photography by DEREK REED
styling by JENN ROSADO
hair by STACEY CICERON
makeup by MYKEN GARCIA
interview by LEAH BEKKER

starring AURORA PERRINEAU

“I just want to play real people, underrepresented people, misrepresented people, the discarded, our underdogs. People that don’t feel they have a voice – I want to help be that voice. “

video by POULL BRIEN

Aurora Perrineau is a young, up-and-coming American actress and a woman of color. Her work includes the critically acclaimed Netflix mini-series “When They See Us”, the film “Jem and the Holograms”, as well as a starring role in the upcoming TV drama series “Prodigal Son”. We talked to her about her personal life, her experiences and the lessons she learned in her ongoing journey as an aspiring actress, while also getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the yet unreleased “Prodigal Son”.

Spirit And Flesh: Tell us about your childhood; where did you grow up?

Aurora Perrineau: I was born in NY and lived in the city for a few years. We then moved to Australia, Hawaii, and Los Angeles.

S&F: How did you get started in acting?

AP: I started acting when I was around 6 because I thought that’s what everyone did since my parents were both in the business. Then, after a few auditions and realizing you don’t book every job, I quit acting. I ended up starting to act again later on, once we moved back to Los Angeles and I could actually be in one place for a while.

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Top Laurence & Chico
right:
Dress Sfizio

S&F: Your parents are successful actors as well; what was it like growing up with a family of actors?

AP: Growing up with actors really didn’t feel like anything out of the ordinary. It was just the jobs that my parents had, so acting as a career seemed very normal and almost common to me.

S&F: How have your parents influenced your career as an actor?

AP: My parents have definitely inspired me in ways that have informed my career – they’ve given me a lot of advice and helped me – but I like to make my own path, figure things out on my own …I’m hard-headed sometimes.

S&F: How would you say you’ve grown as an actor from when you started up until now?

AP: I feel I’ve grown tremendously. I have way more of a respect for the craft and the different skills each job takes, and I feel more confident that I can tackle more roles. I still have a lot of learning and growing to do, as I believe you never stop learning. Each job is a new challenge and teaches you a new skill set.

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Sweater Nude
Dress Laurence & Chico
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outfit Land of Distraction

S&F: What are some transformative experiences you have had so far?

AP: I think my most transformative experience has been the birth of my little sisters. I realized that there were things bigger than me, that I had a larger purpose beyond myself. I need to be there for them, care for them, be a positive role model, go on for them.

S&F: Who are your role models and teachers and what do you admire about them?

AP: My parents. They are the beams holding up my foundation. They are the strongest people I’ve ever met. They’ve been through so much individually and somehow have come through to the other side as beautiful, unhardened people.

S&F: Tell us about your most recent work on Netflix’s “When They See Us”. What is your role?

AP: In “When They See Us,” I play Tanya, who is the girlfriend of one of the exonerated five, Raymond Santana. I think Tanya is a necessary light in the show. The relationship between her and Ray gives you a second to breathe and also showcases the struggles that previously incarcerated people have to go through just to be in a relationship – just to have love and affection. It showcases especially how hard it is for someone who’s been wrongfully convicted and how much frustration comes with knowing you’ve done nothing wrong but are being treated like a second class citizen.

S&F: How has your work on “When They See Us” influenced you as not just an actor, but also as a woman of color?

AP: ”When They See Us” has really changed my life in so many ways. I think the biggest shift was finally feeling like there is something more I can do – I don’t have to sit back idly and watch my brothers and sisters be arrested, abused, and killed. I’m actually becoming an ambassador for the Innocence Project, to help others who have been wrongfully convicted get out of the prison system and take their lives back. I feel like I have a voice now, and I’m ready to use it.

S&F: You’ve also recorded an album for your role in the film “Jem and the Holograms”! What was it like to take on a more musical approach to your work?

AP: ”Jem and the Holograms” really feels like it was my first job, and so I really look back on that job with so much love and appreciation for everyone and all the experiences I had there. The music was a plus, I love singing and I don’t really get the opportunity to showcase that, so it was a wonderful experience. Learning how to drum was also something I’ll take with me forever.

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Dress Sfizio
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Blouse Laurence & Chico

S&F: Do you see yourself working more in music in the future?

AP: I’ve considered stepping into music more, but at this time I’m very focused on my acting career. However, if a movie came around with some kind of musical character, I’d be thrilled to have the opportunity.

