song about feeling boxed in. The title track “Kool Aid”, on the other hand, plays on cult symbolism. “I can tend to be a peoplepleaser,” Katelyn admits, going on to discuss how the industry is not everything it appears to be. “There is so much going on behind the scenes. It’s a lot of rejection, a lot of soul-searching, a lot of trying to figure out who you are.” Kool Aid is more indie pop than bubblegum pop, and lyrically laden with mature themes, indicative of a 28-year-old songstress with a decade of experience behind her. But it also speaks of an ongoing, candid struggle—the story of a young woman still trying to find her place. NKD

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madison iseman Words by OLIVIA SINGH Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

Madison Iseman grew up in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Since her school didn’t have a drama department, Madison and her friends made short films as a creative outlet. When she turned 16, she was initially going to attend a boarding school – but she convinced her mom that they should instead move to Los Angeles, California so she could pursue acting. “It’s always been a dream of mine, ever since I was a little girl, so that’s always been in the back of my brain,” Madison says. “It definitely took a lot of convincing,” the 21-year-old explains. “My dad was never really into the idea of me moving from home. But I’d never really thrived well back home. I was always a good student, but I was hanging out with the wrong kids and not making the greatest decisions.” “My mom was really the one who wanted to get me out of my hometown,” Madison adds. Eventually, her dad caught on, too. “As far as the acting thing, I think I surprised him,” she says. “I think it was always kind of like a silly dream I always had and maybe deep down they thought I would go to school or it would lead me to another passion, but I never had a backup plan.” “Something in the industry, I was always in love with the way movies came to life on the screen,” Madison says. “That was my favorite thing to do, to go to the theater.” Madison credits actresses like Reese Witherspoon and the Harry Potter series (“I wanted to be Hermione Granger so bad when I was younger”) to adding to her passion for acting. “Reese Witherspoon is my idol, she always been,” Madi16

son says. “I remember seeing The Election when I was a little girl and I just completely fell in love with her.” “She is a superhuman,” Madison adds. “I’m in love with her and I always have been. And Big Little Lies, it’s so good. She just continues to amaze me and I have no idea how she keeps continually doing it after all of these years.” Although moving to the West Coast meant that Madison would have the opportunity to act, it also meant adjusting to a new life, completely outside of her comfort zone. “It was one of the most terrifying things I probably ever did,” Madison says. “I graduated when I was 17, so I’ve never had to make new friends before because growing up in a small town, you’re surrounded by people you’ve been around your whole life,” Madison says of the transition. “So that was new and I had to learn that, but it also helped. I think I was so naive to everything. I didn’t understand any part of the business. I was just learning, so I didn’t have any misguided judgment of what it was going to be.” Looking back, Madison says it’s probably best that she didn’t have any preconceived notions about the entertainment industry as a teenager. “I think that actually helped me in the long run, because I was just learning as I went and everything’s a lesson, so I didn’t take anything too seriously,” she says. “I think it helped with the rejection a lot, because I don’t know how I ever got through that.” After finishing school in L.A., she had the option of either going to college or getting a job, so she chose the latter.

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Madison spent plenty of time submitting self-tapes to be part of student films, short films, and smaller projects in need of actors. She landed her first official role in 2014, on a Season 6 episode of ABCs long-running sitcom Modern Family. The part was a huge deal for Madison, especially because she was a fan of the show. Needless to say, she called her mom in tears when she found out that she got the part. “It was just a very cool, full-circle moment,” she says. After Modern Family, Madison got parts on shows and films like Henry Danger, Still the King, and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. “I still feel a little like a rookie,” she adds. “I know it’s been an amazing, incredible five, almost six years, but I still feel like I don’t know everything – which I guess is kind of a blessing and a curse at the same time.” As someone who made horror films with her friends growing up, Madison couldn’t pass up the chance to audition for Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween. The adventure movie is a sequel to the film Goosebumps, which starred Jack Black and was released in 2015. “I grew up with the books,” Madison says. “It was a huge thing in my childhood and everyone else’s and so I remember when the first movie came out a couple of years ago and I saw it, it was great.” Because of how much time had passed after Goosebumps hit theaters, Madison didn’t think they were going to release a sequel. But then she found out about auditions for the second movie and knew it was something she wanted to be 18

part of. Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween is a family-friendly, adventure comedy that takes place in a small town. After Sonny (Jeremy Ray Taylor) and his friend Sam (Caleel Harris) go to an abandoned house, they discover one of author R.L. Stine’s original manuscripts. Upon opening the book, Slappy – an evil ventriloquist dummy that appears throughout the entire Goosebumps series – comes back to life. Sonny’s older sister, Sarah (played by Madison) then steps in to help the kids stop Slappy and prevent Halloween from coming to life in the neighborhood. Aside from being familiar with the Goosebumps books, Madison loved the character Sarah because “she’s a super smart girl” and she agrees to help out her younger sibling. “You never read stories where girls help their brothers – it’s always the brother helping the sister, so I was really into that concept,” Madison says. “It’s just a part of my childhood, so that was the most exciting part.” After auditioning and doing chemistry reads with the actors who would become her co-stars, Madison “freaked out” when she found out that she got the part. “It never sunk in probably until the day I was on set,” she says. “It was one of those things that never felt real. And to me, it’s kind of something I do with a lot of projects – I never believe it until I’m there filming. It just never hits.” In addition to being a fun, adventure film, Madison thinks that fans will be able to relate to Sarah. “She’s your typical, high school senior, super smart, but hasn’t had

any real, real struggles,” Madison explains. “Everything’s been kind of easy for her, so in the beginning of the movie, she’s working on a college essay and the prompt is: What’s the biggest fear you’ve ever had to overcome?” “She’s stumped because she has no idea what to even write about,” Madison continues. “I can relate to that a lot. Growing up was pretty easy. She’s also dealing with the struggles of social life, family life, and what to do.” After inanimate objects come to life on Halloween, the event pushes Sarah to take control and be assertive. “When her whole world is turned upside down, she kind of has to find this confidence inside herself that she never knew she had, help her brothers, help her family, and help her town,” Madison says. “She has confidence I wish I had. She’s a cool chick.” Madison is open to doing more horror, action and thriller films in the future, but she’s ultimately just looking for interesting projects to be part of. “I just look for roles that are exciting and I like to do things that are challenging and characters I’ve never played before,” she says. “It is fun because a lot of horror films and thrillers, they kind of bring an extra level of excitement that I’m really into.” Acting aside, Madison has one other objective. “My number one goal – it’s cheesy – is just always to be happy. It’s been a big year of trying to understand things and people and life, and it all comes down to whatever makes you the happiest. That’s the big theme for me this year.” NKD

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patrick droney

Words & Photos by CATHERINE POWELL Location: THOMPSON NASHVILLE

Patrick Droney is an adopter of cities, and his songs are mirrors to his time in them. Patrick’s affection for music started early, thanks to his father, who was a session guitar player. He grew up watching his dad play blues music and that love trickled into Patrick’s veins. While sports were engraved into the East Coast culture Patrick grew up around, a blood clotting disorder meant he couldn’t participate – so he

named the Best Young Blues Guitarist in the U.S., which led to him meeting and touring with the legendary B.B. King. “He kind of championed me and my first show was with James Brown. All of a sudden I was this little white kid playing blues with all the guys that really played blues,” he recalls. That was Patrick’s life from 12 to 16, and upon reflection he finds that time in his life rather strange. “Playing with my heroes, doing that at a young

and crossed the bridge over to New York City to attend NYU to study music. “Life hit me like a ton of bricks,” he recalls. Patrick went into school with only a “quiet context” of his triumphs known among his peers, and Patrick himself looked at his time in New York as life and not school. Growing up in the shadows of Manhattan, Patrick always romanticized the city and looked at it as a safe haven from his not-so-great high school expe-

“Playing with my heroes, doing that at a young age, was really interesting and tough at the same time.” followed in his father’s footsteps and picked up the guitar when he was 6-years-old. “Guitar seemed like a pretty safe thing… relatively,” he says. Shortly after his family moved from Lancaster, Penn., to right outside Atlantic City, New Jersey and Patrick started playing in bands and opening for artists that would come play at the casinos when he was only 11. Things picked up quickly for Patrick: at 12 he was

age was really interesting and tough at the same time, because you’re still really young and it probably isn’t your time to be doing that yet,” he says. Then came the realization that Patrick didn’t just want to be a guitar player – and especially a novelty kid that would one day be forgotten. So, he picked up a pen and starting writing songs. By 18 he had released a record and experienced his label folding, so he opted to go live some life

rience. Once he actually made the move, he made a strong effort to make the most of his time there and cast aside partying in lieu of absorbing what he was learning – which is not on par for typical college kids. “I’ve always felt a good 40 years older than I really am,” he jokes, “I always struggled with being a kid.” Towards the end of his time at college, Patrick got the opportunity to go to Los Angeles and play for a publishing com-

