“WHAT KEEPS ME MOTIVATED IS THE HOPE THAT MY GREATEST ROLE IS STILL AHEAD OF ME.”

You began your career as a model before transitioning to acting. How did these early experiences shape your craft and personal growth?

When I was 14 years old, I left the United States, and headed to Japan to start modeling. That journey allowed me to experience things in my life that many of my peers had not. The maturity I gained became an advantage with the acting opportunities that were presented to me later. Being alone, in a foreign country as an adolescent, it was imperative that I trust myself and my instincts. That helped guide me through my life, and ultimately my career.

Your role as “Hailey Nichol” in The O.C. was a breakout moment in your career. How did this role influence your acting approach and your choices afterward?

The multiple layers and colors of Hailey, made her very engaging to play. I enjoyed the wild shock value that she brought to every scene she was in. Playing her introduced me to a freedom in acting, and a much needed confidence boost that carried me into what was to come.

Stepping into the role of Nelle Reagan in REAGAN, you’re portraying a woman whose influence on Ronald Reagan was deeply significant. How did you approach portraying such an influential historical figure, and what did you learn about her impact on her son’s legacy?

Approaching an historical figure is much different than any fictional character I’ve portrayed; she was a real person. I started doing as much research as I could, and from there, I built my internal version of her emotional life based on the geographical societal norms at the time.

Aside from getting the physicality right for Nelle, I intended to stay true to her essence. While there weren’t any videos of her that I could find, and very few photographs, most of what I found about her was in written form. The most insightful works were from Ronald Reagan directly, in his autobiography. “God and Ronald Reagan: A Spiritual Life” by Paul Kengor dives into Reagan’s spiritual upbringing and his mother’s involvement with her church in Dixon, Illinois, as recounted by members of the Disciples congregation. Her impact on “Dutch” Reagan went well beyond his spiritual upbringing. Nelle was a natural born leader with a gift for public speaking and performing. She encouraged her son in this pursuit, and would help him memorize stage performances, public readings of scriptures, and poetry.

Nelle Reagan’s role in Ronald Reagan’s life was pivotal and protective. What was most challenging about capturing her essence on screen, and how does her story connect with your own experiences of guidance and support?

While it was impossible to cram an entire lifetime of Nelle Reagan into one scene, the moments that were chosen for the film, were pivotal in Reagan’s life. It was important for me to stay as connected to the truth of the moment as possible, while exploring the emotional life of a mother that faced more hardship than success. Her belief and optimism carried her through hardships in a most graceful way. While Nelle could not foresee what the future held for her son, her convictions overrode her doubts. 

The challenge I faced was to capture Nelle’s love and sternness in equal measure, as well as the internal struggles she faced in imparting these hard lessons to her children. 

I connected with Nelle first as a mother, and secondly as a woman of faith.

You’ve worked on both major motion pictures and television series. How do you adapt your approach to different types of projects?

My approach is always character first. Fleshing out a character takes on a different shape, based on the medium. In television, you have multiple episodes where character is slowly revealed. In film, you have 90 minutes to tell a story. 

How do you stay true to yourself and manage industry pressures when facing Hollywood challenges?

I try to keep a routine. The nature of my career in Hollywood makes that difficult at times, but, like everyone else, I do the best I can.

What experience has been the most transformative in your career, and how has it shaped your growth and perspective on life?

Every experience in my career has been transformative in one way or another, whether it’s the kind of character I am portraying, or the genre of the project. I stay open to these experiences because ultimately, they have helped me grow in the most unexpected ways.

Balancing a personal life with a demanding career is tough. How do you maintain your well-being amid a busy schedule?

I make an effort to carve out time for myself each day, whether it’s 20 minutes, or if I’m lucky, an hour! I have learned over the years, that I have to put my own oxygen mask on first (as difficult as that may be), in order to show up one hundred percent for others.