S&F: You will soon be premiering in the upcoming TV drama “Prodigal Son” in September! Tell us about the show and your role/character.

AP: “Prodigal Son” is a show about serial killers. I like to say it’s like “Dexter” meets “Law and Order” with a side of “Se7en”. It’s really about the relationships between the serial killer and his family and the ripple effects it has on them and the community. I play Dani, she’s a young detective, with a bit of a dark past that will be exposed throughout the series. She works closely with Malcolm Bright (Tom Payne), who becomes a profiler for the NYPD. Their relationship is an interesting one as they both connect via their own traumas, and they can truly see one another because of the things they’ve been through.

S&F: What were some of the most interesting / special moments on the set of “Prodigal Son”? 

AP: I think a really special moment for me was the last day of shooting the pilot and being with the whole team – that’s always a very emotional experience for me. We are still shooting the show right now so I’m sure the moments will keep building.

S&F: It seems that your work has been mostly in the drama genre, such as “When They See Us” and “Prodigal Son”. Do you have any interests working in other film and TV genres?

AP: I’m really open to working on any genre as long as the script is something I feel like I can breathe some sort of life into, and that the characters are interesting and three-dimensional. I’ve worked a lot in horror and drama, and I really quite enjoy those genres.

S&F: What would you say has been your most rewarding role?

AP:  I would say Tanya in “When They See Us”, and Ashley in “All That We Destroy”. I connected very deeply with both of these women and cared so much for them.

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Top Laurence & Chico
Skirt Nude
right:
Dress Laurence & Chico

S&F: What type of roles would you most like to play later down the line?

AP: I just want to play real people, underrepresented people, misrepresented people, the discarded, our underdogs. People that don’t feel they have a voice – I want to help be that voice.

S&F: What kind of genre do you personally like to watch or read? 

AP: I love drama, horror, psychological thrillers.

S&F: What are some of your favorite books and why? What are you reading now?

AP: ”The Broom of the System”, “Paint It Black”, “Gone Girl”, anything by James Baldwin. I’m currently reading “The Body Keeps the Score”, “Native Son”, and “I’m Thinking of Ending Things”.

S&F: What is your favorite music? What are you listening to now and why?

AP: I really am all over the shop when it comes to my taste in music. I will listen to most anything. At the moment I’m on a Chance The Rapper kick (Acid rap), also listening to a lot of Cleo Sol, Ginuwine, J. Cole, Jorja Smith, Jacob Banks, Mahalia, Jamila Woods, Ravyn Lenae, Otis Redding … the list is never-ending.

S&F: You’re quite active on social media; what are your thoughts on how celebrities and influencers use their platforms? What are their responsibilities with it?

AP: I am pretty active on social media, but to be honest with you, I’m not a fan of it at all – everything is curated and so fake to me. But it’s seemingly becoming more important for our careers, especially for someone still trying to come up in the business like myself. You know producers, studios, etc. really are looking at how many followers you have and make casting decisions based on that. I’ve lost out on roles due to my lack of followers. So, I use social media out of what feels like a necessity at this point.

I think we should use our platforms to inform about world events and causes we are passionate about, I prefer following accounts that are unfiltered and unabashedly themselves with no fear of losing followers because of what they post. I hope to start talking more about my work with the Innocence Project and other foundations that I’m starting to partner with, to really feel like I’m using social media for good and not just my own agenda.

I think there’s a lot of darkness to social media – the narcissism, the unrealistic beauty standards – it can be really unhealthy. I know I find myself questioning things about myself and feeling down on myself, so I think it’s important for people with a platform to bring a bit of realness to their profiles, so that young people don’t feel this pressure and feel less than. I can’t imagine having been younger and dealing with what Instagram is today.

S&F: Are there any other upcoming projects of yours we could look forward to?

AP: At the moment I’m shooting “Prodigal Son” for the next six months but am looking forward to doing some more movie work on my hiatus.

S&F: Any advice for aspiring actors?

AP: Be the hardest working person in the room and you really can make anything possible for yourself. Someone told me there will always be someone who wants it more than you, so to that I say make that untrue, want it the most, work the hardest, and things will fall into place. There is no clear trajectory, no right path or wrong path. You have to do what makes you feel right, and things that breathe life into your soul. Celebrate every win, small or large, you made that happen for yourself and that’s magic.