Pop-Culturalist.com

Kristin Dodson is one of Hollywood’s most exciting up-and-coming talents. She’s best known for her breakout role in Flatbush Misdemeanors.

The Showtime original is a raw comedy of city life following Dan and Kevin, who play characters struggling to thrive in their new surroundings in Flatbush, Brooklyn. Kristin shines as Zayna, a strong, independent woman who isn’t afraid to say what’s on her mind.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Kristin about Flatbush Misdemeanors, how Zayna has grown from Season 1, and more.

PC: What can audiences expect from your character in Season 2 of Flatbush Misdemeanors?
Kristin: Zayna gets a little boo thing. We have a situationship going on. That’s the tea.

PC: Both Kevin Iso and Dan Perlman have created this environment for the actors to improv. How has your experience in theater lent itself to that?
Kristin: That’s a really good question. Thank you for asking that. Theater is live. Every night something new can happen. Having that background has made me so much more flexible and open. When I get people throwing improv at me, I’m like, “Here we go.” I’ve learned how to pivot very quickly. I’m also able to throw something that’s completely off script and improvise back at them. It’s so much fun.

PC: You’ve said in previous interviews that your character and this show are a love letter to Black women and girls. How has the collaboration with Kevin and Dan grown as you’ve headed into this new season and brought that authenticity to screen?
Kristin: It’s grown a lot, especially this season. We get to see a different side of Zayna. She’s softer, and she’s unsure of herself at times with falling in love and having a crush. We see how her interactions with her best friends change. Having the opportunity to play a character who is so multi-dimensional is a gift. You don’t always get a chance to see that with a lot of Black characters, especially Black female characters. It’s been a breath of fresh air and so much fun to be able to do that.

PC: As an actress, how do you create this space for yourself to dive into those more vulnerable moments?
Kristin: What I’ve always said is that I am a vessel that this character gets to live in. There’s something so real about Zayna for me. It makes it very easy to commit to situations and circumstances and to be able to let that authentically come through. She’s like every other girl in the world who has these similar experiences. We all know what it’s like to have a crush. We know what it’s like to chop it up with your friends. Zayna doesn’t care for her uncle right now. We get annoyed with adults and school. These things are all so universal.

PC: Speaking about being a vessel, this is the longest you’ve lived with a character. Has anything surprised you about the experience? What’s been the biggest takeaway?
Kristin: The biggest takeaway has been how complex she is. She can go from feeling heartbroken about one thing to completely overjoyed by something else. It’s a testament to how adaptable the human mind is. It can go from one place to another, and it’s really cool to be able to see that growth. We see that a lot, especially in terms of her hair, her makeup, and her fashion. She consistently grows from episode to episode.

PC: This series tackles universal themes from a comedic lens. Why do you think this genre lends itself to this type of storytelling?
Kristin: The genre allows people to put their walls down. It allows you to digest a lot of these themes more easily than if it was a drama.

PC: Which of Zayna’s relationships has been your favorite to explore and why?
Kristin: I’d say my relationship with Drew. In Season 1, Zayna views him as her annoying uncle, but then something traumatic happens by the end of the season. When we pick up in Season 2, you see how Zayna has a more mature lens when it comes to Drew. It’s interesting to see how she handles that dynamic now.

To keep up with Kristin, follow her on Instagram. Watch Flatbush Misdemeanors on Showtime today.