Meet Deidra Kathleen | Actress, Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Deidra Kathleen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Deidra, what do you want people to remember about you?

All-in-all, I’d like to promote acceptance, progression, and inspiration that you don’t have to choose just one dream to achieve. For instance, The Rock is all over the place with so many avenues of enterprise…Just like my favorite Backstreet Boy, A.J. McLean, Snoop Dogg, Lady Gaga, and etc.

Acting will always be my number one and I’m so very grateful to have gotten to work with so many great people like the aforementioned, A.J. McLean – which growing up, he was my idol/crush. So, when I later got to work with him – it meant so much to me. Prior, I had just gotten back to California. I’d briefly moved back to my hometown of Toledo, Ohio for a few months prior. My hope at the time was to get my Master’s in Theatre abroad. To be honest, I only applied to a handful or less of schools in the UK – fairly well known ones, except RADA. During the time I had moved back to Ohio, I was able to visit at least a couple of those UK schools’ open houses and see a whole bunch of theatre whilst over there. When I didn’t get into those schools, my heart ached to come back to Los Angeles. And thanks to a friend of mine, Robin, giving me a place to stay further out from LA, I was eventually able to actually move back to the city.

In fact, it actually was a letdown that led me to being able to be cast. I was living a couple or so hours out from from LA at the time and I’d been hired by a rather big event I won’t name – who apparently overhires just in case they need a last minute replacement – but unlike with theatre or the like, they weren’t upfront about a great deal of us being understudies so to speak. I found out via a local that this was usual for said unnamed company. But honestly, this worked out in my favor and so I’m grateful. Because of my not working that event, I was able to apply last minute and thereby be cast last minute – giving me the opportunity to work with my childhood idol/crush, even if I was just background. I’ve worked with a bunch of people over the years but this was unbelievable to little me growing up…I think I would’ve melted, ideally only figuratively – had I known I’d get to work with not just one but two of my childhood crushes along the way…The other being Dante Basco (Rufio from Hook)…I digress-ish…

On filming day with A.J. and the rest of the fellow fans, my GPS was on the fritz and I had parked trying to sort everything out to get to set on time. I looked over to my right and saw a smaller golf cart full of crew and one older man. The older man on the golf cart I’d later realize was A.J. in aging makeup and a fake beard. And by realize, I mean – one of the other fans had to gesture to him and exclaim to me when I said I didn’t see him, “He’s right there!” Talk about a deer caught in the headlights moment.

In the next moment, whilst most every other fan was swarming him and getting pix, I kinda just froze, forgetting how to talk – at least to him, until the very end of the shoot – when it was nighttime and raining – which is why the picture I’ve included is so dark and shadowy.
Only one of my castmates and I ran back to try to get a picture and we were told, “Only one” by the man himself.
I remember unintentionally dishearteningly verbalizing, “Really?”
What he’d meant was, “Only one [picture each].” And since she quickly handed me her phone, I’d thought what was meant was that he’d only take one picture altogether – as in I wouldn’t get one, just her – rather, that my childhood idol didn’t want a picture with me…
So, after I took her picture and stared at the ground trying not to cry – an arm swooped around my shoulder. I could tell the man was exhausted and more than ready to go home but my day – rather, my childhood dream was made with the smallest of actions. I think lil’ me would’ve cried happy tears. I know, I know. This is my second time mentioning crying. Quelle surprise (what a surprise) – this actress is emotional.
I still have so many things I want to do but sometimes, I think back and have to remind myself of how far I’ve come and have yet to go.

I guess…I’ve a bit of a Dolly Parton complex in that I want to be incredibly successful doing what I love to the point I can subtly better a great many lives whilst all at once showing that you can come from anywhere and achieve anything…And that being different is not a fault and more of a source of inspiration…I guess that latter one is also Lady Gaga-esque and RuPaul-esque – rather, an all-inclusive reference to anyone who’s overcome words of un-inspiration for lack of a real word at the moment. I know myself and others like myself who’ve been there…And I love that everyone I can think of has proven them – as in their haters wrong, whether those haters be strangers, family members, and/or whomever.

