WiHM 2018 Interview with Actress Rebekah Kennedy

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting several up and coming talented actresses. Rebekah Kennedy is undoubtedly one of them. I first saw her in the horror short, Amy (read our review – here), and I’ve continued to follow and support her work.

Rebekah took time to talk with me about her career, her role in Amy, her female inspirations, and more. Check it out!

Rebekah Kennedy

PopHorror – Thanks for talking with me, Rebekah! How did you get involved in this industry?

Rebekah Kennedy – I started out doing theatre when I was 12 after begging my mom for several years. She finally caved, and I started taking classes and auditioning for plays and musicals. I did that all through school and college. It wasn’t until after college that someone asked me if I had ever thought about doing film and television. I did have interest in it, but I wasn’t really sure how to begin. So I started doing some background work and was fortunate to meet some great friends who helped show me the way. After that, I started auditioning for short films and student films and anything else I could get my hands on. Then I was lucky enough to find an agent at the time that was willing to take a risk on me, and I haven’t stopped since.

PopHorror – What was the first project that you worked on?

Rebekah Kennedy – So, the very first project I worked on was a short film called Hotel Etiquette directed Joe Bucknam. I originally just submitted to be background, because I didn’t think I really fit any of the roles they were looking for. I was just happy to be involved, as I was first starting out. Then, Joe invited me to the table read, so I went just to be a part of things. As it turned out, one of the actresses who was supposed to play one of the characters couldn’t make it, so Joe had me fill in for her. He really liked what I brought to the table so he ended up writing in a character for me. I played the Bible-toting Goth Girl. It was a fun role and I was really appreciative of the opportunity he gave me.

PopHorror – That’s awesome! Do you love all genres or do you favor horror?

Rebekah Kennedy – I really love all genres. They all have things about them that draw me in. The horror genre is one I just found myself in at the beginning because those were the first couple of feature films I booked. I’m definitely really thankful for them, and they were all really great adventures in their own way. I really love watching horror films as well. I’m probably more forgiving of horror than any other genre, but I really do love watching all kinds of movies.

PopHorror – I love your horror short, Amy. Your performance was outstanding. How did you get involved with that project?

Rebekah Kennedy – First off, thank you so very much! I’m really proud of how Amy came together and I really glad you loved it! So, L. Gustavo Cooper – the director – and I had been talking about working together for a while. I had auditioned for a couple of his other things, but it hadn’t worked out yet. Then, he came to me with this script, and I read it and loved it. It’s such an interesting and creepy story. I thought bringing Mary to life would be a fun challenge. since I only had limited time due to the short film format. I’m really thankful he gave me such an awesome opportunity and that the short has been really well received. He’s an incredibly talented filmmaker, and I know he’s going to continue to do fantastic work.

PopHorror – I completely agree! Horror shorts can be challenging but beautiful. You’ve done quite a few of them. Do you have an appreciation for them as well?

Rebekah Kennedy – Shorts are definitely challenging, because you have such limited time to tell a story. But when they are done well, they can be strikingly powerful. I definitely have a huge appreciation and fascination with short films. Especially with horror shorts, you have little time to bring characters to life, to build tension, to construct a story, and to hopefully leave the audience wanting more. But it’s really amazing to see when all those elements are in place. I think Gustavo did a brilliant job bringing these essentials to life in our short film, Amy. In a very short time, we got to know a little about these women and the horror that was going on their home. And with any luck, the audience will want to see what happens next.

PopHorror – Although not horror film, you were in the popular movie To the Bone on Netflix. Tell us about your character.

Rebekah Kennedy – So, I play Penny in the film To The Bone. She is unquestionably an overachiever and a perfectionist. She has a very hard time when things aren’t going exactly the way she needs them to go. Recovery has been difficult for her, and it doesn’t help when Ellen – Lily Collin’s character – makes fun of her.

PopHorror – How did you get involved with that?

Rebekah Kennedy – I auditioned for the casting director, Rich Delia, first, and they were kind enough to bring me back for callbacks. At that time, I auditioned for Marti Noxon, the director, and several of the producers. A few days later, I found out I got the part. I’m so thankful to be part of such a powerful and poignant film. Marti tells a deeply moving and personal story and one we don’t see often enough. It’s been amazing to see the response to the film and the kind messages from fans that relate to the film in their own respective way. Eating disorders are a difficult topic, but I think the film gives a message of much-needed hope.