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pany and eventually a label, who were both interested and signed him. So, he left school a few credits shy of a diploma and moved across the country. He spent over three years there, keeping his head down and living life – and writing songs. When he got out of his record deal, his publisher advised him to move to Nashville. He would take twomonth long trips a few times a year to feel it out before taking the plunge, but has now lived there for two years. Patrick and Los Angeles didn’t get along all that well, and Nashville fits his vibe much better. “For me, L.A. was tough because I come from soul and blues. I’m a pop artist, but those things aren’t necessarily true currency in Los Angeles,” he says, “But I came [to Nashville] and was like, ‘Wow, there’s a respect for the craft, there’s a respect for musicians.’ And there was also a wide-open lane for some-

body that’s not making country music that can still live in the context of substantial.” He fully immersed himself in the songwriting culture of the city and feels as though its embraced him back. He finds the level of talent in Nashville “humbling” and it makes him want to strive to be better: a better singer, a better songwriter and a better guitar player – all with the knowledge that there is no “best” among the masses here. While he’s nearly six years removed from his time as a New Yorker, Patrick’s debut, self-titled EP is a time capsule of his time there. “I am tragically nostalgic,” he admits, “I think New York is such a colorful character that I could write about my whole life.” And he still is, and probably always will be. That being said, he’s currently writing songs about Los Angeles – securing that city’s effect on him for his next release. “It’s a clo-

sure thing. At the end of the day, my New York story… I do have closure with,” he says, “L.A. I’m just starting to get there.” He uses writing as his catharsis, but admits it takes effort to go there emotionally. Three months after the release, Patrick has picked up listeners from across the world – and the reception has been overwhelmingly positive. “To finally kind of be realized has just been the most fulfilling part to me,” he says, “Everything is special to me. I don’t take anything for granted.” The day before our interview, the EP his 1 million streams – which Patrick acknowledges isn’t the biggest deal these days, but it’s still an achievement and he’s proud of it. “For me, everything is intention. The intention of this record was pure and had a lot of heart and soul and history behind it, and I feel like people are actually feeling that,” he says. NKD

JESSICA PARKER KENNEDY Words by LOUIS OPRISA Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

Streaking through the multiverse, CW’s The Flash has returned, to much fanfare, for a fifth season for more super-family high-stakes drama dipped in delicious science fiction. At the center of this latest season, however, is the emergence of Barry and Iris West-Allen’s child, Nora, who’s managed to propel herself backwards in time to meet the younger versions of her parents. As her father, Barry, can attest to, the implications of traveling back in time to alter events can have disastrous consequences. As such, the role of Nora West-Allen, also known as XS, represents a pivotal turning point for a wildly successful TV installment of an already classic franchise. Filling the shoes of that role is established CW veteran, Jessica Parker Kennedy. Born in October of 1984, Jessica grew up in Calgary in the Canadian 24

province of Alberta with her mom and dog. Her mother took her to plenty of plays a kid, planting the initial seeds of a love for theatre and performing that would blossom later on in her life. Awarded with “Best Actress” honors in both junior high and high school, she says that the 1996 version of Romeo & Juliet was a pivotal inspiration point for her. “As soon as I saw Romeo & Juliet, I wanted to watch everything with Leonardo Dicaprio in it. I’m a massive fan of his and I really followed his career from all the stuff he’s done when he was young,” she says. Noting her admiration of the deliberate and certain nature of his acting style, her other inspirations include Cate Blanchett and Michael Shannon, who as she puts it, “is a beast of an actor, and I would give my left foot to work with that man.”

Despite a seemingly idyllic upbringing, Jessica’s experience in acting education wasn’t always easy, especially at the outset of her college career at the Mount Royal Theatre Arts program. In fact, she’s quite quick to point out her growing pains. “It was pretty traumatizing at first. I think school is a strange place. I remember in my first semester, in my voice and diction class, I was doing the best I possibly could, I was trying. I remember getting a ‘D’ in my first semester and not being able to understand why,” she explains. In addition to taking five acting classes, she was also enrolled in three electives on the side, spending most of her busy and free time on campus. One of the five acting classes was actually called ‘Acting’, while the other four were more mechanically focused on stretching, movement, yoga and voice control. While somewhat awkward and uncomfortable for her at first, Jessica grew to like the supplemental technique classes more than actual Acting class: “My least favorite class actually was the Acting class. I really liked doing everything else because everything else came from this organic place, getting to know how to manipulate your body into different characters. It’s the kind of stuff I found really, really interesting and rewarding,” she says. Jessica’s first-ever professional role was as Lucy the Elf in the TV movie Santa Baby (2006) and in the time since then, she feels more comfortable about her craft than at the start of her career. “Like anything, you’re more settled in your own skin when you’re comfortable in an environment that was new

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before,” she says, “Set, no matter how different the storyline or where you are in the world where you’re shooting, is still set, and they’re pretty much all the same. Obviously budget can be very different, but what happens and how it happens - the rules are all the same. There’s a camera, someone yells action, there are directors.” It’s this kind of approach that she’s taken with her across a variety of projects over the last decade. From Smallville to The Secret Circle and 90210, her filmography boasts an impressive range of sci-fi, action, mystery and drama ventures, which are arguably emblematic of her preference of genre. Much like her own favorite actors, skillful versatility is what she tries to embody. Noting that her last few roles are so starkly different to her work on The Flash presently. “I’m inspired by actors who are the kind of character chameleons, who change over time, cause that’s what I would like to be and I feel like I’m slowly getting there,” she says. Particularly when it comes to The Flash, Jessica carries a deep admiration for XS, a role she landed without having to audition. She sees the character of Nora as being fearless, which stands in opposition to how she is as a person. Nora doesn’t have that sort of fear. Impulsive and flying by the seat of her pants, XS eschews a sort of “child-like-ness”, says Jessica, taking care to distinguish it as a sort of passionately burning curiosity about the world around her as opposed to childish naiveté. When you consider the nature of the character’s parents, Barry Allen and Iris West, it makes perfect sense. Barry loves science and is guided by an internal focus

to help others; Iris is driven by innate curiosity and is a natural leader, motivating her team members to forge on past whatever momentous adversity they and the world may be facing. The striking visual similarities to her ‘parents’ only goes skin deep - Nora West-Allen to her core is truly the synthesis of her parents, and what viewers will get a sense of, at the very least, is the opportunity to see Barry and Iris’ daughter grow up a bit, albeit in the wrong moment of time. Given that the show deals with time travel, superpowers, heroes and villains, Jessica finds it useful to disconnect from her own experiences as she prepares for a role. “I like to dissociate from myself when I work on characters,” she says, “I like to [start] from finding that place of neutrality and then building that character on that blank page, so that’s how I went into it with Nora. The writing was really great, and it made the most sense, especially with a subject that’s so wild.” Aspiring performers all have to deal with that sort of insecurity - that aching pang of “Am I good enough? Can I do this for a living?” Jessica’s not immune to that, but says she draws on her schooling and training to get her through. She details that it’s not about shying away from the fear, but more about embracing the flame of her own nervousness. “I just work off adrenaline. My body takes over. It’s something as simple as ‘Oh, my God, I don’t know my lines today,’ and then I get on stage and the camera starts rolling, and it’s all there. The work I put in is just there, so I like being nervous, I like feeling nervous on set. I like feeling nervous

on stage. That’s my technique of psyching myself up,’’ she says. From a more technical acting perspective, Jessica gives props to those working behind the camera, iterating the importance of understanding the relationship between actors and the camera crew, even recalling that she had to remind and teach herself to stand in her light on stage. “I definitely wish I knew more about what happens behind the camera, and what setting up a shot is and all that the camera guys do. To some actors, camera guys are invisible, they’re just working on their craft, but at the end of the day, there’s a ‘T’ on the floor, and that’s where you’re supposed to stand, and that’s not ever going to not be there, basically,” she says. Sometimes, it’s the simplest advice that can mean the most. She reminds herself to take deep breaths, to keep asking questions, to not be afraid to be yourself. In a competitive industry and world at large, the best you can do is to focus on the task at hand, and as for now, that task is working five days and nights a week to portray Nora West-Allen. Jessica isn’t currently working on any other projects for the time being, with this commitment to The Flash being her central focus. Given what she’s learned and experienced, she feels deeply for younger aspiring performers, urging them to not give up while drawing on her times in college and prior sets: “That’s the advice I’d give to my younger self: Stand on your mark, and find your light,” she says. Maybe she’s a little more like Nora West-Allen than she gives herself credit for. NKD NKDMAG.COM

