Interview by Jesse Scott Photography by Tazaca & styling by Rez Martinez Market Editor: Hannah Atira
Thrilling and intriguing, Stephen King has long provided a springboard for the imagination. In his latest series, The Institute, now streaming on MGM+, a group of teenagers gifted with superpowers find themselves trapped in an institute which conducts intrusive experiments under the pretense of progress. Surely an apt metaphor for our times, The Institute, which is based on King’s eponymous 2019 novel, raises the dystopian stakes by turning familiar settings upside down and inside out. Rain spoke with the young actor, Simone Miller, who plays Kalisha in the new series, a spunky fourteen-year-old who acts as a guiding light and provides levity in the face of adversity.
Jesse Scott: Let’s begin at the very beginning. What inspired you to pursue acting and who were some of your influences growing up?
Simone Miller: I pursued acting because of my mom. She has always been a driving force and immersed me in the arts at an early age. I’m innately introverted and was very shy as a child. My mom saw acting as a way to get me out of my shell and force me to be more social. So, I ended up falling in love with the industry backwards; I fell in love with being on set before I fell in love with film. The people that inspired me the most were not people on screen but rather people I worked with. For example, the first show that I booked was Detention Adventure, a CBC Gem original series. I worked alongside Joe Kicak and Carmen Albano, who are incredible creatives. They are passion-driven and were the breath that carried us forward through filming. The project had a small budget and we were always running a little behind, but they were able to keep the passion and energy going, no matter what. They inspired me to continue with acting and also to direct and write one day.
JS: Let’s talk about Detention Adventure. How old were you when you landed the role and what was it like to step into an intense environment at an early age?
SM: I was twelve years old, super shy, and this is very Canadian of me, I was horribly over-apologetic about everything. Joe Kikac, the director of the project, wrote me a little letter when we wrapped and said, ‘you don't have to be so overly apologetic for taking up space that you've earned.’ That resonated with me. I still have that letter on my wall in my room; it’s always there to ground me and remind me that twelve-year-old would be blown away that she gets to be in a Stephen King adaptation.
Dress by FENDI, jewelry by CARINA HARDY
SM: I started reading the book right before the callback audition for Kalisha. I wanted to piece together the scenes that I was given, because in the breakdown for the audition you’re given a rough synopsis of the character. You have to drop your scenes without context. When I picked up the book, the story was so much bigger than I previously realized. I immediately fell in love with it, particularly how it highlights the kids and how they have to save themselves instead of being damselled. The kids survive not just because of their superpowers but because of their friendships and relationships, and, quite literally, their refusal to just lay down and die. I identified with that, especially being Gen Z; the generation that’s given a tough time for not being complacent about anything. I would have loved to have this story to look up to when I was younger. So, when I received the news that I got the role to play Kalisha and finished reading the book, I was floored. Every time someone would ask me about it, I would just immediately have this huge smile.
JS: Tell me more about bringing Kalisha to life. How did you unlock the character and make her yours?
SM: First and foremost, I wanted to pay respect to the way she's written [by Stephen King]; it was important for me to do the character justice because I became such a fan of the book. The book nerd in me really wanted to make sure that other fans were able to identify with her and see her core attributes personified in the show. I went down a rabbit hole of rereading and annotating the book over and over again. It was grounding to be able to have that to fall back on. If I were ever unsure of anything, I would reference the book and read the scene at the same time, which was a gift. You don't always get that much material to adhere to as an actor.
Throughout the process, I wanted to keep top of mind that Kalisha is still a kid. Her spunk and light and laughter is highlighted, but I didn’t want to remove the fear, because being strong doesn’t necessarily mean the absence of fear. It just means that she dares to hope and be the light, even in a place so devoid of it.
Left: Dress and boots by COACH. Right: Jacket and shirt by FERRAGAMO, shoes by FENDI Jewlery is Carina Hardy
SM: Oh, I love this question! First of all, I have to say that I enjoyed wearing her uniform. It was so comfortable; I felt like I was wearing a onesie to work all day. Aside from that, I loved Kalisha’s outfit when she’s graduating: the green shirt and the Dickies pants with all the patches on them. I begged them to let me keep those! Kalisha is basically the coolest 14-year-old you’ve ever met. I wish I dressed more like her when I was that age. Her wardrobe is vibrant; she’s not afraid of colors and mixing patterns and she also has cool vintage pieces. She has inspired me to experiment more with my personal style.
