Meet Kayden Tokarski- Actress, Singer and a junior-Olympic level competitive diver

Kayden Tokarski, an acclaimed actor from Orange County, California, has garnered 23 awards for her exceptional acting prowess. She is recognized for portraying a young Julia Roberts (Martha Mitchell) in the Starz TV series "Gaslit." Kayden's notable filmography includes "My Melancholy Baby" on Amazon Prime, the upcoming TV movie "Love's Fast Lane," and films such as "Mama Bear," "Roswell Delirium" alongside Anthony Michael Hall, and "Curse of Vandor" with Dee Wallace. Since embarking on her acting journey in 2020, Kayden has secured 23 Best Actress Awards and four additional nominations, making a significant impact with her roles in "Apocalypse Love Story," "My Melancholy Baby," "I Miss Her, Too," "Message from the Mermaids," and "The In-Between Place." In 2023, her performances in "Gaslit" and the indie film "Bombay Beach" earned her further acclaim, leading to a win at the Young Entertainer Awards for her role in "Bombay Beach." A multi-talented individual, Kayden is also a singer and a junior-Olympic level competitive diver. Her dedication to community service is evident through her keynote speeches at the 33rd annual Walk Against Drugs and a Red Cross LA fundraiser as well as her participation in the Joyful Child Foundation's "Be Brave" pilot.

What inspires you as an actress?

"I am inspired by other actresses like Zendaya, Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone and the impact they have on screen - and off. I love to play characters who are completely different than I am. It can be challenging but very rewarding."

What was it like playing young Martha (young Julia Roberts) in Gaslit?

"Portraying a young Julia Roberts was a dream come true! I worked with the amazing actor Jesse Bush who plays my dad, and he gave me tips on the spot on how to do a Southern accent. It was amazing to work with Director Matt Ross who is so talented."

Did you meet Julia Roberts while filming?

"No, unfortunately, she was not on set when I was."

Do you have any upcoming projects?

"I do! I have a film that I begin working on in early March and am excited about the upcoming TV movie “Love’s Fast Lane” as well as “Roswell Delirium”;  “Mama Bear”; and “Curse of Vandor” coming out in 2024."

How have you built yourself as an actor since starting in 2020?

"I am constantly training and honing my craft. My acting coach Michelle Tomlinson has taught me so much and I am also blessed to have Jillian Reed from Cynthia Bain Acting Studios as a coach and mentor.  You have to develop your skills for any type of role, and I really enjoy doing script analysis and diving into character backstories and histories to add depth I feel like you can’t do justice to the role if you don’t take the time to really breakdown the character and understand the relationships to other characters in the story.  For example, what do they want? What are they trying to achieve? Each character’s personality, motives and idiosyncrasies are important for accurate portrayal and performance."

How did you manage winning 23 best actress awards and five additional best acting nominations from local, national, and international film festivals?

"I am so honored and humbled by each award, which means the world to me. I am most proud of the award I won from the Young Entertainer Awards. It was incredible to receive the award, go on stage and thank them for the award as well as my incredible agents and manager for believing in me."

Do you have a favorite Dhar Mann film you starred in and why?

"That is a great question. I’ve been in 14 episodes and loved each one but I think my favorite was “Babysitter Loses 5-month-old baby.” It was so fun, a good lesson and I got to work with a great director and cast including Rafeal Siegal who has become a wonderful friend."

You have reached junior-olympic status on the 1 meter diving board, do you still do the 1 meter?

"Yes, I cannot believe I reached that level! I don’t have the chance to compete like I used to but I do still dive for fun off the 1-meter, 3-meter and 5-meter diving boards."

What are some things you like to do in your free time?

"I love spending time with my family and friends. I feel very blessed to have a very supportive circle of people in my life."

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