kaylee bryant Words & Photos by CATHERINE POWELL Make-Up by MAGDELENA MAJOR

The year was 2009 and vampires were the coolest thing in the world. After the massive success of Twilight, the creatures of the night moved to the small screen and The Vampire Diaries premiered to 4.9 million people – making it The CW’s biggest series premiere. Only in middle school at the time, Kaylee Bryant soon became a huge fan and followed the Salvatore Brothers through eight seasons. Now 21, Kaylee stars as Josie Saltzman in the third installment of The Vampire Diaries franchise, Legacies. Kaylee was born in Florida but moved around a lot as a child – mostly being raised in Las Vegas and Hawaii. She was a self-proclaimed “shy and awkward kid”, and had a love for watching movies. She always knew she wanted to be like the characters on the screen, but she didn’t necessarily know what that meant at the time. After a family photographer noticed Kaylee enjoyed being in front of the camera, she decided to explore that further. Too shy to dive right into acting, Kaylee started modeling when she was eight. After four years in front of a still camera, Kaylee took the first step towards her now-realized acting dreams and began acting in theatre productions. “It really brought me out of my shell and helped me become the obnoxious person that I am today,” she jokes. From there, she made the eventual move to television and film. “I feel like I’ve been gradually working since I started,” Kaylee reflects, “It wasn’t something that came very easy to me. I stated with extra work, to co-stars, to guest stars, to reoccurring to now, [a series regular] on Legacies.” Because of the slow but steady rise of her career, Kaylee has never felt underprepared to take on a role and feels she is currently at a level where not only is she confident in herself, but the people around her are confident in her abilities as well. Always a fan of the supernatural,

Kaylee loved The Vampire Diaries’ ability to tell emotional, grounded stories with the heightened excitement of mystical creatures. As soon as Kaylee heard they were creating another spinoff (following the success of The Originals, which concluded this summer), and that creator Julie Plec was attached to the project, Kaylee knew she wanted to be a part of it. She didn’t even see a script until she officially booked the role, but had faith in the people involved that it was going to be great. Legacies will follow the lives of the students of the Salvatore Boarding School of the Young & Gifted in Mystic Falls – a school for vampires, werewolves and witches to hone their powers and be amongst more of their kinds. It’s a different take on the town Vampire Diaries fans became used to, but a fresh one. The show will take a procedural approach and each episode will feature a monster of the week – but don’t worry, there will still be plenty of angst. These are teenagers, after all. “I was walking in expecting that same breath of that very dark, very dramatic, harsh world, and it’s so different and it’s so funny,” Kaylee says, “It’s a lot lighter and it’s way more about friendship than anything else.” Josie Saltzman is the daughter of Alaric Saltzman (Matt Davis) and Caroline Forbes (Candice King) – a title she shares with her twin sister, Lizzie (Jenny Boyd). While Vampire Dairies fans will remember the twins as children in the show’s later seasons, Legacies will show them as full-fledged teenagers with dynamic personalities. “The twins’ dynamic is interesting. Josie is very kind and soft-spoken, and goes out of her way to make sure everyone else is in their place and doing what they need to do, which definitely harms her in a lot of ways,” Kaylee says, “Lizzie is the outgoing, kind of crazy one that is willing to say anything and everything without

thinking.” The absence of the twins’ mother (which will be explained sooner rather than later) will weigh heavy on the two of them, and in turn they will need to lean on each other. “They just really miss their mom, and that’s a big thing looming this season,” Kaylee says. The first episode of Legacies is in place to introduce both old and new fans to a new world of characters, and the second episode will bring forward the first monster that the Salvatore students must face. “They started off strong,” Kaylee teases. The monsters throughout the season will be nothing like what viewers have seen in Mystic Falls before, which Kaylee finds extremely exciting. “The monsters get better and better every single week,” Kaylee says. While the school is exclusively for mystical students, to the town of Mystic Falls is it a snotty prep school – and that opens the door for an old-fashioned high school rivalry between the Salvatore Stallions and the Mystic Falls Timberwolves. “We just see how nasty these kids are,” Kaylee says. With additional episodes already ordered by the network, Legacies is poised to be a monster (pun intended) hit. Kaylee teases that Episode 5 is one to look forward to, but is mum on the details of exactly why. “It’s for the people that enjoyed The Vampire Diaries and The Originals formula, because it’s way more in that vein,” she says. Coming into this magical world has been nerve-wracking for Kaylee, but she’s excited for people to finally see what her and her cast have been working on. “We want to do right by [the original fans], but there’s also a level of needing to let go and be our own thing,” she says, “You can get really wrapped up in your head about what people want for your character and your show, but when it comes down to it, we are creating a new show.” NKD NKDMAG.COM

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NICOLE MAINES Words by STACY MAGALLON Photos by CATHERINE POWELL Styling by AUDREY BRIANNE Hair by REBECCA AMPLAYO Make-Up by NICOLE BLANCO

If you ask Nicole Maines a question, you’ll never be disappointed with the length of her answer. The actress and trans activist calls me from Vancouver where she’s currently filming season four of CW’s Supergirl. “I’m doing a whole lot of nothing right now,” she says, while putting off some packing before she heads to Los Angeles later in the evening. Nicole, who was previously featured in the HBO feature The Trans List and Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family, by Amy Ellis Nutt, might need that down time. From leading a social crusade in one life to portraying a superhero in another, doing a whole lot of nothing seems reasonable. “If I had a transgender superhero growing up, that would have been a complete game changer,” she says. Nicole speaks slowly and with indisputable conviction — she knows that her words hold a lot of weight. The momentousness of her role as the first televised transgender superhero, and the responsibility of getting it right, helps manifest her conscientious

attitude. Nicole was born as an identical twin and adopted by Kelly and Wayne Maines in 1997. It only took her a few years to recognize that she didn’t identify with the gender she was assigned at birth. One of the few moments Nicole remembers where she felt comfortable in her clothes was during a day of playing dress-up. Nicole recalls memories she shared with her grandmother, who crafted eccentric costumes with staples and a hot glue gun. “I really got to express my gender however I wanted to,” she says. That freedom of creativity and self-expression lead to the twins’ discovery of drama club in middle school, where they actively participated in school productions. “My first ever role was Veruca Salt in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” Nicole says, laughing. There’s a lot of pride in her voice. “I beat out a bunch of girls for that role. Some of them are still bitter about it.” By the time Nicole was a toddler, she began to feel misaligned with her assigned gender identity, and wondered if every child felt the same way. She wondered if her

experience was normal. That worry was perpetuated by the times she would look over at Jonas, her twin, and see a sense of security. “I was very blunt to my parents about it,” Nicole says, adding that a 4-year old’s honesty knows no bounds. “I was like, ‘Yeah, this whole being a boy thing? I’m not really feeling it.’” Her parents’ reactions were mixed. Wayne Maines was raised in a working class family with inflexible traditional values, and he prioritized the neighbor’s opinions more than his children’s gender expression. In contrast, Kelly Maines’ beliefs were more structured around acceptance and safety, despite the dearth of information on how to raise transgender children at the time. “My dad didn’t know how to react to his son wanting to be a girl,” Nicole remembers. “He never loved me any less. He just didn’t know how to deal with it. So he ignored it.” When the Maines’ parents recognized that Nicole’s feelings about her gender identity contributed to her internalized anger, the outbursts that soon followed, and her anxiety and depressive episodes, they agreed it was NKDMAG.COM

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time — she had to transition. “Everything was going well until fifth grade in the fall of 2007,” Nicole says, then pauses for a moment. A new classmate had moved into her school district. The student’s grandfather, Paul Melanson, was a leading member of the Christian Civic League of Maine and believed that a boy had no place in a girls’ restroom. “His grandson followed me into the girls’ bathroom as a political statement and said, ‘My grandpappy says we don’t need faggots around our school.’” That was the end of Nicole’s alliance with Asa C. Adams Elementary School. As of 2005, under the Human Rights Act in the state of Maine, sexual orientation and gender identity are a protected class. “Legally, the school could not have done what they did,” Nicole says. “They could not have pulled me out of the girls’ bathroom because of my gender identity.” In subsequent weeks, the school no longer permitted Nicole to use the girls’ restroom and insisted that she use the staff restroom instead, under pressure from the Christian Civic League — who threatened to sue the school for infringing on Melanson’s grandson’s rights. “They even gave me a bodyguard to make sure I was going where I was supposed to be going. He’d stand 15 feet away from me at all times,” Nicole says. “Even on field trips, they’d call ahead to museums to make sure I wasn’t using the girls’ restroom at their facility.” The media had their eyes on the Maines family to the point where they could no longer live a private life. Kelly, Nicole, and Jonas Maines

moved two hours south to Portland, while Wayne remained in Orono to keep his job at the University of Maine. For the next six years, the twins only saw their father on the weekends, and Nicole continued to hide in plain sight through the rest of middle school. “We couldn’t tell anyone I was transgender,” Nicole says. “We couldn’t go anywhere or tell anyone why we moved to Portland.” But it was agreed that if Nicole — who was still using a name that didn’t reflect her gender identity at that time — was to look like a girl, dress like a girl, and identify as a girl, then she deserved a girl’s name. She was most comfortable with names on popular television shows, and decided on ‘Nicole’ after a main character on Nickelodeon’s Zoey 101 portrayed by Alexa Nikolas. When Kelly Maines called up the family lawyer, she discovered that legally changing a child’s name is more extensive than filling out a form. In the state of Maine, legal name changes have to be published in the newspaper. The last thing the Maines family wanted was to have their child come under public scrutiny. Wayne and Kelly Maines appeared in person at the county courthouse to file a petition asking the court to keep their information out of the newspaper. Their attorney cited the Christian Civic League, a politically active organization with impassioned anti-LGBTQ views. The state granted their petition in a few days, and ruled that Nicole Amber Maines officially and legally be recognized by that name — but that turned out to be the easiest part.