PopHorror – It definitely is, and I’m so glad you got to be involved with such an amazing project. So, I’ve gotta ask… what was it like to work with Keanu Reeves?

Rebekah Kennedy – So, unfortunately, I didn’t get to work with him directly in the movie. But he was at the table read, the premiere, and the different events the movie put on. He was so extremely kind and humble. Really down to earth. It was definitely a pleasure getting to talk with him and he’s really fantastic in the movie.

PopHorror – February is Women in Horror Month. Which women in the industry inspire you?

Rebekah Kennedy – This is a difficult question, as I have so many women that inspire me. One I would say is Meryl Streep. She’s played such a variety of distinct memorable characters. She trained fiercely, and she’s a really strong woman. Another I would have to say is Uzo Aduba, who plays Crazy Eyes in Orange is the New Black. I think about the fact that she was about ready to give up before she booked that show, and thankfully she didn’t, because just then, this amazing character came to her. Her career didn’t come easily and she had to work really hard, and at the right time, this remarkable character came up. She plays such a distinct and memorable role, and she’s so fantastic. I definitely aspire to have that. She is such an inspiration to me. Even successful actors have moments where they wanted to give up. It reminds me to keep going, no matter how tough things get. You never know what the future holds. Amazing things are worth waiting for.

PopHorror – Yes, they are! If you could work with anyone in the future, who would it be?

Rebekah Kennedy – I have such a laundry list of people I would love to work with. Since this is Women In Horror month, I will stick to naming a few women this time around. Meryl Streep, obviously (laughs). Saoirse Ronan, Natalie Portman, Amy Adams, Helena Bonham Carter, Sally Hawkins, Jessica Chastain, Cate Blanchett to name a few actresses. Directing wise… Greta Gerwig, Patty Jenkins, Debra Granik, Jodie Foster, Ava DuVernay to name a few. There are so many amazing women in film and  that it’s hard to even scratch the surface. And I’m so thrilled more and more women are stepping into the director’s chair.

PopHorror – Wonderful choices! What is your favorite film you’ve done thus far?

Rebekah Kennedy – This is a tough question. It’s like asking which is my favorite child (laughs). All of my experiences have been wonderful, and I’m thankful I’ve gotten to work with such incredible talent so far. I also feel like I have learned something different from each set. I’ll have to go with two. First, House Hunting will always hold a special place in my heart because it was my first lead in a feature film. I feel really fortunate that director Eric Hurt and the rest of the team took a chance on me and allowed me to bring Hannah to life. I was also so amazed at the talent around me, that they really made my job easy.

This project showed me I could really do this and I was on the right path. It also really allowed me to explore physically because my character couldn’t speak, and those are things I have taken with me to other projects. The other would be Bastard, as it also holds a unique place in that I really got to explore a character starting in one place and ending up completely different. That was also a wonderful experience working with the directors, Patrick Robert Young and Powell Robinson, and the cast was incredibly kind and generous. I really got to push myself to places I hadn’t quite been yet, had to trust myself more and continued to see that who I am is enough. Each project I find myself learning more about myself as a person and as an artist.

PopHorror – What is your favorite character you’ve played thus far?

Rebekah Kennedy – Oh, that is another hard question to answer. I’ve fallen in love with all my characters, and it’s so very difficult to pick a favorite. One character I really feel I grew immensely with was my character Gina in Criminal Minds. It was a challenging role in very real and dire situation. It was an honor to be able to tell that story and show how strong someone can be even in the most horrific conditions. That your circumstances don’t have to define you. I know she came to me just at the right time. I’m really thankful that director Bethany Rooney, and the rest of the team allowed me to bring her to life.

PopHorror – I’ve gotta admit, that’s so cool you were on that show! Any upcoming projects you’d like to talk about?

Rebekah Kennedy – Yeah, I just worked on a new feature called Limbo directed by Mark Young. It’s about a murderer who finds himself on trial in Hell, caught between a bitter prosecutor and an inexperienced defense attorney. I play a really interesting character that I don’t want to reveal just yet, but I’m really excited about the project. The script is fabulous along with an amazing cast. Lew Temple (The Walking Dead), Peter Jacobson (House), Richard Riehle (Office Space), Lucian Collier (Lords of Chaos), James Purefoy (Rome), and Scottie Thompson (NCIS) to name a few. Hopefully, I’ll have more projects I can talk about soon!