Kya Stewart
Kya Stewart is an actor based in Sydney, Australia.
She is best known for her lead lead role in the thriller Black Heart, Red Hands, directed by Russell Southam. The film has won over 100 International Film awards so far this year including Best Acting Ensemble at the New York Film Awards.
Its next step will be a screening at the Silk Road Film Awards in Cannes next month after having also won Best Crime Film.
She most recently starred in the short film Weird Seance, directed by Kacey Baker. Weird Seance is a daring, supernatural comedy and was recently featured in FilmInk after having won ‘short film of the day’.
She is about to make her first International film appearance in the science-fiction thriller Risen, written and directed by Eddie Arya.
Kya has studied at both Anthony Meindl’s Actor Workshop in Sydney and at the renowned Andrew Wood acting studio in Los Angeles.
She has received international recognition for her work and a number of awards including Best Actress at the European International Film Festival, Best Actress of the season at the Monkey Bread Tree Festival and Best Actress at the YLMAM Film Festival in Canada for her role as Jade in The One.
She is currently in pre-production for her short film Cognitive, which she wrote, will be co-producing and will be playing the lead role of Abbie in the psychological drama, which is due to be released next year.
MORE FROM KYA:
1). What steps have you taken to keep creative during isolation?
Like most of us, I definitely felt the initial affects of Covid both personally and professionally, but I was determined not to let it beat me. I made a decision very early on that I would stay creative and keep training so that once the industry opened up again I would come out better and stronger. And for the most part, I’ve been able to keep that promise to myself.
I’ve done online courses, submitted myself for independent productions and haven’t gone more then two weeks without putting myself in front of the camera. I also recently starred in the short film Weird Seance by the amazing director Kacey Baker. We had such an amazing time making it and there was definitely a real family vibe on set. Working on that film really put a spring in my step and I’m very grateful!
Staying busy and creating work has definitely kept me inspired. Of course I’ve had ‘off’ days and weeks like everyone, but most of all I try to remind myself that I am an actor and that can never be taken away from me. I can act any time and anywhere, even when external factors or life makes it tricky.
2). What does ‘the hustle’ look like to you? How do you motivate yourself to create your own work?
I think the idea of ‘the hustle’ has definitely changed over time for me. For a long time it scared me because I used to think it meant ‘throwing yourself and your work in peoples faces’ and that made me uncomfortable when I was younger. But as I’ve gotten older I realise that it truly means working hard, believing in yourself, being an authentic person who develops genuine relationships and backing your work.
And so that’s what I do. I genuinely work really hard and care, so I’m not afraid to show people now. The results are in my work. I also help people with their visions and support the people around me. We can’t do it alone, so being a kind and hard working person that people trust will get you far.
As far as what motivates me to create my own work, again, it isn’t always easy, but I often come back to my ‘why’. It has been my dream since I was seven years old to be an actor and to change the World through truth and art. (True story. Also written in my Insta Bio). So I feel that I not only owe it to little Kya, but I owe it to the people around me to share my gifts and to share stories that will impact people and change lives.
I think it’s easier when you don’t make it all about you and you have a bigger purpose.
3). What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
This was a bit of a tricky one as I ran through my brain trying to think of every amazing piece of advice I have ever received.
But first and foremost I would say to ‘believe in yourself’. I know that’s so cliché but for a long time I didn’t. You can’t expect others to believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself. I think it’s a forever journey, but a nice one. Do the work, learn to love yourself more and find a way.
Next would be: ‘stop caring what people think so damn much’. Everyone will always have an opinion and sometimes they’ll like you and your work and sometimes they won’t. Do it anyway.
And last of all (this one was life changing) is that ‘the World doesn’t owe you a thing’. Sounds a little harsh at first, I know, but it’s so true. And if you pull it apart more, it really all just comes down to gratitude. You get what you put out in this life and every relationship, experience, conversation, social hang out , whatever, is a gift, but never owed to you.
Stay open, humble and grateful.
4). What have been your self-care techniques during quarantine?
This is one of my favourite topics haha! Implementing a self-care routine years ago was literally life changing for me. Anyone who knows me well knows that I could talk about it for hours.
But first and foremost, the biggest part of my self-care routine is to meditate. I didn’t start meditating because of quarantine, but it has certainly helped pull me through it.
I have a morning routine that I’ve done for about four years now. It’s grown and changed over time, and I like to mix it up, but having half an hour to an hour to myself every morning to connect and ground myself always sets me up for the day ahead. At the moment I drink a large glass of water every morning, meditate for half an hour and then write down what I’m grateful for that day. Meditating is a skill that you develop over time. I always encourage people to start with five minutes a day and grow from there. It’s a non-negotiable in my life and my greatest self-care hack!
Also, rest. As a creative who loves to stay busy and always has a new creative idea, it can be hard for me to stop at times. But I am forcing myself to rest and recharge more. At the moment I’m trying to have a full day off a week. No commitments, no work, just some rest and fun! It really helps and is becoming an integral part to my self-care.
5). What advice would you give to people looking to produce their own work?
I think there’s so much hard work that goes into it, and even though people warn you about it, you can’t fully grasp it until you dive into it yourself. It’s fun and it’s rewarding, but it can be very overwhelming too.
I would say the best advice is to ask for help. I used to try and do a lot of things myself, and for a long time, I did. But that was hard and that was exhausting. There’s no possible way that you can do it on your own, and you shouldn’t have to. If you are genuine, hard working and passionate, people will help you! Find the right people and the right team.
It’s still a work in progress for me, but I’ve learnt to ask for help and remind myself that the worst that someone can say is no!
I mentioned this above as well, but again, “know your why”.
If you want to get rich or famous, that’s fine, but acting and producing takes a lot of hard work. Mostly unpaid and mostly unrecognised, until you start to build a reputable name for yourself. Knowing your why and your purpose will keep you motivated when no one else can or will, and will help pick you back up when you have set backs and rejections.
Good luck and have fun!
