Reprising her position as Nile Freeman in The Outdated Guard 2—the eagerly awaited sequel to Netflix’s 2020 world action-fantasy phenomenon—KiKi Layne is able to captivate audiences as soon as once more. Returning to the display screen alongside Academy Award–winner Charlize Theron, Layne brings again the fierce dedication and emotional depth that made Nile a breakout character within the first installment. Including to the joy, this go introduces Uma Thurman in a mysterious new position, promising recent twists and thrilling dynamics. In between delivering a mix of motion, coronary heart and the supernatural, Layne lately chatted with us to speak the sequel, skincare and all issues summer season.
The place is your head because the movie begins streaming at this time? All of us look forward to these Netflix releases.
Proper! It feels wonderful to have the ability to have these two movies underneath my belt. It’s fantastic to come back again for this new movie. I really like this forged a lot—it’s wonderful to type of bounce again in and be capable to work with one another once more. Additionally, the problem as an actor to return to a job 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 at this time, 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.
If you do one thing like this, one thing that’s so action-oriented, do you must get in form? Is there something you needed to prep for for the position?
For certain. Getting in form and actually honoring the physicality of the position was big. 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 position, 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 needed to guarantee that I may do as a lot of that as potential. 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 continuing?
Sure. The primary face wash that I’ve been utilizing is from an organization that’s truly an area Black woman-owned firm from Cincinnati, which is my hometown. It’s referred to as Pores and skin by Brownlee & Co. I exploit loads of her merchandise. She has this actually nice face wash that’s mild 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 mild 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 mild. 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 girl from Cincinnati, so I’m positively going to assist that.
What else was I utilizing on set? Oh, Arcona Triad Pads. They’ve a few totally different ones. I’m fairly certain it’s the Triad Pads that I like. Which can be tremendous nice. Additionally, their Magic Black Ice masks is every part. That masks is so good. That masks I exploit anytime earlier than I’ve an look or a giant occasion or one thing, the night time earlier than, I’m 1000% utilizing that masks.
Wonderful 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 nicely. It’s such an awesome model.
That was my subsequent query. I feel I used to be first launched to you in Don’t Fear Darling. On the subject of all of your roles, was there something that was actually enjoyable or difficult to get into character for styling-wise or makeup-wise?
Effectively, in Don’t Fear Darling, I had on a wig, like a enjoyable little wig, in order that was totally different for me. The Outdated Guard 2 was cool as a result of I received to put on my locs out for the primary time. That was so significant, as a Black girl, to put on a method that the trade has not at all times made type 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 locs, I feel that’s in all probability been my favourite hair second to date in a movie. It felt a lot extra poignant to put on a method that the trade 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 calm down this summer season or are you on to the subsequent work mission?
I feel I’m going to be stress-free principally. Actually, it’s a bizarre time within the enterprise proper now…simply not as a lot work obtainable, 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 completed. I feel, on this enterprise, in any enterprise, we are able to get so caught up in what’s subsequent that we don’t even actually get to have fun and have appreciation for what we’ve completed. 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 might set individuals up for the subsequent 10 summers.
Proper, mainly! 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 are able to 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 stated you’re from Pennsylvania. It’s like, that is fairly cool, proper? On a Wednesday earlier than the 4th, we get to speak a few 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 seaside or one thing, then I’m going to do this as nicely!