In April 2008, Wayne and Kelly filed a complaint with the Maine Human Rights Commission regarding Nicole’s terminated access to the girls’ restroom at school. In June 2009, the commission discovered that Asa C. Adams Elementary School had discriminated against Nicole, and gone against one of the commission’s first decisions regarding schools, gender identity, and restroom use. The Maine Humans Rights Commission, Nicole, and her parents sued the Orono, Maine, school district in Penobscot County Superior Court in November 2009. On April 1 of the following year, Superior Court Justice William Anderson dismissed the claim that Asa Adams administrators were, under law, obligated to allow Nicole to use the girls’ restroom. In January 2014, Nicole won the case that marked the first time a state’s superior court ruled that a transgender person had the right to use the restroom of the gender which they identify. She was 17-years-old at the time. The court awarded the Maines family a financial settlement of $75,000 and the Orono school district was prohibited from refusing transgender students access “to school restrooms that are consistent with their gender identity.” “My case set a precedent for the rest of the country because these incidents happen everywhere to every trans family,” Nicole says. “The topic of which bathroom is appropriate to use comes up at some point or another.” The Maines family, particularly Nicole and Wayne, have since become active advocates for transgender youth and their families. NKDMAG.COM

involved in something outside of themselves and had their own unique character arcs separate from their gender.” “Nia uses her transness as a way to connect between one marginalized community to help another marginalized community. It’s very inspiring, very real, and very current,” she continues. The role of Nia was purposeful, consistent, and multi-dimensional — a character Nicole deeply identified with — so there was no need to disassociate herself while performing. “I was so intrigued with Nia because she’s so interesting. She’s caring. She wants to help people because it’s the right thing to do. I think she’s a character a lot of people can get behind just because she’s a good person.” When Nicole came out to her parents in the late ‘90s, transgender women in media were regularly depicted as cisgender men in dresses. Nicole hopes to put an end to that. “It’s very refreshing to participate in and bear witness to trans women playing trans women or trans men playing trans men. There’s something validating in that. We see so much of the conversation surrounding trans rights that pertains to this idea of men in dresses, and so when we portray trans women as only men in dresses, it contributes to this larger, harmful rhetoric,” she says. “Conversely, when we see [trans] women playing [trans] women and [trans] men playing [trans] men, that contributes to the same rhetoric but it turns the tide in a validating direction.” The thoughtless casting of cisgender actors for transgender roles has made Hollywood headlines

lately for its demoralization and diminishment of the truth of the trans experience. Earlier this year, Scarlett Johansson withdrew from the role of Dante “Tex” Gill in in Rupert Sanders’ Rub & Tug, a film based on Gill’s true life story as a transgender massage parlor owner. Before that, it was Jared Leto in Dallas Buyers Club. And before that, Felicity Huffman in Transamerica. “We need to be seen. It’s all about being able to look on television and say, ‘That’s me! That is accurately me,’” Nicole continues. “I want people to feel like there are realistic portrayals of who they are and not only crude caricatures and stereotypes.” “If you’re a teenager struggling with your identity or looking for acceptance, you owe nothing to anybody,” she says, and pauses again. “I didn’t have to prove my identity to other people, so I was able to turn that attention inward and really focus on myself. Take all the time you need.” “If I told a young trans girl that she can, in fact, glow up and become an actor portraying a superhero, I don’t know if she’ll believe you,” Nicole says. “But she needs to hear that it’s possible. I really want queer youth to know that they are not defined by what other people them they are. They are not defined by the experiences or the traumas of their youth. Their adulthood is completely what they make of it. I want them to look at Nia Nal and Dreamer on there and tell themselves that they can do that.” After all, it worked for Nicole. These hopes are real for the queer youth who watch her on television. And they’re just as valid for anyone looking to belong. NKD

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They travel across the country sharing their story. “It’s been a really empowering experience and I get to spend a lot of time with my dad,” Nicole says. “I’ve gotten the chance to pursue acting too and now I’m portraying the first trans superhero on television.” Before landing her role on the popular superhero CW show, Nicole spent three years auditioning after working on Royal Pains during her senior year of high school. When casting calls for Supergirl came to her attention, her agents made it very clear — this audition would be huge. “I shelled out some money and hired a professional to film me,” she says, giggling. “Before that, I auditioned by filming myself on my laptop.” Nicole Maines’ casting as television’s first transgender superhero, Dreamer, was announced at San Diego Comic Con this year. “I’m so over the moon,” she squeals. If you could hear what a smile sounds like, this would be it. “I think about being a superhero and having a super suit all the time.” Supergirl’s Season 4 trailer aired in early September and featured a brief cameo from Nicole as Nia Nal — CatCo’s newest reporter, Kara Danvers’ mentee, and future superhero Dreamer. “I see a lot of myself in Nia,” Nicole says. “I think my advocacy has given me a similar lens to look at situations the way Nia looks at them and that makes me able to resonate very deeply with a lot of my scenes.” She refers back to a previous role she played as a transgender girl named Laurel, the protagonist of Bit, an indie production she filmed before Supergirl. “These characters are not trans-centric,” she says. “They were

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spencer sutherland Words by RACHEL HILL Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

An American on the United Kingdom’s The X Factor? Isn’t that against the rules or something? Not when head honcho Simon Cowell has his assistant summon you to come audition. Spencer Sutherland was the exception to the rule. Simon wasn’t the only TV singing competition producer to chase after Spencer. The Voice and America’s Got Talent have both reached out in the past. But what made this opportunity different was the obvious nationality anomaly. Inevitably, Spencer was voted off during the first live show of the 2017 season, but The X Factor did wonders for his international exposure. The Ohio born-and-bred singer/songwriter got his start playing restaurants as a teenager compared to having a job like his friends. This isn’t one of those ‘Oh, I happened to stumble upon musical artistry’ stories – for Spencer knew he wanted to be a singer as a young boy. He grew up surrounded by the works of Stevie Wonder, Elvis Presley and Marvin Gaye. It doesn’t take a highly trained ear to notice their influences woven throughout his own creations. Those who knew Spencer as a kid more than likely witnessed one of his often Elvis impersonations, which he used as a form of immersion for learning to play

guitar. Around this time he began listening to Green Day and other rock music, which combined with his established music tastes, he claims led him straight to where he is now. Spencer first threw his hat in the official songwriting ring five or six years ago, but he has regarded himself as a poetic soul ever since childhood. He recalls a fifth grade assignment in which his class had to write about where they would be happiest. While a majority of his classmates mentioned the beach, Spencer depicted a scene at Elvis’ ‘68 Comeback Special. “I wrote about the lights, the crowd, and how everyone was anticipating,” he says, “I just remember that was the first time my mom was like, ‘Woah, you can write.’” However, refining his craft as a songwriter took lots of hours. Around 10,000 to be exact. He points out, “It’s funny because a lot of people say you have to put 10,000 hours into things before you can call yourself a guitarist, a singer, a writer, and I think that’s the truest thing ever. Especially for writing, for me.” His denotes his first work released in 2014 as ‘poppy,’ also divulging he didn’t write that much on it. Fast forward four years and a few thousand scrapped lyrics later, Spencer feels as though he’s finally gotten the rhythm of it. “It’s not about a girl and trying to

get a girl, like how it used to be. It’s kind of just about like real and raw things that I’m going through and that I think people can connect to,” he says, “If you’ve got a line that’s real, then it’s right.” As far as his ideal creative process, he fancies a collaborative setting where various ideas are tossed around. “I actually love to collaborate. I feel like I’m better at melodies and someone may have the better lyric. I think if everyone uses their strengths, then the song comes out the strongest,” Spencer adds. Of course an ideal environment to link up with and work alongside musically minded people is on tour, which he hopes he can pull off by the end of it. Throw in a scenic overlook (his tour route passes through the Rocky Mountains in Colorado) and you’ve got some potential magic. Spencer’s currently on the road opening up for In Real Life, the quintet formed off the ABC show Boy Band. He actually befriended the lads naturally, as his manager works with them a bit as well. They often all meet up at Spencer’s favorite L.A. spot for coffee, Crave Café. As tour plans were solidified, In Real Life’s team extended the offer to him. “Their manager asked if it would be cool with me jumping on. They were like, ‘Oh, we would love that. That would be awesome,’” he recalls, “So next NKDMAG.COM

