10 Things about Adrian Rae
Before you made your way to the entertainment industry, you were on pace to be in the medical field. What can you tell us about your plans at that time?
I wanted to dive into Clinical Embryology at first and then, became interested in cancer research after the passing of my grandfather, who lost his battle with Myelodysplastic Syndrome. I actually got to help in the search for a cure a bit at Cedar Sinai Medical Center while working there part time and acting.
What were some motivating factors that led you to be an actress and how did you get your start?
The factor that motivated me the most was my love for the craft. I never knew acting was a career option for me growing up; and I come from humble beginnings, so it was never about fame and fortune. Once I got onto the set of my first acting gig and was there for 15 hours and still loved it, I knew this was the career for me. I got my start with the Netflix original movie Burning Sands, thanks to people like George Pierre, Gerard McMurray, Reggie Hudlin, and Stephanie Allain who saw something in me and let me be part of such a great film. Without that film, I never would have been at Sundance to meet my southeast agent Alexander White who helped me get roles in Atlanta, SuperFly, Brockmire, and more.
Which actors inspired your career choices and which ones would you want to work with if given the opportunity?
Actors like Zoe Saldana, Margot Robbie, and Charlize Theron really inspire me with regards to how I go about curating my career and goals, along with making them very multifaceted. I would love to work with them all! I’m such a huge fan of their work both old and new!
Currently, you’re on SyFy’s Vagrant Queen. How were you first introduced to the series and what made you decide to jump on board the project?
I first got the sides from my manager and I was super interested because the role hit all the trifecta: action, comedy, and drama AND was well-written, funny, and relatable. Then, what made me jump on board was the fact that I instantly clicked with Elida, her thoughts, her words, etc. Finally, I was told that there was going to be all female directors and it was a project definitely part of the equality movement; it was beyond obvious by then that I simply HAD to be part of it!
On the series, you play the lead role of Elida. What can you tell us about Elida’s personality and what you enjoy most about bringing her character to life?
Elida is a tough love and snarky kind of girl. She has a hard outer shell, but is soft and loving on the inside. She’s SUPER loyal, doesn’t trust easily, and always has a bigger picture mentality (due to her past trauma). So, this is why she has so little patience with a lot of things and why things like semantics and certain niceties seem trivial and “stupid” to her. And, she’s very straight to the point in all things that don’t deal with emotions.
I loved the fact that this stage of Elida was a stage of Adriyan I thought I had worked through. But, working with her helped me realize there was more to be done with me, and that helped me become a better me while becoming a better her. Plus, she’s funny, kind of awkward, and surrounded by cool friends.
What can viewers expect to see from Elida and the rest of the cast in this first season of Vagrant Queen?
Some really fun adventures with all kinds of aliens and one human, and some character emotional journeys you can genuinely relate to. AND, some kick ass fights with “creeps” and “weirdos.”
As an African American woman leading a show, that’s quite the accomplishment. How are you using your platform to motivate other young women to pursue their passions as well?
Being an African American lead of a show is something I am so grateful for, as the list isn’t that long. But, I’m so happy to see it growing every year. I love that it allows me to be part of the journey to make Hollywood more inclusive, and shows the world that black is amazing, black comes in all shapes sizes and colors, black is beautiful, and black doesn’t have to be mixed to be beautiful. My entire platform is based on the premise of Love and Light. I try to spread love and be a light to others. The goal is to touch and affect as many lives as possible in a positive way. I hope that by not just seeing me in this role, but reading things like this interview and interacting with me in even the smallest way, young women can see that I am real, we aren’t that different, and that just like them, I had big goals that came true. So, theirs can come true as well. I feel like people stop pursing their passion because they categorize goals as dreams and make them seem farfetched. I try to ground people in knowing they’re not dreams but goals, and highly obtainable through uplifting, supporting, and sharing my journey.
If you weren’t developing your career as an actress, what other career would you have instead?
I would direct. And even possibly write. Writing is something I’ve started to dive into the past year and I’m thoroughly enjoying the process. Directing really calls to my spirit and it’s something I’m avidly working towards.
When it comes to fashion, which designers and styles appeal most to your personality?
Rihanna’s Fenty is the EVERYTHING. It swings between high fashion, tomboy, and girly just like me. Outside of that, I’m not very designer oriented but my style/personality definitely goes between those looks and bohemian designs. Stores like “Anthropologie” are definitely my vibe.
We look forward to seeing how things develop on SyFy’s Vagrant Queen. What other projects do you have coming up?
Follow me on socials and stay tuned to find out 😉
Twitter: @AdriyanRae
Instagram: @AdriyanRae
Facebook Page: Adriyan Rae
Photographer: Diana Ragland
Hair: Kalin Spooner
Makeup: Shannon Pezzetta
Wardrobe Stylist: Monica Cargile