Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with All American’s Karimah Westbrook

Karimah Westbrook is a multitalented creative who has captivated audiences in front of and behind the camera. From bringing projects like New Growth to life to starring in television series like All American, Karimah is a dynamic talent who can do it all.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Karmiah about her impressive career, All American, and more.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for the arts?
Karimah: I discovered my passion for the arts as a kid. I loved to perform skits with my cousins growing up. Television and film had a huge influence on me. It wasn’t until my late teens that I learned that acting was an art form. I definitely wanted to learn as much as I could about it, so I did plays and enrolled in the Academy of Dramatic Arts.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Karimah: I don’t think there’s one person or thing that has had the biggest influence on my career. The people or things that have influenced me have changed throughout the years as my desire to explore more of my talents has grown. I would say Whoopi Goldberg had the biggest influence on me as an actor growing up. Her talent is undeniable. To see triple threats like Tyler Perry and Issa Rae today, they also have a big influence on me as I now act, write, and produce. Overall, to see talented artists being fearless, going after their dreams and fulfilling them, doing great work influences me greatly.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success in your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Karimah: The biggest moment for me that will always stand out is packing up and moving from Chicago to Los Angeles to fulfill my dreams of becoming a professional working actor. That moment will always stand out because I didn’t know anyone in Los Angeles. All I had was lots of determination, faith, and drive. I also had somewhat of a plan, but ultimately I didn’t know how things would happen for me. But I had faith that they would.

PC: In addition to acting, you’re also a writer and producer. How has your work behind the scenes made you a stronger actress and vice versa?
Karimah: Working behind the scenes as a writer has helped me look deeper into the characters I portray. As an actor, I’m now asking myself, what is the character’s core wound? As a writer, you need to understand that to create and understand your character’s behavior and actions. I never started my process as an actor like that before, but I found asking this question allows me to get to the bottom of the unseen a lot quicker. Also, working behind the scenes has helped me not to take rejection personally. I’ve definitely still had a few moments of taking not booking a role very hard since working behind the scenes, but working behind the scenes has exposed me to the many other elements involved in hiring actors and a lot of times it’s not because you aren’t talented or that you did something wrong.

All American

PC: All American Season 3 is currently airing and the show has been incredibly well received. What do you think is resonating most with audiences?
Karimah: I think All American is very relatable. It’s a show that deals with matters of the heart and that brings about a universal connection on a lot of levels.

PC: You’ve been playing Grace for three years now. Has anything surprised you about the experience? What has she taught you?
Karimah: Diana Castle, one of my acting teachers, once shared with the class that the family life you portray on set starts to somehow mimic your family life growing up and there will be triggers. She was right. I was surprised when I found this happening to me. Working on the show and as Grace exposed me to a lot of my own unresolved family issues and forced me to find a way to heal from them. Portraying Grace has taught me about patience and unconditional love. I feel like I’m learning how to communicate with my kids when I really do become a parent.

PC: In addition to All American, you have a couple of other projects in the works. Are there any you can chat about at this time?
Karimah: Yes, I have a project that I co-wrote, produced, and directed during the pandemic. It’s titled New Growth. I made this short film as an entrée to the feature film that is now being developed for production. I’m very excited about it. We’ve already won our first film festival for Best Comedy.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Karimah: Ready to Love.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Karimah: Beetlejuice.

PC: Favorite book?
Karimah: The Untethered Soul.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Karimah: Little Shop of Horrors.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Karimah: Air.

To keep up with Karimah, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Watch All American on the CW.