JS: If you could raid anyone’s closet, past, present, or fictional, who would it be?
SM: There are so many characters going through my head, but the first one I would say is Emma Stone’s Cruella de Vil. All of her outfits are so cool and she killed it in that role. Serena from Gossip Girl also comes to mind; I just rewatched that and it’s amazing.
JS: Two of the most iconic characters! And the people you’re working with are just as iconic. What was it like being on set with Mary Louise Parker?
SM: Honestly, I’m still a fangirl; getting to step on set with her was a dream. She personified her character in a way that I didn’t necessarily predict but that worked so perfectly. And the way she acts inspires you to perform in ways that you didn’t even know you had in you. The main thing that I took from working with her was to get out of my own head and let my emotions flow through and into the character; letting them live and breathe in the scene added a layer of spontaneity.
JS: The season finale of The Institute was highly anticipated! What has it been like for you to see people experience the show?
SM: It’s been overwhelming. I try not to get too wrapped up in it or read people’s responses. Honestly, it’s a weird thing to know that there’s this whole body of humanity that is perceiving you, but I’m really thankful and grateful. You never know what the reaction is going to be to something you poured your heart into. To see that people are resonating with the show and loving it means the world. All I can say is ‘thank you’ to everyone who watches.
JS: What excites you about the future? Your acting career is taking off but you mentioned that you also might be interested in directing. You’re also a singer/songwriter as well!
SM: Oh, I wear many hats. I’m also a film student and I’m getting a taste of directing and writing through that as well. I have many stories that I want to tell and I feel like I offer a new perspective that I’d love to bring the table, whether that’s through a film, a short film, or even a mini-series. I’m manifesting; I’m a very strong believer that everything that’s meant to find you, will.
JS: Tell me more about your music career. I understand that you produced your first music video when you were sixteen.
SM: I was actually a singer before I was an actor. Music was my first love in the sense that it was all I grew up around. My mom's a singer, my dad's a singer, my godmother is a singer, and my godfather, who unfortunately passed, was a keyboard player. So, I was immersed in such a musical world that it was impossible for me to not fall in love with music. I think my musical style has ebbed, flowed, and changed as I've grown. When I was younger, I was definitely more pop focused. Now, I’ve allowed myself to grow into my voice, which veers towards more of a soul style, even though my writing is very wordy and mixes with the folk world. I've actually been working on a project that will soon come out and I’m excited about it. I’ve been able to marry all of my worlds in a way that feels organic but also very true to me. I haven’t shied away from diving into the not-so-kind and performative versions of myself that I'm definitely scared of but ready to share. Also, I’m paying respects to the artists that I love and the artists that I listened to growing up.
Dress by VERSACE, jewelry by CARINA HARDY
SM: I’ve never strayed too far away from music, even when I was filming The Institute. I rented a keyboard, and during my downtime I would lose days just learning new melodies and writing. It’s my way of unplugging and relaxing, even if I’m just mindlessly playing with chords. Also, I love watching films and reading. I’ve been reading a lot more since The Institute, and I really enjoy just disappearing into a story and building these worlds in my mind. There’s a level of intimacy when it comes to reading which I love.
JS: That’s beautiful. You’re just at the beginning of your journey, but at the age of nineteen, you’ve already accomplished so much. What advice would you share with younger people who look up to you as a role model or who would love to get into acting or singing?
SM: Imposter syndrome has always been a big thing for me, so I would refer back to that letter that Joe Kikac wrote me. Don’t be apologetic for taking up space that you’ve earned, even if it’s a bit daunting to step into these spaces. Sometimes, you can let yourself be proud of your journey. And don’t worry about comparisons; comparison is the thief of joy. Everyone’s journey is different and you should be proud of yourself for your accomplishments, keep your head down and work on your craft, and always keep pushing. That’s what twelve-year-old me would need to hear.