Netflix and one of its brightest stars, Genneya Walton. Read the exclusive interview with French Fries
Photographer: Ben Cope / ben_cope /
Styling: Amanda Lim / itsamandalim /
Hair: Sophia Porter / thesophiaporter /
Makeup: Leibi Carias / leibi_carias /
Words: Ally Ferraro / ally_ferraro /
Full look (cardigan, tank, pants) Missoni
Heels Dora Teymor
Earrings Beladora vintage jewelry
Dress Ganni
Earrings Lynn Ban
Heels Saint Laurent
While it’s off to a rough start, 2020 is set to be a good year for Netflix and one of its brightest stars is 21 year old Genneya Walton. Trained as a dancer, Genneya stars in #blackAF, the new sitcom set to release on April 17.
The series uncovers and explores the messy, unapologetic and often hilarious world of what it means to be a “new money” Black family trying to get it right in a modern world where “right” is no longer a fixed concept. Starring Kenya Barris and Rashida Jones, this family comedy is inspired by Barris' real life.
On the phone from her LA pad, Genneya spoke with us about how she reacted when she got the call back from her manager after auditioning for a whole month, how it was to be styled by celebrity stylist Michelle Cole everyday while filming and where she eats her best french fries.
How did it all start for you? What was your first experience in the entertainment industry?
I started dancing when I was six years old and just kept with it. I had an agent when I was 13 years old and when I was 14 I got an audition, an acting audition, which I had never done before. It was for an American girl, an American girl movie. I was supposed to be a ballerina so my dance agent just sent me on the audition. He was like, try it on, just see how it goes and then I ended up booking it. That was my first time doing an acting job, ever.
How was playing with Rashida Jones and Kenya Barris?"
They are such incredible people and honestly, I didn't know what to expect going into the project, I truly didn't. They helped me along the way and I learned so much from just watching them work on the set. Rashida, Kenya, my siblings, and my other housemates made this experience special for me, they were all so incredible.
So you are all friends and like a family for real right?
Yes, absolutely and it's not so often that happens. I mean if you work on any other jobs and it's the same thing. You don't have to be friends with the people that you are working with, but we are and it's a special thing and I hope our bond can be seen on camera.
Can you tell us a little more about the fashion? Is it the 90's? Bold? A little bit like in the movie "Clueless"?
OMG! Michelle Cole styled us and she works with so many other amazing people. They have us in Vera Wang, Balenciaga, Gucci. I love fashion and every day I felt like a princess.
For how long did you shoot? Was it in LA in a studio or on location?
We shot for about three months. We started in Los Angeles and then we also filmed in Fuji.
What is it like to be on the set?
It is so much fun. It doesn't feel like real work. I feel so lucky to be able to say that my work doesn't feel like work. Even if my call times are at 6 am and I need to wake up at 4 in the morning, I still look forward to going to work.
Dress Ganni
Earrings Lynn Ban
Heels Saint Laurent
Suit Alexander McQueen
Heels Giuseppe Zanotti
Earrings & rings APM Monaco
What inspired you to become a dancer?
When I was six, I was in my living room and I was watching Barbie in the Nutcracker movie, which is a ballet movie. I was just copying all the ballet routines and my mom caught it on video and she asked me if I wanted to start dancing. I was like "Yes, for sure!". My mom has this video and I haven't seen it in years, but that's when I started and I've just loved it ever since.
What was your most memorable experience until now?
Honestly, the end of the audition process of #blackAF was the most memorable experience. I think finally getting the call that I booked this role was a very special time in my life. Before booking this job, I hadn't booked anything in two years, which it's a long time. It's hard to keep going, but I did and I've been in the audition room for this project so many times and I kept going back and forward for this role for over a month. I was sitting in my car after I had another audition and my manager was like "Hey, can I call you?" and I was like "Yeah, for sure" and she called me and they were all on the phone, my agent, my manager, my whole team. They told me that I booked it. I thought they were lying! They were like "No, we're serious", so I was just crying. The crazy thing is that I had a good feeling about this project, I knew there was something special about it once I got the first audition.
Is your character very much like you are in real life or was it hard to get into it?
I think we have similar aspects. I am 21 in real life and the character that I am playing is 19. At the time I played her I was 20. So, as a 20 years old girl in this current time, I think we all have a lot more similarities than differences and she is, I don't want to say more out there than I am, but she is a popular girl. I never personally was and I don't think I would define myself like that, but I don't know, I think we are quite similar, so it didn't take too much. But in terms of the style of the project, it took me a lot of getting used to and sitting in the pocket of the energy and vibe of the show.
Do you feel like it changed you in a way, that you grew with it?
100%! The really good thing about this particular project is that Kennya and Rashida gave us complete free run as artists to do anything and everything so we weren't stuck to just what was written in the script, we had complete freedom with our characters, especially when it came to exploring our character. I never had the opportunity to do that, so I really had to trust in myself and my capabilities and let things happen as they did.
What is the best advice you ever received?
I would say "Everything that is meant for you, will be yours". I think a lot of times we stress so much and we want to be in control of anything and everything that happens in our lives. But what happens to you is meant to happen for a reason and you just need to be patient. I think patience is the biggest thing.
In this moment in time, what are you most excited about?
I am very excited for the show to come out and am also very excited for people to see me play a character like this. I don't know how to explain it, she is just a much more mature character than I've been able to play until now and I think people will see me in a different light. I hope they will enjoy it.
Last, but not least, where do you eat your favorite french fries?
I love french fries so much! Truffle fries from Catch are so good!