Actress Kyla Pratt has an infectious spirit that is palpable. Speaking with her recently, I was immediately struck by her enthusiasm, appreciation and joy for her family, life, and career. Perhaps most well known as the voice of Penny Proud in the Disney Channel’s The Proud Family, Pratt is thrilled to be returning for her second season starring opposite Mayim Bialik in FOX’s Call Me Kat, which last year tied for the #1 New Comedy with Young Rock on NBC. In Call Me Kat, Pratt plays the talkative barista Randy who always says what is on her mind. It is a role Pratt says she can recognize both similarities and dissimilarities with herself.
“Randy might be a little too careless than me with what she says,” Pratt says with a laugh.
Pratt prides the cast in how well they get along, something she knew right away when they first met via Zoom during the pandemic. Along with Bialik, the ensemble includes the super funny Leslie Jordan who gained quite the following on social media with his funny parodies at the time of lockdown. The actress says that while everyone comes from different walks of life in the cast, they all come together on set and have become great friends. And the greatest compliment she says they have received so far?
“People tell me this is their feel-good show, allowing them to escape for 30 minutes and laugh during this crazy time,” she adds.
In the popular Proud Family series, Pratt is the voice of the cartoon’s lead character Penny. Penny is a normal girl growing up and trying to understand life around her. She is relatable even though it is a cartoon. Penny teaches us to stand up for yourself and others and listen when you can. Pratt says she admires Penny and is thrilled to give her a voice once again in the Disney+ revival Proud Family: Loud and Prouder in early 2022.
“I didn’t have this kind of cartoon when I was growing up. Having girls come up to you and relate to your character is affirming. Penny has even helped mold myself. I’ve learned about things that I didn't know,” she remarks.
Pratt is excited to have new millennial fans look up to Penny. She reveals, “I’ve been playing this character my entire life. When I was growing up cartoons didn’t talk about the things we bring up. We talk about subjects that many think are taboo.”
It is this idea of empowerment for young women and the notion of giving others a voice that fuels Pratt’s fire. She is a proud advocate of mental health for children and teens, especially young women. A mother herself, she recognizes the importance of allowing us to talk about mental health.
“As a young woman, we need to have more conversations. We need to normalize these things, such as anxiety and depression, postpartum depression and simply just being a human being. We are put on these pedestals in this industry. I like to remind people that I am normal, but have an extraordinary job,” says Pratt.
This extraordinary job is keeping Pratt quite busy these days. Call Me Kat's second season will premiere on January 9th. The actress also stars alongside Brooks Darnell in the Lifetime TV movie Let’s Meet Again On Christmas Eve. She can also be seen in VH1's Black Ink Crew: Compton.
Creative Credits
- Written by
- Elizabeth Hazard
- Photography
- Ben Cope