It’s honestly incredible how much you can better someone’s life with just a bit of help – whether it be words of affirmation, inspiration, or something a bit more tangible like donating to a local theatre, arts school, housing, disabled artists, creating grants, scholarships, food banks, and/or the like.

I would also like to be able to enterprise – Star Trek reference acknowledged – rather, I mean as in to create even more still alongside of my acting, producing, writing, grip work, etc…
I’ve been wanting to start up a couple of T-shirt businesses for a while now and possibly, later on, add accessories, and more. One of the businesses is inspired by an Instagram I started a while back called FKPCOS – referring to PCOS, a condition that I and others like me have. The other of my stores is going to be a goth-inspired one with occasional references to my hometown embedded. The first store will go by the same name as its Instagram, FKPCOS and the latter, Ste 419. 419 is a reference to the area code of the region I’m originally from. Right now, I’ve just done the beginning steps – bought the domains, am working on the logos…And I just got the blank t-shirts to test those logos out once they’re finalized. I’m pretty excited to add to the list of things I’ve pretty much always wanted to do. All-in-all, I want to be remembered as someone who was unafraid to chase after what they dreamed and, “Make it so.”

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

Growing up, I never really spoke a lot until I started performing. For some reason, being someone else onstage helped me to be myself offstage – rather made it easier to find my own voice or rather less nervous to use it. It always was much easier for me to communicate via nonverbal expression.

In regards to the journey since…
Each journey will be different, of course…
Some people will move to LA, immediately get work and then never work again. Some will become union-eligible right quick or it’ll take years as it did with me. Every experience will be immensely different…
As one acting teacher once told me, as time goes on – things will thin out – a great many will not continue on with their original acting dream. Things will happen that may or should take priority – whether health or family or simply the passion for the goal has gone. Having had to focus on my own health in recent past, I empathize but it hasn’t erased the goals I have.

Challenges-wise, I suppose I’m most proud of my determination. My first year out here, I worked at a store owned by some rather well-known people and a couple to a few months or so later, I was cast in my first short film. And in an attempt to get things in order to be available to film, I had gotten a co-worker to agree to swap shifts with me. Our shift manager approved it, but the overall general manager wouldn’t approve it, being offended I asked the aforementioned others first – so it was either quit and get to film or get fired for no-showing and still film.

A more recent – rather prominent lesson I’ve re-learned over these past few years is that standing up for yourself will be necessary, especially in this line of work. I in no way mean pull a diva – rather moreso to not let anyone walk all over you or behave in an unprofessional manner. You cannot and will not always make everyone happy no matter how hard you try…From being cast in an improv troupe where I clearly didn’t fit in sense of humor-wise or otherwise and being mercifully let go…To at least one other time I won’t get into… These experiences aren’t anywhere near close to all the time, thank God – truly, but…I’ll share a bit of advice someone told me this past year via a questioning metaphor:
“Where does a mouse go if there’s only one hole in the wall to escape and you block it?
Now tell me what happens to that same mouse if there are many different holes in the wall and you only block one? Do you know where they’ll go then? What’re the chances they’ll survive now…?”

It’s essentially, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”
Never make it so you feel you have to stay in an uncomfortable situation because of finances or any other reason. And know that sometimes being Elsa’d can be a blessing. Ex. Lisa Kudrow was let go from Frasier before she was cast as Phoebe in Friends.

It’s like that famous 90s song, “I get knocked down but I get up again…”

No matter what happens, I’ve no doubt I’ll keep going and make an ideally good difference in others’ lives.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

Most of my time out here, I lived in the NoHo area, so I’ll start suggestions there – like: The Good Nite (karaoke bar)
Tacos Manzano
Guildhall (Geeky board games bar)
Dark Delicacies (Gothy – moreso horror books/items store)
Geeky Teas & Games (Just what it sounds like)

We might make a quick stop by Flappers for a show since I worked there at one point as a hostess, maybe if Kimrie Lewis, Bobbie Oliver, Helen Hong, or the like were performing – and/or any of my other friends.

