Nothing can stop actress Ksenia Solo these days. Born in Latvia, Solo made her theater debut at age five and has since built up an extensive acting resume, including multiple awards and work alongside actors like Natalie Portman and John Cusack. In addition to two upcoming feature films, the 23-year-old rising star currently has a role on the CW's Life UneXpected. TheCelebrityCafe.com's Brianna Gunter spoke with Ksenia about Life and her other projects.
TCC: How did you feel when Life Unexpected was renewed for a second season? Did you expect it?
KS: I was so excited to hear season two was a go. You really never know what to expect in the crazy world of television, but I think Life UneXpected deserves many seasons to fulfill its full potential.
TCC: You play the part of Tasha. For those who are unfamiliar, would you mind explaining this character a bit?
KS: Tasha is a very tough girl. She’s had to survive through a very tumultuous childhood and only now at 16 is she just getting her first chance to be a ‘real teenager.’ She’s getting the opportunity to experience things that once seemed like a distant fairy tale such as going to a good school, living on her own (out of the foster care system), going to homecoming with her boyfriend…and most importantly though, feeling cared for and apart of a family.
TCC: How much can we expect to see her this season?
KS: Tasha’s not playing around, she’s here to stay!
TCC: Tasha doesn’t really have a home. As a young actress, you’ve had to move around a lot. Can you relate to her?
KS: I do often feel like I’m living out of my suitcase. As much as I love traveling and working, I do get homesick and miss being able to do ‘normal things,’ such as being able to spend quality time with my loved ones, see my friends, stuff like that. I can’t really relate to her past, growing up with no family, but I feel for Tasha. For me, it’s a learning process, experiencing the life of a girl whose had to grow up alone and in the foster care system.
TCC: Your character is technically the best friend of Lux. Are you friendly with Britt Robertson in real life?
KS: Britt is one of the most talented, kind, funny, and kick ass young actresses in Hollywood. We love to laugh and eat Krispy Kreme donuts galore….so friendly? Yes. I adore Britt.
TCC: What about the other cast members?
KS: This cast is very special. They are all so incredibly talented and so wonderful to be around. It’s really a gift when you can go into work everyday and work with such great people.
TCC: You seem to have a lot of other projects going on right now. Do schedules ever conflict?
KS: Sometimes they do, but I have been incredibly lucky with the support I get from the people I work with (creators, producers, directors.) They really do their best to help me make it to everywhere I need to be!
TCC: Speaking of other projects, you play Veronica in Black Swan, the movie with Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis that everyone’s talking about. Tell me a little bit about your role.
KS: Veronica is a very talented dancer; she’s confident and aggressively ambitious. Nina (Natalie Portman's character) is very intimidated by Veronica because she seems almost…indestructible. While Nina suffers from insecurities and doubt, Veronica believes in herself to the point where nothing can stop her from getting what she wants.
TCC: Being a film about a ballet company, did you have any prior dance experience?
KS: All the women in my family come from a ballet/theatre background, so I grew up in that world. I studied Ballet until I was about 14; then I had to stop because of some back injuries I had developed.
TCC: Natalie Portman is very well known and was even nominated for an Oscar. What was it like working with her?
KS: It was a dream come true working with someone who I have looked up to for so long. Natalie is a true force of power and raw emotion. I heard someone say that she is the Meryl Streep of our generation and I couldn’t agree more. Working opposite her was a very special experience for me and I’m very grateful for the opportunity.
TCC: You yourself have already won two Gemini awards for the Canadian show Renegadepress.com. Now you are currently on another Canadian show called Lost Girl. On the show’s website, you described your character, Kenzi, as “a female Sherlock Holmes with a sweet tooth for fashion and crime, the coolest chick ever!” How much do you personally relate to this character?
KS: I don’t and that’s the great challenge about it, which I love. The whole ‘Kenzi’ experience was really amazing for me. When I first got the script, I thought, ‘My god! They will never cast me for this! To be honest, I had a really hard time preparing to play this role. It took me some time to find who she really was because I didn’t click with her right away. But then, something very indescribable and interesting happened. By the time we had wrapped our first season, I couldn’t shake Kenzi off. It was like I was in character every single day! Kenzi let me discover this completely new side of myself that i didn’t even know I had!
TCC: Looking at your acting history, you seem to have a tendency to be cast in darker roles, characters with some issues. Thoughts?
KS: I guess I have "has serious issues" written on my forehead in ink only producers, directors and casting directors can see. I don’t know, but I agree, my roles in the past have been quite dark. The good news is I now have Kenzi under my belt and a whole season of being the comedic relief of a show…that counts for something lighter right?
TCC: You have The Factory coming out next year. While you’ve had a lot of TV roles, are you looking to do more film in the future?
KS: Yes, film is a true passion of mine. There’s nothing more thrilling then being a part of a great film. Besides, I want to win an Oscar someday…