The CW is debuting one other epic superhero present. This time, it’ll be led by 17-year-old actress Kaci Walfall, who has a really fascinating background.
Introducing TV’s new superhero: Kaci Walfall! The 17-year-old actress is staring in Ava Duvernay‘s new present Naomi, which relies on the comedian guide sequence co-written by Brian Michael Bendis and David F. Walker. The present follows comedian book-loving teenager Naomi (Kaci), who explores her hidden future after a supernatural occasion shakes her small hometown of Port Oswego. Sure, which means Naomi turns into a superhero! The present premieres on The CW on January 11.
So who's Kaci Walfall? Beneath, HollywoodLife has rounded up 5 key issues to know concerning the up-and-coming actress who's bringing one other epic superhero to life on the small display.
Kaci began appearing in 2013.
Kaci’s very first appearing gig was as Nyah in Lifetime’s Military Wives, in line with her IMDb web page. She appeared in six episodes in 2013. Kaci then appeared on the TV exhibits Particular person of Curiosity, Energy, The Equalizer, and Trendy Love. Now, Kaci will get to tackle the superhero style in her function on Naomi.
Ava DuVernay picked Kaci to star in ‘Naomi’.
Kaci needed to audition for Naomi. After she met creator Ava Duvernay (When The See Us) for a Zoom name, the pair went out to lunch collectively. “We sat down at this vegan restaurant, and we talked for 2 hours concerning the present, concerning the character, about myself, about my historical past, how I began appearing,” Kaci informed Teen Vogue. “It was a surreal feeling as a result of I appeared as much as Ms. Ava for thus lengthy,” Kaci added. Every week after that lunch, Ava formally chosen Kaci to steer her new sequence.
So what did the well-known director see in Kaci? “This younger lady is a rare human being. Heat spirit and an individual who is beautiful and constant and simply full of gentle,” Ava stated on The Discuss days earlier than the Naomi premiere. “She’s good to play this common human woman who finds out she’s received one thing a bit particular. She’s really a superhero and she or he’s actually that to all of us. She’s our hero on the set. We love her.”
Kaci feels linked to her ‘Naomi’ character.
In numerous interviews about Naomi, Kaci has opened up about how she feels just like the highschool teen-turned-super hero that she’s taking part in on tv. “I suppose that our lives are generally mirrored and it’s really very fascinating,” Kaci stated in a chat with Collider. “We’re typically going by the identical issues. I’ve realized to belief myself extra. I’ve realized many issues about appearing, after all. I’ve realized that all of us have a future inside ourselves and that all of us are better than we might imagine we're.”
She additionally informed Teen Vogue, “We’re each youngsters. We’re each Black women. However I feel going even deeper than that, we each have a way of drive and keenness inside ourselves. When somebody tells us, ‘No, you may’t do that,’ that doesn’t imply we’re going to cease … I'll not do as Kaci what Naomi does, however I can perceive it.”
Kaci has a supportive household.
Kaci is about to make it huge on Naomi, and her household shall be supporting her by the entire journey. In truth, Kaci’s father is tremendous pumped up about his daughter touchdown a task as a superhero. “My dad all the time tells me that he’s my greatest fan and he’s tremendous excited,” she informed Collider. “My mother is tremendous excited. My youthful brother is worked up. I known as my grandmother once I first received the function. My uncles, my aunts, and my cousins are actually excited. And my associates are excited too.”
Kaci is on Instagram.
Followers of Naomi can comply with the present’s lead star on Instagram. Kaci at the moment has almost 8,000 followers on her account — although that quantity will certainly rise quickly. She’s been posting loads of footage associated to the present. Every week earlier than the Naomi premiere, Kaci stated she was “past ecstatic” for the present to start out. In late December, she shared a clip of her character and known as her “an icon within the making.” Kaci additionally teased that the superhero sequence is “about to be a loopy trip.”