thing I know, I’m going on tour in two weeks and have to go home and rehearse and get ready to be here.” The Tonight Belongs to You Tour is actually Spencer’s first full, national tour leg, believe it or not. The first time living on the road for a month. Traveling from hotel to hotel. The hectic days full of sound checks and rehearsals. It’s a lot to swallow, but he’s making sure to soak it all in, as he definitely wants to tour for the next five or six years. “I love the traveling and I love to perform in different cities every night. I’m tired a lot, but it’s actually the to that point where I don’t even care,” says Spencer. And it surely helps that those who are accompanying you on the road are your friends. He reveals, “The guys are really awesome guys. They’re actually good friends to me so it’s like getting to hang with good friends on the road and play lots of shows and tell lots of jokes and just hang out. It’s a blast.” Transitioning studio recorded songs into live performance based pieces is a matter of personal preference. And Spencer prefers not to sing over just tracks. If you’ve caught him live before, you’d notice he is supported by a guitarist and keyboardist. These live arrangements take time and a targeted taste to put together. “It’s kind of a cool thing to take a song from the studio that we have to change up with some live instruments and stuff. Sometimes it works better in different ways, like we have to add more guitar in the chorus to make it bigger or certain different things” Spencer explains, “It’s a cool process that I like doing because it’s like what-

ever helps the song react better live is what we add.“ If the crowd at one stop doesn’t get hype for a certain part, they may change it for the next show. “It just depends on the song.” His newest single (and corresponding music video), “Fine” was released in September and has already amassed 75,000 streams on Spotify and over 60,000 YouTube views. Another recent bop, “Talk” hit the waves in June and has over 200,000 on the platforms, collectively. He has really enjoyed getting to perform these in front of fans and watching their reactions. Specifically with “Talk”. Fans have approached Spencer at shows and voiced how much the song has helped them, connected with them. “It’s super special to make a mark like that,” he expresses. Growing and maintaining relationships with his fans is one thing on the top of his to-do list. It’s as easy as setting aside time to ensure he responds to and connects with as many as he can. “I love my fans more than life and I couldn’t do it without them,” he says. Before year’s end, be sure to keep an eye out for another single to binge listen. More good news? Spencer’s first body of work is on 2019’s horizon – as well as loads of live shows. A final remark to encapsulate his motives, Spencer responds that he wants his lasting legacy to come from a place of encouragement. “I just want to be remembered as someone who did something good for people. I want to make a positive impact on people,” Spencer says, “I don’t care about being super rich or having 60 million followers. I just want to be a loving, positive influence.” NKD NKDMAG.COM

luxtides Words by VANESSA SALLES Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

Primed for stardom, Danni Bouchard is a name you want to get familiar with. Known professionally as LUXTIDES, the singer-songwriter isn’t afraid to be vulnerable when it comes to making music. “I decided pretty early on that I wasn’t going to hold back,” she says. “I want to be able to talk about the things that are in my head and in my past because I think there’s something healing about that. It’s important for the people listening to know that someone else has dealt with the same heavy situations that they have.” Refusing to let her struggles define her, Danni’s new sound is one of self-exploration. “My musical journey has been a roller-coaster,” she describes. “I toured the country with my old band, Oh Honey, played The Today Show, watched my song be covered on Glee and so many other milestones. However, I’ve also had to deal with a lot of disappointment and hard goodbyes. Creating and releasing music as LUXTIDES has felt like the most ‘me’ thing I’ve done in my entire life.” Recalling the moment that she reinvented herself as an artist, Danni reveals she was dealing with a tough time in her personal life. “LUXTIDES was born out of one of the darkest periods in my life,” she reveals. “It was the end of 2016 and Oh Honey was fizzling out. I remember feeling like I had no idea where to go or what to do next. I sat at my keyboard for the first time in so long and this song just fell out of me. It was called ‘Shadow’ and it was about my ongoing struggle with anxiety, OCD and depression. I’m a work in progress and the music industry is not always the

kindest career path for someone with severe anxiety. People are finally starting to talk about and address the mental health issues which I think is very important and is something I want to carry on doing as well.” Once the song was officially on paper, “Shadow” took on a life of its own. “I couldn’t get it out of my head,” the singer says. “I showed it to my boyfriend, Steve, who plays drums in the band Young Rising Sons. He loved it and suggested I should reach out to the band’s lead singer, who’s also a producer. We went over to his house to finish writing the song and he started adding all of these dark synth sounds; I think that was the moment that I realized this might actually be something. Around the same time, I was connected through a friend with his new producer, Jonny Fung, who had just moved to Brooklyn. We clicked right away and I knew he had to be involved in whatever this project was. After he added all of his crazy, weird, dark sounds to ‘Shadow’, I had my first song baby.” Born in New York and currently based in New Jersey, Danni merged her love for both worlds to create her moniker. “I was born in a small town in Upstate New York called Halfmoon,” she explains. “Now, I live in Asbury Park, NJ, just a couple blocks away from the beach. The tides are like the love affair between the moon and the sea. ‘LUXTIDES’ just fit perfectly.” Three single releases later, Danni’s found success and a newfound confidence to match it. “For this project, I want to be honest and tell my story in my own words,” she shares. “My writing style is very

poetic and I love that I’m ultimately able to be authentic and make my own choices because it’s all mine. So many people have been connecting with lyrics and the outpouring of love and support is what pushes me to release more music.” If Danni’s accomplishments in 2018 is any indicator of her future success, it’s safe to say that the singer’s going nowhere but up. “My No. 1 goal for this year was to sign my first publishing deal,” she notes. “In April, I signed with Rough Trade, who just got me my first LUXTIDES TV placement, on Netflix’s Terrace House. I also got my first radio play for this project: Sirius XM The Pulse played my song ‘Fragile’ on their show. This year was also the year of my first live performance as LUXTIDES. I was crazy nervous but I was on such a high when I finished it – those types of experiences are all things that every artist lives for. I’m so thankful for my band and all the people who have helped me make it possible.” As for what’s up next, the singer reveals she has a few projects in the works. “There are some really exciting things happening that I can’t quite talk about yet,” she gushes. “I have a few shows coming up and I’ll be releasing another song before the end of the year – it’s probably the most important one I’ve ever written so I’m excited for people to hear it!” With a list of goals for 2019, Danni’s got a lot of things she’d like to cross off her bucket list. “I would really love to release an EP because I have so many unreleased songs just floating around,” she says. “There are also a lot of ‘witchy’ shows coming out next year so it’s also a major goal to get my songs placed in one of them.” NKD NKDMAG.COM

TOM FELTON Words by IAN HAYS Photos by CATHERINE POWELL Grooming by FAYE LAUREN Styling by DANI MORALES

In the arts, cynicism often feels regarded with high esteem. But how lucky and powerful it is when an artist truly enjoys what they do? At the end of the day, being an actor is a job. When your job puts you on the world stage, what’s the point if it doesn’t make you happy? Tom Felton, best known as Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter series, has acted his entire life – stage, movies, television. The deep cultural impact of Harry Potter was something no one was prepared for – especially a young cast growing up on screen. At 31, Tom Felton isn’t jaded a bit. He still approaches roles with the same light heart and genuine interest from when he was a child just getting acquainted with theater. Born and raised in Surrey, England, Tom had the wholesome, typical childhood. Skateboarding, yo-yos, playing cricket in the garden passed the days. Cricket often involved his three older brothers. “Yes, I was the often the victim of three older brothers. ‘Runt of the pack’ is what they called me, growing up,” he says. His father got him into movies. He remembers watching classics like The Great Escape. He soon found himself in musical theater around 7-years-old. He was hooked. This quickly led to commercial gigs and his first film role at only 8-years-old (The Borrowers, 1997). A seasoned actor, Tom knows the assumption that comes with child performers; pushy parents living their dreams through their children. 44

