We had the pleasure of interviewing French actress, model, and voice-over artist Rachel Kylian a year ago. Her film and TV credits include Universal’s comedy Almost Christmas, FBI, and the Lifetime TV movie The Wrong Man. She now features in the sci-fi movie Interpreters, and Michael Angelo Covino’s The Climb. We caught up with her to discuss her current projects
Hi Rachel, thank you for granting the interview. Congratulations on your career to date. Please tell us more about your new sci-fi Movie Interpreters?
Interpreters is a sci-fi movie available now on Apple TV and Amazon. It is the story of an unusual perpetrator using advanced technology to murder the inhabitants of Sullen Community while a former black operator and CID Agent investigates with the local police force uncovering a darker scheme and more dangerous threat than anticipated.
Please tell us more about your casting as Dr. Hanning?
I found the role of Dr. Hanning on Actors Access, I submitted, and I received a self-tape audition. I sent my tape and was offered the role. I am not a native English speaker, so the dialogue was a little challenging, so I had my American actor friend Max Cutler (Good Trouble) help me with the pronunciation of forensic terms for my audition. I was very happy to book the role. The director Michael Ryan later told me that I was the best tape they received for the role.
Please share your experiences working with Director/ Producer Michael Ryan, cast and crew?
I was a stranger to the team, but the producers and the director were actual friends. So, it was a very friendly environment and a joy to be part of this project. The director, writer, cinematographer, editor of “Interpreters” Michael Ryan was very nice and passionate about his film and made the filming days very easy. I would love to work with him again in the future. He is brilliant. We had a premiere in Los Angeles at 2019 Kapow Intergalatic Film Festival and the film won multiple awards (Best Director, Best Ensemble, and Best Picture).
You also star in the forthcoming release ‘The Climb’ Please tell us more about the film and what we can expect.
The Climb is a comedy. It is the story of two best friends Kyle and Mike who share a close bond until Mike sleeps with Kyle’s fiancée. The film is about a tumultuous but enduring relationship between two men across many years of laughter, heartbreak and rage. I really loved this movie because we can all relate to their friendship. We all have that one friend who always does wrong, but we still love them. The film has been awarded the “Un Certain Regard” prize Jury’s Coup de Coeur at the 2019 Film Festival Cannes.
You can expect to see this American comedy in theatres on October 9.
Your acting resume is varied in the type of roles played. How selective are you when choosing parts and has your approach to projects changed over the years?
My philosophy is very simple, if I like the story, I am in! I love to be part of great stories. My approach consists of reading the script, or all the sides available and doing some research about the project and the team attached (IMDb, press releases, social media, etc.).
What has been your most challenging but rewarding role to date and why?
The role of Dr. Hanning was the most challenging to date. I had never played a coroner before. I had to do a lot of research regarding my character’s job, watch documentaries, and some TV shows with that type of character. I was very happy to see that the movie received awards and great reviews and felt like we did a great job.
Since our last interview, the film industry has had an unmatched interest. We’ve seen the Weinstein Scandal, Hollywood whitewash, and numerous headlines regarding equal pay. From your experience and observations, have there been improvements in the industry?
Yes, there have been noticeable improvements. More Oscars and Emmys have been given to diverse talents. The gender pay gap has been narrowed, more sex offenders have been convicted and with the last events, the industry players are making more efforts to hire diverse talents.
Whilst you’ve worked with many talented artists, who would you love to work with and why?
I would love to work with Ryan Coogler on Black Panther II because he wrote and directed “Black Panther”, a story that empowered black people. I would love to work with Scott Derickson on “Bermuda Triangle” because I love his work (“Doctor Strange”), I have always been interested in the Bermuda Triangle mystery and I have worked on the thriller Interpreters in which my character Dr. Hanning investigates mysterious deaths.
Will we see you explore a career behind the screen, producing and directed projects of your own?
I love writing, so yes, I would love to produce my own projects in the near future.
COVID 19 has impacted on the industry. How has it impacted on your career and recent projects?
Movie theatres have been closed, and as a result, the release date of my latest film “The Climb” has been pushed to October 9, 2020.
Several projects have been postponed notably filming the thriller “Number 14”. I believe we will resume shooting this film in September 2020.
I have been auditioning for many great projects and expect film and TV production to restart soon.
So what’s in the pipeline?
The Climb will be released on October 9 in The United States.
Where can readers find out more about you and your projects?
- www.rachelkylian.com
- FACEBOOK: @rachelkylianofficial
- TWITTER: @rachelkylian
- INSTAGRAM: @rachelkylian
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