Reprising her function as Nile Freeman in The Previous Guard 2—the eagerly awaited sequel to Netflix’s 2020 international action-fantasy phenomenon—KiKi Layne is able to captivate audiences as soon as once more. Returning to the display alongside Academy Award–winner Charlize Theron, Layne brings again the fierce willpower and emotional depth that made Nile a breakout character within the first installment. Including to the thrill, this go introduces Uma Thurman in a mysterious new function, promising contemporary twists and thrilling dynamics. In between delivering a mix of motion, coronary heart and the supernatural, Layne not too long ago chatted with us to speak the sequel, skincare and all issues summer season.
The place is your head because the movie begins streaming in the present day? All of us anticipate these Netflix releases.
Proper! It feels wonderful to have the ability to have these two movies below my belt. It’s great to come back again for this new movie. I really like this solid a lot—it’s wonderful to kind of bounce again in and be capable to work with one another once more. Additionally, the problem as an actor to return to a task so a few years after first doing it’s fairly cool. Clearly, working with Charlize once more is wonderful. The second time round, now there’s Uma, too? What? Thoughts-blown. Actually, earlier in the present day, I used to be saying: “Today, there’s a movie in the world that I’m starring in with Charlize Theron and Uma Thurman.” Thoughts blown.
Whenever you do one thing like this, one thing that’s so action-oriented, do it’s important to get in form? Is there something you needed to prep for for the function?
For certain. Getting in form and actually honoring the physicality of the function was enormous. I really like making ready for a personality and digging into a personality. Who’re they? The place am I in alignment with the character? The place is there a disconnect? I really like exploring that. For Nile, her physicality is extraordinarily vital to the function, and I’ve to do proper by that. It positively meant being within the fitness center greater than I’ve ever been within the fitness center in my complete life, and simply actually pushing myself bodily—particularly the second time round. This time round, we’re doing greater stunts, and I actually wished to ensure that I may do as a lot of that as doable. However it’s actually an honor to discover this character and do what’s being requested of her.
Picture by Kevin Sinclair Is there something magnificence or skincare that you just used on set as a relentless?
Sure. The principle face wash that I’ve been utilizing is from an organization that’s truly a neighborhood Black woman-owned firm from Cincinnati, which is my hometown. It’s referred to as Pores and skin by Brownlee & Co. I take advantage of loads of her merchandise. She has this actually nice face wash that’s light however efficient. That’s in all probability my go-to face wash. Then, typically, I additionally use Sunday Riley. It is a newer factor that I’ve been utilizing. Their Aquamarine Soften is an excellent light cleanser that’s actually good. I don’t know. These are two face washes that I really feel actually nail it—they’re each efficient, but light. I additionally use Pores and skin by Brownlee & Co.’s serum. She has a glycolic acid, a salicylic acid, all actually nice stuff. In fact, I really like that it’s a model that was began by a Black lady from Cincinnati, so I’m positively going to help that.
What else was I utilizing on set? Oh, Arcona Triad Pads. They’ve a few completely different ones. I’m fairly certain it’s the Triad Pads that I like. Which are tremendous nice. Additionally, their Magic Black Ice masks is all the things. That masks is so good. That masks I take advantage of anytime earlier than I’ve an look or an enormous occasion or one thing, the evening earlier than, I’m 1000% utilizing that masks.
Superb model.
Sure, Arcona is so nice. It’s so nice! It was launched to me on Don’t Fear Darling, truly, and I nonetheless use so lots of their merchandise as effectively. It’s such an incredible model.
That was my subsequent query. I feel I used to be first launched to you in Don’t Fear Darling. Relating to all of your roles, was there something that was actually enjoyable or difficult to get into character for styling-wise or makeup-wise?
Properly, in Don’t Fear Darling, I had on a wig, like a enjoyable little wig, in order that was completely different for me. The Previous Guard 2 was cool as a result of I obtained to put on my locks out for the primary time. That was so significant, as a Black lady, to put on a method that the business has not at all times made variety area for. It’s a method that I feel loads of us really feel we’ve been tricked into pondering: “Oh, it’s not professional, it’s not nice, it’s not pretty or beautiful.” To be main an motion movie whereas having pure locks, I feel that’s in all probability been my favourite hair second to this point in a movie. It felt a lot extra poignant to put on a method that the business hasn’t made a lot area for, actually.
Picture by Kevin Sinclair You’re fairly busy doing press for the movie. Will you be capable to chill out this summer season or are you on to the following work mission?
I feel I’m going to be enjoyable principally. Actually, it’s a bizarre time within the enterprise proper now…simply not as a lot work accessible, so we’ll see what occurs. I’m studying to do a greater job of sitting within the second and actually celebrating what I’ve achieved. I feel, on this enterprise, in any enterprise, we will get so caught up in what’s subsequent that we don’t even actually get to have a good time and have appreciation for what we’ve achieved. If the one factor that occurs this summer season is that an motion film that I’m starring in with Charlize Theron and Uma Thurman comes out, it’s a reasonably rattling nice summer season!
I’d say so. I feel that may set folks up for the following 10 summers.
Proper, principally! That’s one thing I’ve been difficult myself on with this enterprise. It’s one thing that all of us do. I feel it doesn’t matter what a part of the enterprise that you just’re in, we will all study to be a bit extra intentional. Simply taking a second to say, “Hey, look at what the hell I’ve done!” Excited about the place all of us come from, the place all of us get began is so vital. I’m from Ohio. You mentioned you’re from Pennsylvania. It’s like, that is fairly cool, proper? On a Wednesday earlier than the 4th, we get to speak a couple of movie and do the issues that we like to do. So I’m simply leaning into that this summer season. And if my man desires to take me someplace cute and if he desires to take me to a seashore or one thing, then I’m going to try this as effectively!