Tom is grateful to the point of enthusiasm this was never the case for him. “You couldn’t ask for less pushy parents. My parents are the sweetest, kindest people that I can imagine. It was my nagging my mother to let me try auditioning,” Tom says, “And she was very supportive – even if slightly begrudgingly to take me into London each weekend for them.” This support included when he tried ice skating, violin – you name it. He could explore with the knowledge he was never alone in any of it. He openly acknowledges he would not be where he is today if he didn’t have that love and encouragement from his family. Acting rose as top priority for Tom the more he engaged with it. But as for the catalyst to him wanting to act in the first place? For him, it’s still a bit of a mystery. There was no real, “ah-ha!” moment. But he does acknowledge several influences. He grew up watching his brothers in productions thanks to his mother’s love of the theater. He also recounts being drawn to Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone and Jim Carey in The Mask – movies with characters that stand out and truly define their roles, no matter how absurd. Then, overnight, Harry Potter happened. The cast didn’t sign a multi-movie deal because there was no anticipating if the popularity would continue. So, each movie was a new signing, cementing their place in history with one of the

most globally impactful franchises in history. And while the films were riddled with veteran actors, the spotlight lay heavily on the children. Tom was happy to keep playing the part and being in movies with is friends. Part of that happiness can again be attributed to that support form his family. “They were definitely protective. They prepared me and warned me of what can come with fame. And this was still when none of us knew just how big it would become,” Tom reflects, “I just turned 31 and here I am talking about films I was in when I was 12; it’s staggering, really.” His older brothers were there to protect him as well – even if just from the vanity that can come with fame. “When you have three older brothers, they don’t really give a shit what you’ve been. They’ll still make you sit on the floor, they control the television, etcetera,” he laughs. It’s these reminders that keep Tom grounded. He is confident in his happiness and goodwill towards all. With that comes the privilege of exploring characters that are the “opposite” of him in real life – like Draco Malfoy. As Tom grew into himself, he did the same for his antagonizing character that so often struggled with his role as villain. “I certainly indulge in performing characters whose shoes I don’t really fit in. For me, it’s a lot of fun,” he says. He enjoys recounting how Chris Columbus, the first

director of the franchise, auditioned him first for Harry a few times and then for Ron. But, “As the story goes,” Tom will chortle, Columbus pulled Tom aside one day and asked him what scene he would be most excited to see on screen. Tom had never read books. He lied, making a vague reference Columbus saw right through. He knew what Tom could do with Malfoy. At the end of the day, the Harry Potter movies were fun for Tom. He was truly “playing a character” with Malfoy. This wasn’t him living out some fantasy version of himself. Tom had the opportunity to play a character type he wanted. Excitement breeds joy. He also finds joy in music, his biggest passion outside of acting. His love of music was instilled by his mother. Musical theater, The Beatles and choir were gifts passed down to him. His time in church choir instilled a lifetime of memories. Writing and performing his own music is a personal pursuit, though. As of now, there are no plans for going professional. “I love doing my Instagram Live videos, so fans can hear me do a few cheeky songs, and what not. But, you know, there are plans to record. But, we’ll see. It’s a bit of muddy waters right now,” he says. That’s alright because there’s plenty to keep Tom busy in the acting world. With the rise of streaming services, movies and shows are no longer restricted to box offices or cable boxes. 46

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Case and point, Tom’s latest project, Origin. The sci-fi drama is slated to begin streaming on YouTube Premium on November 14th. And while there may have been some nerves before production, those quickly subsided. When he heard it was going to be on YouTube, he joked that he was afraid they would film everything on their phones. But once work started, he started signing a different tune. “You realize that this is the future. For me, nothing will ever replace going to the theater when it comes to that experience. But, look at what Netflix has done in the past five years,” Tom says, “When you look at the quality of standard television in the past decade or so, YouTubers are showing they are qualified to be making this kind of content now.” They have the funds and they have the drive to explore this new territory. A new avenue means fresh potential for shows that would be too-quickly passed on by a standard Hollywood executive. It’s an opportunity to do something different. Origin is one of the first shows slated for YouTube Premium. There’s ringing of renewed creative freedom in the air. There are eight billion people in the world – creators know there are more diverse and unique stories to tell than what’s sent over the airwaves now. And when the arts have proper funding to reach their full potential, you get actors like Tom, excitedly taking that leap of faith into something 50

new. In Origin, that leap is quite literal. The sci-fi space drama takes place in an unspecified future point in Earth’s history. A new world is discovered that can support life and is prepped for human arrivals. Catering to those wishing to escape their painful pasts, ‘The Siren’ attracts a cast of characters hoping to leave their lives behind on their home planet, start new – a blank slate. But mid journey, something goes wrong. Passengers awake to find the crew and majority of the other passengers fled in the emergency escape ships. The revelation of gruesome, other-worldly deaths confirms their fear that something alien has boarded the ship. Tom’s character, Logan, is one of those stranded, caught in a life or death conundrum: try surviving alone or trust strangers who all have something to hide. Intertwining sci-fi action and flashbacks to their lives on Earth, Origin explores the costs of claiming outer space for humankind. The series is produced by the companies behind The Crown and Lost and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson (Mortal Kombat, Resident Evil franchise). Tom watched the first two episodes a few weeks before the premiere. Production value rivaling any other television format shows, YouTube isn’t playing around and he is nothing but excited to see viewers’ reactions. When you approach life an open heart, happiness tends to follow. The risk of cynicism,

becoming jaded with the industry, egos feuding on set- none of this has weighed on Tom’s mind. Harry Potter has its own theme park; you can turn on the TV any given weekend and find one of the movies playing; he can never escape it. But escape isn’t in Tom’s vocabulary when it comes to Harry Potter. Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom) lives down the way and recently came over “to watch the fight”. Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley) lives around the corner. A recent trip to New York meant he was in Daniel Radcliffe’s (Harry Potter) neck of the woods while Daniel was in a play. “I only had one night off in New York, so I went to see Dan and just catch up really. We’re all usually spread across the four corners of the Earth, so we never really get to all see each other as often,” Tom admits, “And, without it being too cheesy a soundbite, I can genuinely say that we all love each other, and we’ve all got each other’s backs.” It’s a second family, a second support system. When people build each other up, enjoy the work they do, and get the opportunity to push boundaries all at the same time? There’s nothing more satisfying. Tom takes none of it for granted. His current work and future projects are predicated on that encouragement he was given as child, on the opportunities to engage with and live out what makes him happiest. Life is here for our enjoyment. He’s been doing that since day one. NKD

daniella perkins Words by SAMANTHA BAMBINO Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

In February 2018, 18-yearold Daniella Perkins became something of a hero for children, tweens and teens everywhere. Her character Ciara was unveiled to the world during the premiere of Knight Squad, an all-new Nickelodeon series that chronicles the lives of two high schoolers who are hiding major secrets from their magical peers. Ciara is unlike anything young Nickelodeon viewers have seen in a leading female part. Curly-haired, sassy and incredibly smart, she exudes an unshakeable sense of strength and determination as she sets out to become a knight, all while protecting her identity as a princess. What those viewers may not realize is that the actress behind the character shares an almost identical journey (minus the royalty part) of defying the odds and never giving up until her dream becomes a reality. During her years growing up in Orange County, California, Daniella wasn’t always the outgoing, bubbly person fans have come to know and love. In fact, she admits she used to be pretty shy. Though Daniella began to break out of her shell in middle school, she maintained a certain reservation while out in public. But at home, it was an entirely different story.

“In front of my family, I was very outgoing. I would put on plays for my grandmom, my grandpop, my mom. I’d make them hold flashlights so it was like a spotlight against me,” she says. “I’d sing for them and I’d just put on plays with my animals and stuff. So I was always interested in performing arts, I just wasn’t open to doing it publicly.” At 13, Daniella decided to further emerge from her comfort zone and give musical theater a shot. She ended up loving the experience and stuck with it for a while, but quickly realized she wanted more. She wanted to showcase her talents on a larger platform than what musical theater could provide. She wanted to act. “I was like, oh my gosh, I could actually be on TV. I could actually be an actress,” she says. “I was very determined. I was like, nothing can stop me. I’m going to book something, I’ll do it. The whole time I had it in my head that I was going to make it.” With the unwavering support of her family behind her, Daniella dove headfirst into the cutthroat entertainment industry. Though she was still in her early teens at this point, she had the confidence level of someone far older. And it paid off. Daniella soon landed a spot in

a fashion commercial, and while she refers to the gig as “not a real, real thing,” she credits it as the job that helped her prepare for her first-ever Nickelodeon audition. Daniella’s big break came in 2016 when she landed the role of Sophia in the channel’s series Legendary Dudas. “She was very girly and she had a boyfriend on the show,” Daniella says of Sophia. “It was weird though because I auditioned and the character was supposed to be 12 and I was 15.” At first, Daniella was convinced she wasn’t going to get the role. Thankfully, she’s always had a knack for appearing younger than she actually is. Reflecting on that stressful time of uncertainty, she expresses gratitude toward the show’s casting director, who saw something special in Daniella and sent her through to the producers. Since then, the studios of Nickelodeon have basically become a second home for Daniella, who has gone on to star in its made-for-TV movie Blurt and most recently, Knight Squad. “Nickelodeon is really my starting point, which is such an amazing opportunity,” she says. “Sometimes for a lot of people, it takes years in acting to get their big break and I was lucky enough to find my spot as early as I did NKDMAG.COM

