interview by JANA LETONJA

Actress and singer/songwriter Kayden Muller-Janssen is best known for her breakout role in the hit Disney series ‘The Villains of Valley View’. Most recently, she starred as one of the leads in the indie film ‘Classmates’, which is available on Tubi.

Before venturing into entertainment industry, you were competing as an equestrian. How hard was leaving this part of your life behind?
Saying goodbye to my equestrian career and moving away from all my family and friends was definitely a big decision that wasn’t easy. I have so many great memories competing with my family and horses will continue to be a huge part of my life, but I’ve always felt drawn to the arts and wanted to pursue opportunities in the entertainment industry. Thankfully, I have a super supportive family who allowed me to follow my dreams and I’m grateful for every minute. 

How did then your passion for acting begin?
At a young age, I found a love for film and TV. I was fascinated by how actors could transform into another person and play all these different types of characters. I would put on little performances for my family to the point of irritation, so my mom decided to put me in the school of the arts, where I joined musical theatre. I absolutely loved it, I decided the arts would be my career path and let’s just say my family was happy I had an outlet that was not under our roof. 

We’ve just recently been able to watch you in the indie comedy drama film ‘Classmates’. Would you ever swap places with someone else in real life?
I would absolutely switch places with someone else. I’ve always thought about what it would be like to live in someone else’s shoes and that was the best part about shooting the film. I felt like I got a little “test run” at it and if I had the opportunity again, I would switch in a heartbeat. 

What was the most challenging thing about this project for you creatively?
The Director Danielle Fishel and the writer Jensen Karp created a very collaborative atmosphere. They allowed us to contribute our own personal instincts for how the characters would react in certain situations, which really minimized creative challenges on set. I will say the most challenging part was tackling all the action sequences wearing 6-inch heels and sprinting across a college campus for two days straight. Despite the bruised feet, seeing it on screen was worth it and it was a blast.

Your breakout role came with starring in Disney+’s series ‘The Villains of Valley View’. How has this role opened doors in your career?
Landing a role on a popular platform like Disney was definitely a game changer for my career. I’ve received so many amazing opportunities and gotten to work with some of my personal icons. It’s also brought more exposure towards my music career. 

How do you usually prepare for new roles?
I think it’s important to have a positive mindset before taking on a new role. Certain characters can drain your artistic energy, so it’s always important to check in on yourself before stepping on a set. For developing my characters, I work with a coach to analyse their personality traits, true intentions and feelings they’re processing throughout the entire script. I like to create a good backstory in my mind to help portray the character’s choices so it feels as authentic as possible. Some scripts will hand you information on your character and with others you have to discover on your own. It really depends on the project. 

How would you say you’ve developed as an actor since your first role?
At the beginning of my acting career, I was afraid to step out of the box. I was a perfectionist, couldn’t mess up a line, could never get notes back from a teacher or else I would become upset with myself. I became very critical of myself and I had to learn to let go of my fear of failure. I had to find the beauty in my mistakes and become more confident in my decisions. 

Besides being an actor, you’ve also made a name for yourself as a singer and songwriter. What inspires you when creating new music?
Inspiration can come from anywhere, but for me, my personal experiences fuel most of my music. When I’m dealing with conflicting emotions, songwriting is the best creative outlet to help me navigate my feelings. I like to create music that will resonate with my audience on a personal level and hopefully can help them in any situation they’re going through. 

Tell us more about your music career and your plans for its future?
I have a single coming out soon called ‘Don’t Come Back To Me’. I’m currently working on my debut album, so hopefully I will be on tour by the end of this year.

all photography by KLENDY MULLER