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Erika, thanks for agreeing to catch up with Occhi Magazine. Your journey from dance to acting has been remarkable. How did your experience as a dancer influence your approach to acting?
Thank you for having me! Being a dancer, I was already accustomed to the idea of performing and telling a story. Only difference with acting is, additionally to movement, we get to use our voice. But the idea behind it is the same – we’re all story tellers and entertainers. Having a deep foundation of body awareness definitely helped me a lot when I started acting. And to this day, dance is a huge part of me, and movement is my way into every character I play! Dance also helped me with fight scenes because it’s all choreography – it’s definitely made me a very physical performer!
Can you tell us about your early years in the industry and what initially drew you to pursue acting full-time?
I’m very fortunate in the fact that my introduction to the industry was through booking a regular role on a TV series! It was a Disney Channel dance drama called The Next Step. They cast their actors based on dance skills and personality, so you get to learn the ropes by actually working on set. It’s a great show that’s helped me and a lot of dancers’ transition into acting! I essentially worked on TNS for 3 seasons and knew I wanted to pursue acting full-time. It completely changed the trajectory of my life!
You’ve worked on a variety of projects, from teen dramas like The Next Step to horror films like Polaroid. How did these early roles shape your career?
Oh my god Polaroid! I remember working with Madeleine Petsch and being so intimidated, I was so awkward at the time and probably being a weirdo lol. The discomfort of those early roles and feeling like I had no idea what I was doing is what pushed me to attend the National Theatre School of Canada – one of the best decisions I made! And I wish I could say the discomfort is gone now but to be honest, as my career goes on, I’m realizing it will never really go away. Every role and every project come with its own challenge, different from the last. But now rather than trying to get rid of it, I’m learning to embrace it and see it as a sign of growth.
Who have been some of the most influential mentors in your career, and what lessons have they taught you?
One of my most influential mentor not only in my career but in life, has been Kenchi Mogi. He’s a monk I often seek guidance from – I guess in the western world he could be described as playing the role of a therapist or life coach, though it’s not quite either. He’s taught me so many invaluable lessons that have helped me navigate my career and is a huge reason as to why I am where I am today. The main advice I keep coming back to over and over when I get overwhelmed is “there’s no right or wrong path, only the path you chose”.
What were the biggest challenges you faced transitioning from dance to acting, and how did you overcome them?
The booking ratio really threw me off at first! I had been dancing for almost 10 years when I first got into acting and I was used to booking a lot. But when I started acting, besides from the one big hit I had at the start, it was SO MANY rejections! Oftentimes when you audition for a dance gig, they are looking for multiple dancers – 5, 10, 25, 100, the size depends on what the project is. But with acting, they are always only looking for one person to fill the role you’re auditioning for – it’s a whole other ball game. I had just started and I was competing against people who had been acting as long as I had been dancing, so it was tough. Discipline and patience is how I overcame it – I knew I had been dancing for 10 years before I was constantly booking jobs, so I gave myself the same timeline with acting, that I’d probably have to do it for 10 years before it starts flowing. I just put my head down and trained.
Your role as Brianna Bradley in Dare Me was a standout. What did you learn from that experience, and how did it prepare you for future roles?
Being a part of Dare Me was such a gift – one of my biggest learning opportunities! Watching Willa work every day was a masterclass in and of itself. It was my first time being a regular on a project of that scale and it taught me a lot about set etiquette and being a professional. Being an actor is so much fun and each project kind of feels like summer camp – it’s easy to forget that you’re paid to be there. Especially on a set like Dare Me because we were playing high school students and there’s a specific energy to that kind of environment. It’s a blessing that work doesn’t feel like work, but it taught me to stay focused and disciplined because at the end of the day it’s still a job and you need to stay professional. That mentality definitely prepared me for everything that followed – so I can have as much fun as I want but I’m always working.
You’ve worked on acclaimed projects like The Boys and American Gods. How do you choose roles, and what draws you to a character?
What draws me to a character is their obstacle, whether it’s an internal demon they’re fighting or circumstances they are put through. Whatever it is, as soon as I see a character’s struggle, I’m automatically drawn to them and can find some way to connect. They become relatable. I can’t say I’ve always had the luxury of “choosing” every role I’ve ever played but I’ve been really lucky so far to have played characters I really love and can root for! And I want to keep choosing characters that inspire me and teach me something about myself as I move forward in my career!
Congratulations on your role as Patty Montclair-Ito in Saint-Pierre! What can you tell us about your character and her journey in the series?
Thank you! I’m so grateful for Saint-Pierre, I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better team! Patty’s a member of the Saint-Pierre et Miquelon police force and is sort of the one in charge of research. She’s the youngest one on the team and isn’t as experienced as her colleagues but she’s really good at her job and often finds pieces of the puzzle that help Arch and Fitz solve the case! I don’t want to spoil it for the people who haven’t watched it yet, so I’ll just say that you can expect Patty’s responsibilities to grow – whether approved or not, she will start to take initiatives and step outside the box (for better or for worse Hehe).
What has been the most rewarding part of working on Saint-Pierre, and how does it differ from your previous projects?
The most rewarding part of working on Saint-Pierre was being able to create the world from scratch with the whole team! It’s the very first season so there are no precedents, no rules to follow – we are figuring out the rules as we go, which can be challenging but also so much fun! Up to this point in my career, I’ve often been part of already established worlds, so this was really exciting for me!
As a Japanese-Canadian actor, how important is representation in your work, and how do you hope to inspire others through your roles?
One of my favourite things about films is that for two hours, you’re completely invested in somebody else’s life and you empathize as if it’s your own. We don’t get that kind of connection with strangers that have nothing in common with us in real life. So, representation on screen but also behind the scenes for authentic and accurate storytelling is crucial – it’s a window into an experience you might otherwise know nothing about. It makes us more understanding, more patient, more loving, more human really. In a culture that seems to be more and more divided, truthful storytelling has the power to bring us all closer. And I can only hope that an indirect effect of my presence on screen is for young Japanese-Canadian actors to feel like it’s possible, that there actually is room for us in this industry. And for the kids to be proud of their Japanese heritage, that there’s room for us in this world 
You’re also an advocate for mental health and wellness through Snacks & Play. How does this initiative reflect your personal values, and what impact do you hope it has on the arts community?
Snacks and Play is an artist community I created with my best friend and fellow actor Jennifer Hui beginning of 2024 when the film industry was slow due to the strikes. We wanted to create a safe space where actors could come together to exchange and support each other – our motto is “show up as you are”. I’ve struggled with my mental health ever since my teen years and we all know this industry doesn’t exactly help it haha. This community doesn’t aim to “fix” anybody’s problems, but it rather is a space we can share and find solace in knowing that we’re not alone. In an industry where rejection rates are high, friends are your competition, and inconsistency is the norm, it was really important for me to have a community to lean on – snacks and play is an extension of that. My hope is that it helps shift our perspective of competition into one of camaraderie because nobody understands an artist’s life better than a fellow artist
Looking ahead, what upcoming projects or creative ventures are you most excited about, and what goals do you have for the future of your career?
I can’t share any details yet but right now I’m really excited about a film I’ll be shooting this summer! When it comes to dream roles, this one is pretty darn close! In terms of goals for the future of my career, I just want to keep growing my ability and confidence and create truthful work with good people that are just as passionate as I am! The details of it, I have no idea, but I have faith I’ll be guided where I’m supposed to be! I also want to create and star in my very own show, that’s a big dream of mine!
For further info on the artist, follow her Instagram page
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