in my career.” Though the show didn’t air until this year, Knight Squad has been in the works since Daniella was only 15. Needless to say, Ciara is a character she holds particularly close to her heart. “She is very sassy and outgoing and determined. She likes to take charge and be a leader, but she has a very big secret and that is she’s the princess of Astoria, which is the land where the show takes place. So that’s what she’s carrying around the whole time,” Daniella says. “She’s going to school to become a knight and along the way she meets this boy named Arc, and he has a secret as well. So they just go on all these crazy adventures together and it gets pretty intense.” Putting aside the fact that Ciara is an undercover princess, Daniella sees uncanny similarities between herself and her character. “With Ciara, I feel like we are both very determined in what we want in life. We don’t give up. She says she wants it and she doesn’t stop until she gets it, and that is exactly like me,” Daniella says. “Something we don’t really relate on, but she’s taught me to be stronger in my personal life too. She’s very strong in the show. She’s such a great role model for girls, I feel like, especially younger girls. She says girls can do it.” For Daniella, it’s a thrill to portray somebody who embraces everything life throws at her, whether it’s challenges at school or being the only one in her friend group with big, curly hair. As she prepares to film season two of Knight Squad, Daniella 54

is confident Ciara will hold fast to these traits, though she does have one wish for the princess of Astoria. “She gets really goofy sometimes. I want her to be able to show more of that side of her,” Daniella says. In addition to heading back to the Knight Squad set, Daniella has another exciting Nickelodeon project in the works - Middle School Moguls. The animated series follows four kid-entrepreneurs as they attend Mogul Academy and set out to create companies of their own. In the show, which is currently awaiting a release date, Daniella voices the role of Winnie, who dreams of a career in culinary arts. “I’ve always wanted to be a character voice, you have no idea. Voiceover has been a goal of mine,” she says. “I’m really excited. The character, she looks like me. It’s the coolest thing in the world.” After only a few years in the industry and already a growing list of credits to her name, it’s safe to say Daniella is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the acting realm. For young, aspiring actresses who dream of someday following in her footsteps, she has a few words of advice. “If you want to be an actor, don’t be scared to do it. Focus on you. If you really love it, just go for it and do it. There’s going to be some no’s, there’s going to be some yes’s. Don’t focus on anything negative that goes on in the acting world,” she says. “The project that’s meant for you will come.”NKD

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merritt patterson Words by ELIZABETH FORREST Photos by CATHERINE POWELL Make-Up by AMY STROZZI Hair by DAVE STANWELL

“Traveling is such a big part of my life, and anytime I get the opportunity to go somewhere new, it’s a huge selling point for me,” says Canadian actress Merritt Patterson. With past roles on The Royals, Ravenswood, and multiple Hallmark channel movies, Merritt is no stranger to traveling for work. Originally from Whistler, British Columbia in Canada, when she was a teenager, Merritt would make a two hour drive to auditions in the city during the weekend. Since it was such a long drive into Vancouver, after graduation, Merritt decided to move there in order to pursue acting full time. There, she took local classes and learned more about the industry. Acting was the next logical step in Merritt’s journey. She danced, did gymnastics and, because her mother had a production company and organized catalogue shoots, Merritt was introduced to modeling during her early teenage years. Because she loved it so much, Merritt considered continuing modeling as a career. “But ultimately, I didn’t think it would be the best fit, and at the time, acting was the one thing I hadn’t really tried,” Merritt explains. Her parents were supportive of her decision, and the very first job she ever booked as an actor was an Uno commercial. Although Uno was technically her first job, Merritt considers her first real experience filming when she played a recurring role as Ashleigh on 58

Kyle XY. As soon as she stepped onto the television set and was introduced to the world of professional filming, Merritt fell in love with it. “I never had a backup plan or anything else that was competing with what I wanted to do,” Merritt says. And luckily, she has had largely consistent work since that initial experience. After Kyle XY, Merritt’s first “big” role was Angelina Timmins in Wolves, a movie she shot in Toronto. Immediately following, she played Olivia Matheson on Ravenswood, a Pretty Little Liars spinoff show. “That was really exciting and such a unique experience. I relocated to New Orleans during filming,” Merritt says. Unfortunately, the show didn’t make it past the first season, but not long after, Merritt joined the cast of The Royals. Shooting took place in England, even further from home than New Orleans. And because she had never been to Europe prior to booking the show, Merritt considers it one of her favorite experiences. Not only did she get to explore Europe, but the sets for the show were extravagant, with the scenes often taking place inside or outside of giant castles. Sometimes the show was even able to film on location, which is a rarity in London. Visitors would normally have to pay for tours to get into the castles the show used as locations, but for the production, the castles would shut down for the day for exterior shots. The locations made filming extra

fun, but Merritt was the only person from anywhere other than England on the show’s first season, other than Alexandra Parks, who is Australian. “I just felt kind of like a fish out of water in the best sense,” Merritt remembers. “There was so much to take in and the people were incredible. The dry sense of humor killed me; it actually took me a little to get used to. At first I was just like ‘is everyone just being mean?’” Merritt’s most recent project, Unbroken: Path to Redemption, is actually the first that she filmed in Los Angeles. “Just to be a part of a big, universal feature film, it’s been really exciting,” she says. The movie is based on Laura Hillenbrath’s book, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption and a sequel to the 2015 film Unbroken. The movie picks up where the first movie left off and tells the story of Louis Zamperini after returning home from World War II. Merritt plays Cynthia Applewhite, Louis’ future wife. Merritt read the original book right when it came out. She has memories of pushing it onto her dad to read and giving it to him for Christmas. “I just thought it was so incredible; this man basically lived three lives in my eyes, and it’s just such an incredible story, and it’s inspiring and I really enjoyed the book,” she continues. Although she was unaware of the first film being shot, when she read the script for Unbroken: Path to Redemption, she was immediately drawn to it.

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An interesting note about Merritt’s character, Cynthia, is that she doesn’t play a huge role in the original book. For the most part, the book and first movie take place before Louis met Cynthia, so Merritt was eager to read about what happened next. She was actually the first actor to be cast in her role. “It goes to show you how important this role is in the film,” Merritt says. “Normally in a casting process, you cast the lead first, but Cynthia’s such an integral part of the story that they cast her first.” Since she was a part of the project from the very beginning, she was able to do chemistry reads with the men reading for Louis. Eventually, Samuel Hunt was cast to play Louis Zamperini. Once Sam was cast, Merritt dove into her role as Cynthia and tried to learn as much about her as possible. There was very little information about her on the internet at the time, so the real-life couple’s family was heavily involved with the film. Luke and Cynthia, Louis and Cynthia’s children, showed members of the cast old family videos and told old family stories. “That was so helpful in getting a sense of who their mom was and the kind of woman she was,” Merritt says. It was a unique experience to be able to have such a close, inside look at her character’s past. Unbroken: Path to Redemption was Merritt’s first period piece. The 1940s have always been one of her favorite eras,

so being surrounded by the hair and makeup from then was a treat. Her character was also a welcome anomaly of the time period. “Cynthia was such a strong female, especially in the 1940s when women weren’t necessarily always outwardly strong,” Merritt remarks. “It was a different time and people behaved and reacted differently, and she was so modern and strong and courageous. It’s still so fitting to day for women, which was really interesting for me.” What attracts Merritt most to a role is when it feels like a character she hasn’t played before or someone very different from who she is. Historically, she has had difficulty finding women’s roles that fit that criteria. “When I was younger, a lot of these roles were kind of one level,” Merritt explains. “Sadly, there wasn’t a lot of depth, so anytime that you get a character that has depth and things going on that isn’t just ‘what you see is what you get,’ that is so intriguing to me.” Thankfully, things have shifted a bit as she’s gotten older. One of her favorite characters she’s played was Olivia in The Art of More, a television show that also featured Dennis Quaid. “My character was struggling with MS and was going to medical school and smoking pot,” Merritt remembers, “And there were all of these conflicting things in her life which was so real.” The uniqueness and depth to the character was rare and made playing Olivia an exciting ex-

perience. As with all actors, Merritt has a method for preparing for a role once she’s booked it. The first thing Merritt does is research on her own to find out about the character, story or time period. Then she talks to others involved in the project, whether that’s the director or the producer or an outside source, for more insight. “And then I really just start to break down the script and see what’s happening, where the character’s going and what scenes may be more difficult or may involve more time to try to break down or memorize,” Merritt explains. Then she familiarizes herself with the material even more in-depth. “The more you can run it with the other actors and with directors as well, any type of rehearsals are always great,” Merritt says. In the future, Merritt is unsure whether she has more television or film on the horizon. “I love film because I like having a full story and character arc and knowing where you’re starting and going and everything that’s happening, but TV in the last five years has changed so much. I feel like now there’s so many more opportunities and characters and there’s so much more room for development,” Merritt says. She just spent time in Romania to shoot a Hallmark channel film, but she is open to different opportunities in the future. “I do like the stability [of television], but there’s something magical about film that I love,” she finishes. NKD NKDMAG.COM