I love the AMCs with the reclining chairs, so we’d probably hit one of those up.

In more Santa Monica/Marina Del Rey/Venice area:
The Warehouse on Friday nights is the best because world champion salsa/bachata dancer, Liz Lira and her teaching partner-in-crime, Greg Park have lessons for both salsa and bachata before open dancing happens. It’s $15 either way, so it’s a deal.

DK’s Donuts is bomb, especially their fruity pebbles cronut (croissant+donut). If you eat it Anne Hathaway cupcake-style – like split it in half and make it into a sandwich, you won’t regret it. My other fav things from there are the white chocolate pistachio donut and the spam cronut breakfast sandwich.

These next two places are right by each other: Cafe 50s and Juquila.
Juquila has the best chicken enchiladas with mole. I thought I’d a different fav place until I tried theirs. And Cafe 50s has the best service on top of shakes and chicken fried steak. Make sure you say you want the peppercorn gravy on your potatoes as well though, because if you’re used to that at other food chains, you’d get your food and double-blink like me because they give you chicken gravy or something of the like instead if you don’t ask.

3rd St Promenande is fun especially on the weekend, they’ve free salsa/bachata.

Other places same side of town:
Boba Time (So many different flavors. Nice lady.)
Bagel Factory (Lots of flavors, some breakfast sandwiches, and they also have rainbow bagels)
Johnnie’s Pastrami (If you like french dips and pie – you’ll be happy)
Classic Pizza (Lots of options)
Mandarain Chinese & Japanese Cuisine (Right next to Classic Pizza. Super affordable and delicious. Very nice people.)
Penguin’s Frozen Yogurt (Has options for lactose intolerant too)

DTLA & Nearby:
Probably all of Lil’ Tokyo and the Belasco and/or any of the smaller primarily rock concert venues.
Tao Comedy Studio
Hank’s Bar (Super comfy and chill)
Grand Park
A show at the Ahmanson or Mark Taper. (I was lucky enough to have a mentorship at Center Theatre Group at one point. I quite love the organization.)

Hollywood:
The Egyptian and probably the main touristy area.
The Pantages
Bar Sinister (Goth music n’ dancing)
And the usual Hollywood/Highland mall.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

Oh, man. I’ve many. Primarily those who have believed in me despite my not fitting into the stereotypical ingenue-features box – people like, Joné Smith, Jeremy Meier, Jermaine Carson, Jennifer Gentner, and Felicia Mead…And to those on the same list who’ve since gotten their wings, Jamal Knight and Madge Levinson, I just want to say thank you so incredibly much. As well as to all of the directors I’ve worked with along the way – in regards to my working on the acting side of things – as I’ve worked on both sides…In this business, rejection is more than a dime a dozen – so acceptance alongside encouragement is truly priceless. To have people see your talent above all else is a treasure all in itself. So thank you to all of them sincerely.

And an immense thank you to my family and close friends who have truly believed in me along the way. The oxygen to my fire, you are…
I’m trying so hard not to go into the beginning of I Want it That Way right now. I listen to all genres, I promise. From Nightwish to the SMASH soundtrack to Lewis Capaldi and more.

Just like my musical genres, some main shows and movies I grew up on were drastically different like Golden Girls and Star Trek – both DS9 and Enterprise, especially the latter. Other films and short series that more than likely helped create the need to scratch that acting inspiration itch are: Sister Act 1 & 2, Anne of Green Gables (Sullivan Ent), and Pride & Prejudice (’95). So thank you to all actors and filmmakers involved in those creations that helped to spin my imagination and spur my acting inspiration.

Website: https://www.deidrakathleen.com/

Image Credits
A.J. McLean Will Akana LitLive Carly Baldwin Tian Xie