Confidence, discipline and time management are key attributes for succeeding in the entertainment business. “Lethal Weapon” actress Chandler Kinney has them all. She knew from an early age that she wanted to be an entertainer, but acting wasn’t yet at the top of her list. When she was three years old she was enrolled in the Debbie Allen Music Academy. It was here that her first big break came when Allen cast her in many shows, including “Twist”. According to Kinney:
“The Debbie Allen Dance Academy” is unique because every teacher is an expert in the particular style of dance that they’re teaching. You’re really learning from some of the best artists in that field. Discipline was something that was so important at the studio.”
During these early years at the Allen academy, “The Gap” reached out to them looking for dancers for their new Holiday campaign.
“I was one of the dancers that got sent over to audition and I was booked. It turned out the audition was for multiple commercials and an online shot. To this day that is the biggest commercial in which I have ever taken part. Just being on set and working in that environment, I just absolutely loved it. I had always been performing on stage, but adding cameras to it and doing different takes and changing it up was a whole new aspect of entertainment. I guess I fell in love with it and that’s actually how I got my first commercial agent. Once I had that, I started taking acting lessons and for a long time I was doing both very seriously and I didn’t realize I was spreading myself a little too thin even as I grew and improved in both crafts. My mom basically had to sit me down and say:
'You have to choose one or the other to really take that next step to embrace it' ”
Ultimately her decision was based upon the fact that acting presented a much longer career. It was through dance that Kinney acquired her solid work ethic which enables her to put everything else aside. She credits the confidence she has now to step out of her comfort zone to the many characters she played in her time with “The Debbie Allen Dance Academy.”
“It’s just given me the extra boost that I need to walk confidently into rooms and know that I belong and have that sense of self-esteem that you need as an actor cause it’s not easy to put yourself in front of big executive producers and like five cameras and be confident so I think that that’s something I got out of dance.”
Her role as Riana Murtaugh on Fox’s “Lethal Weapon”is her largest role to date. She believes that having to juggle a professional and personal life while playing the character on this show has continued her growth as an actress. Kinney embraces Riana’s confidence as part of her own but also taps into the fact that they are both stubborn and headstrong. The ways in which they are different has proved to be an acting challenge because Riana is much more rebellious and doesn’t always think about the consequences of her actions. One instance in particular is a scene in Season One’s episode “Ties That Bind” when Riana sends a selfie in her bra.
“I remember having to do that and I was really struggling with it because it’s so outside of who I am, but I feel like I had a responsibility to tell the story. It was received very well and I know a lot of teens watch the show and I think that Riana is a very relatable character in that she does things and doesn’t always think of the repercussions. I heard from several people that they were able to relate to some of the things she was going through.”
Fulfilling the role in that episode brought up conversations about how important self-love and self-respect are. In order to get herself mentally prepared for scenes like these Kinney turns on her music playlist which she designed specifically to fit the role of Riana. It includes Post Malone’s “Rockstar”, Ariana Grande’s “The Way”, The Weeknd's “Hills” and of course her namesake Rihanna. She explains:
“I like it because she’s a young teen and honestly music is a really large part of my life and so I just take advantage of how I let music influence who I am and I use that to build Riana as a person.”
In upcoming episodes Kinney says viewers will get to see more of that perspective as Riana tries to find her own identity. Viewers will also see a lot more action and stunts as well. When Kinney isn’t stepping into Riana’s shoes, she’s giving back. Two years ago she started her very own nonprofit organization along with her mom called “Chandler’s Friends”. The organization holds many events throughout the year with one of the biggest during the holidays. Last year their organization partnered with Hasbro which donated 300 toys and held a huge wrapping event. The toys were donated to a charity for homeless children. She’s really excited that this year their organization will be partnering with “Lethal Weapon” for a toy drive on December 10th in which the cast and the crew will donate toys.
Chandler also supports ASPCA and Compassion International through which she’s been sponsoring a child in Ethiopia for three years providing the girl with the proper nutrition, healthcare and education.
“Philanthropy is something that’s really important to me and has been instilled in me from a very young age so I love giving back and I do it whenever I can.”
In the future Kinney would like to work with Lupita Nyong’o, Meryl Streep and Oprah. She would also like to star in a DC or Marvel movie and be on a television show for five or six years.
“Maybe when I finish Lethal Weapon, I’ll move more into film, but I don’t know. I’m honestly really excited for the journey and I’ll take whatever comes my way. ”
“Lethal Weapon” airs Tuesdays on Fox.
Creative Credits
- Written by
- Jasmine Smith
- Photography
- Benjo Arwas