Words by CHRISTINE Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;DEA Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

ATTICUS

“That was the first poem I ever wrote,” Atticus says of the moment that led him to his career. “I was in Paris and I saw something I thought was quite beautiful, so I took out my phone and I wrote some really simple words about it.” The beauty and romantic backdrops of Europe have inspired countless authors and artists, but none quite like Atticus, whose writing career gained a following of thousands after sharing his poems anonymously on Instagram. People around the world share his posts, read his words, buy his books, and even tattoo their favorite lines permanently on their bodies. With last month’s release of his second book, The Dark Between Stars, Atticus recalls what it took for his thoughts to be placed in the hands of so many. “I posted it online and I chose to do it anonymously because it would remind me to write what I feel and not what I think I should feel, and to be true to myself,” he explains. Though he never expected that the words he put together for his own love of it would resonate so well with strangers, he remains humble and chooses to write anonymously. At book signings and events, he even wears a mask. “I continue to wear the mask because I’m not interested in being recognized in streets or restaurants,” he says. He was a trendsetter and one of the first to bring poetry to Instagram, but Atticus may also be setting a new trend when it comes to the search for happiness. He quoted Bill Murray, who said, “I always want to say to people who want to be rich and famous: ‘Try being rich first’.” “[Fame] can bring a huge amount of awareness and power and acclaim,” he says. “And on the other end, it can change you and it can change your art. It can really make you do things for

the wrong reasons.” Atticus believes in searching for fulfillment and worth in his own passions rather than through someone else’s validation or approval, and it’s a theme he continues to share with readers. “I’m tired of their stories, let’s write our own,” he writes in one Instagram post. The authenticity and individuality in Atticus’ writing encourages young people to move more toward human connection. The contrast and irony between the fact that he uses Instagram as a platform but reminds people to be human and imperfect is what makes Atticus intriguing beyond the anonymity. “One of the beautiful things about social media is that you can connect with a huge amount of people. However, one of the problems with it is that your connections might be somewhat superficial,” he says. In search of balance between his message and his outlet, Atticus began his book tours – but not without a mask, of course. “I really wanted to connect with people personally,” he explains. Wearing a mask allows him to be there and to meet people, shake their hands, and hear the stories he has inspired. “I’ve really appreciated the connections I’ve had with the humans that follow the book. It’s one thing to read my poems online, but the book has allowed people to hold it and have it.” Readers around the world take Atticus’ books everywhere, from their couch to the tops of mountains, on beaches and while relaxing in bathtubs. He even encourages people to write, draw, scribble, and doodle within its pages. He calls this the “tangibility” of his work, and he is moved by it. The human aspect that Atticus represents in his writing and as an author is what readers didn’t know they needed. “Maybe it’s a lot of writers, maybe it’s a

lot of humans, or maybe it’s me,” he says with a laugh. “But I consistently doubt myself.” Though he has been writing for years, Atticus never considered writing a book out of a fear most people can relate to: not being “good enough”. With time and trying, a book deal with Simon and Schuster came through and Atticus successfully released two books in two years. Love Her Wild made him an international sensation, and The Dark Between Stars made him a New York Times bestselling author. “Everyone celebrates how beautiful the stars are, but they don’t really talk about how beautiful the dark space is between them,” he explains. “You need that duality to find beauty in both of them.” The salute to life and people in Atticus’ writing is loud, and he compares every person’s quirks and idiosyncrasies to that of the dark between stars: they are celebrations. In an age where so much value is placed on the number of likes and follows, Atticus finds that the simple ease and ability that readers have with relating to his words is what is truly rewarding. Fans have come forward to tell him true stories about how his poems inspired them during hardships, got them through breakups and depression, and inspired them to use writing or poetry as a form of expression. During book tour events, he is often asked to write his poems, so the stencils can later be used for tattoos. “It’s a scary thing because I have terrible handwriting!” he admits. Regardless of his handwriting, Atticus’ words are being shared with people across the world, to inspire more creation and growth both independently as people and humanity as a whole. It’s safe to say that it is just the beginning of Atticus’ journey in the search for what’s meaningful. After all, he says, “The best muses inspire truth over imagination.” NKD NKDMAG.COM

NEW YORK COMIC CON class of 2018 Photographed & Interviewed by CATHERINE POWELL

Amy Acker

Allegra Acosta

The Gifted “Kate’s trying to get Andy back and tha’ts all she’s thinking about. That leads to wanting to rally the army to fight The Inner Circle and bring them down. She finds a partner in crime with Eclipse.”

Marvel’s Runaways “The most important moment for Molly is her epiphany that she wants to be a superhero. She wants to have this double life, she wants people to recognize her and she wants to inspire.”

Coby Bell

Camren Bicondova

The Gifted “Jace’s life has fallen apart. This year he’s a man with a mission but has no one to help him with that mission. He loses his wife, loses his house, loses everything.”

Gotham “The first Comic Con that I went to, I was so nervous and I had no idea what to expect. But there was so much support from the audience, even though they hadn’t seen the show yet.”

Grace Byers

Chris Chalk

The Gifted “This is Reeva’s first journey as the one that’s going to be leading an operation that could very well be successful, and very well change the scope of the entire world.”

Gotham “I came in at the end of Season 1 and I was like, ‘Coming in at the end of a season is going to suck.’ And [the cast] was the nicest, and so welcoming, generous and loving.”

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Jamie Chung The Gifted “My character has a really strong relationship with Thunderbird currently, but with everything else going on and falling apart, I think she eventually really questions where she truly belongs.”

Josh Dallas Manifest “The idea of these interupted lives. It wasn’t just about this high-concpet idea of the plane disappearing, but it was this really grounded family drama and the complexities of that.”

Emma Dumont

Fola Evans-Akingbola

The Gifted “Lorna’s journey is being a mother. It changes her whole world, as most people who have their first child find out. Everything changes; what she finds valuable and important changes.”

Siren “I think to sum up Season 2, especially for Maddie, it’s about exploring what is worth fighting for and all of the characters are kind of exploring that.”

Rhenzy Felix

Donal Logue

Marvel’s Runaways “We got to watch the first episode for the first time at New York Comic Con last year, and to me, that was such a stand-out moment as a person and a human being.”

Gotham “All the really memorable moments were the human ones that have very little to do with what’s in the script or what we’re shooting. Just becoming really close with everybody.”

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Billy Magnussen

Bob Morley

Tell Me A Story “Nick is a deceptive figure. It really takes a study into the depths of insanity, almost. I think Kevin Williamson has created a weird, crazy playground for these characters to play in.”

The 100 “I think we’ve gotten used to our abandonment issues, because we lose people so quickly [from our show], but there’s a core group of us that are still really tight.”

Lyrica Okana

Sean Pertwee

Marvel’s Runaways “We are truly runaways now. We are on our own and we don’t know what we’re doing, and Nico is kind of in that headspace of trying to make sure that everyone is doing okay.”

Gotham “Being allowed to join the list of great actors that have played [Alfred], and to be involved in something like that and to actually meet the fans and see their real passion has been really memorable.”

Eline Powell Siren “Ryn is being pushed very much [in Season 2]. She’s being pushed both as a mermaid learning to be human, and just as a mermaid. She’s kind of on her own.”

Alex Roe Siren “Ben’s wallowing in his own self pity is going to be quickly halted. He’s going to try and figure out how to make himself better and get more control over his brain.”

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Melissa Roxburgh Manifest “It’s a perfect balance of this crazy mystery, balanced with these complex characters going through these things in a way that you can’t help but relate to.”

Cory Michael Smith Gotham “The first day that I tried on the green suit was pretty badass, seeing Ed’s apartment, the first time I fired a gun on the show was the first time I fired one in life. It’s all memorable.”

Eliza Taylor

Robin Lord Taylor

The 100 “Clarke is not doing too great. It’s a lot for a young lass. But this season she’s going to be coming to terms with the things she’s done. It’s a lot of her trying to make amends.”

Gotham “I made some of the best friends I’ve ever made in my entire life and I work with some of the most commited artists that I’ve ever met. These people have made me a better actor and a better person.”

Sean Teale

James Wolk

The Gifted “A lot of Eclipse’s stability stems from his relationship with Polaris, and also this future child that he’s going to have. This family that he didn’t know he wanted. He’s trying to keep it together.”

Tell Me A Story “We get to the root of good storytelling. It’s a really dark, psychological thriller that rips the stories from fairytales and sets them in modern day Manhattan.”

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