INTRO BY MELISSA TUCKER
INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY
PHOTO BY KRISTINE COFSKY
As far as young actors in Hollywood go, Kaitlyn Bernard is capable of becoming one of cinema’s greatest starlets. Her skilled acting chops have captivated the eyes of esteemed casting directors and successful production companies since she was a little girl. In 2017, Bernard starred as Shannon Cotterie in the hit Netflix film 1922. The feature was based on the novella by Stephen King. This year, the actress will be co-starring alongside Zoey Deutch in the film Richard Says Goodbye. With more roles ahead, Kaitlyn Bernard is on her way to becoming a true A-list Hollywood actor.
How did you first get into acting?
KAITLYN: "My love for acting began in musical theatre when I was about three years old. I loved performing live and actually still really enjoy live theatre. But when I was about seven I started auditioning for commercials, and smaller film and television roles, and started taking training specific to film and television. I booked a number of student films, then some smaller roles on TV shows, and more recently lead roles in feature films."
What was your first audition like?
KAITLYN: "My very first audition was actually for a Barbie commercial. I didn’t really know what to expect but I ended up booking the job."
You play Shannon Cotterie in Netflix’s adaptation of Stephen King’s novel 1922. What was it like working on the set?
KAITLYN: "Having the opportunity to be part of a Stephen King adaptation was incredible. I love horror movies but this one really caught my eye as it was also a psychological thriller. Netflix does an amazing job with their original projects and this one had an incredible cast and crew. I loved the story line and being able to work with Thomas Jane, Molly Parker and Dylan Schmid, who all did incredible jobs portraying their characters, was a definite highlight. I also loved that the story took place in 1922 so the costumes and sets were really interesting."
How did working on 1922 challenge you as an actress?
KAITLYN: "Without giving too much away, my character had an important role to play in that Henry’s love for her is what ultimately leads to tragedy. The biggest challenge was being able to showcase the connection between the two characters in a limited amount of time. Shannon is a lot like me, in that she worries and cares very deeply for people in her life and I tried to show that as much as possible. We also had to have Nebraskan accents. I love working with accents, and so I enjoyed this challenge."
Of the roles you have played, which would you say is your favorite?
KAITLYN: "Of all my projects to date, I would have to say one of my favorite projects was “The Healer”, a feature film I starred in alongside Jonathon Price, Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Camilla Luddington. I played a 14-year-old girl named Abigail who was living with incurable cancer. It's a magical story that was beautifully shot on the east coast of Canada. After wrapping the film, I was inspired to start my own foundation, Just Breathe, to support kids living with serious illness. To date, Just Breathe has raised close to $120,000 in support of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Camp Goodtimes. My decision to start the foundation was very much in line with what the film stands for as a whole. 'The Healer' has been released in eight countries with all of the proceeds going towards children living with serious illness. We expect a North American release in 2018."
If you could play any character in a film or TV show, who/what would it be and why?
PHOTO BY KRISTINE COFSKY
KAITLYN: "I would love to play Bonnie from 'Bonnie and Clyde.' This was another reason why I was so drawn to the script of '1922.' My character and Dylan’s character (Henry) go on the run and get into trouble, similar to Bonnie and Clyde. Faye Dunaway did just an amazing job portraying Bonnie, and she is an actress I look up to."
Is there anything we can expect to see you act in in the near future?
KAITLYN: "You’ll be able to catch me in the upcoming feature called 'Richard Says Goodbye' and I’m currently filming another project that I’m really excited about. I can’t give too many details yet, but I play a very high-level gymnast so I’ve been busy training in the gym and preparing for the role."