“Team Kaylie” is all about embracing your individuality!
The Netflix Original follows a shallow and selfie-obsessed teenage celebrity billionaire who is court-ordered to serve her community by mentoring an after-school wilderness club for inner-city tweens. Along the way she meets new friends, picks up new skills, and discovers that she has so much more to offer than just a pretty face.
And just like Kaylie (played by Bryana Salaz), Eliza Pryor, learned so much about herself while filming the fun-filled series. The 13-year-old actress told us that playing such a confident character inspired her to challenge herself:
“Sometimes I get nervous or embarrassed when I’m acting, which I shouldn’t, but sometimes I do, so [Valeria] helped me get out of my comfort zone with acting.”
In what ways do you relate to Valeria?
Eliza: I didn’t really relate to her; she’s very different from me, but she just seemed like such a fun character! And I feel like there’s so many fun things you can do with her.
What were some challenges you faced with playing a character you didn’t exactly relate to?
Eliza: I’m really shy…so a lot of the time when I first started off, the biggest note I always got was to be louder…[Valeria’s] this big, crazy, witch-person…she helped me come out of my shell a little…sometimes I get nervous or embarrassed when I’m acting, which I shouldn’t, but sometimes I do, so she helped me get out of my comfort zone with acting.
What message do you want fans to take away from Valeria?
Eliza: I look up to Valeria because she’s just herself and she doesn’t care what anybody thinks of her. She’s just this crazy witch-person and she loves it about herself. People call her freak and a weirdo and she’s like “thank you.” That’s who she wants to be and she doesn’t care what people think of her. That’s a really important message that I want kids and people to see; you can be yourself and you don’t have to care what people think.
Eliza isn’t the only one who learned from her “Team Kaylie” character. Here’s what Bryana Salaz has to say about playing the lead!
