Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Trinkets’ Kiana Madeira

Kiana Madeira is a dynamic young talent who’s letting her light shine bright, whether that’s in comedies like Really Me or dramas like Sacred Lies. This August, she reprised her role as the fierce and academically gifted Moe in Netflix’s Trinkets and stole our hearts again. The series follows three girls who form an unexpected friendship while attending a Shoplifters Anonymous group. Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Kiana about her career, Trinkets, and saying goodbye to her character.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for the arts?
Kiana: When I was five years old, I was obsessed with the movie Grease. I was in love with John Travolta and his character, Danny Zuko. I made it make sense in my head that the only way I could meet and marry him is if I was an actor too and I did a movie with him. [laughs]

I bugged my parents for the following five years. When I was ten, they signed me up with a small acting agency in Toronto. I joined a bigger agency when I was fourteen. It continued from there. I stuck with the classes and I fell even more in love with it as I got older.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Kiana: That’s such a great question. There are so many actors that I admire from an artistic standpoint. I love Julia Roberts. I feel like she looks like a blend of my mom and dad. I’ve always had this goal of playing either her daughter one day or her relative in some way. She’s an amazing actor. She’s an influence of mine.

I also love Denzel Washington. I love Viola Davis, Meryl Streep. Everyone loves those actors because they’re undeniably so great at what they do. They’re true to their craft and I see their work ethic in their performances. That really inspires me.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your young career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out to you?
Kiana: I think it was when I made the move to the States. I got my agent three years ago. Before that I was working in Canada. When I got my agent in the States, I started auditioning for projects in LA and New York.

That was surreal for me because for Canadian artists, a lot of times, your entire career in Canada leads up to the point where you’re eligible to work in the States and get your visa. When I made the move to the States, I got roles in the Facebook Watch show Sacred Lies and Netflix’s Trinkets.

Then I did some movies called Fear Street with 20th Century Fox, now Disney. When I look back, those were pivotal stepping-stones in my career. Now I live in the States. It happened in a really short amount of time.

Trinkets

PC: Speaking of Trinkets, you and the cast found yourself in a unique position heading into Season 2, knowing that it would be the final season. What was that like reuniting with the cast and wrapping up all these story lines?
Kiana: It was bittersweet. I’m very grateful that we were given the heads-up. I feel like a lot of actors and performers don’t get the opportunity to know ahead of time.

That being said, we really approached Season 2 with a groundedness and a desire to be present throughout the whole thing, knowing that it was going to be the last time that we would be playing these characters and the last time that we were going to get to collaborate with the creative team.

There were so many moments on set in Season 2 where we would check in with each other and make sure that we were being present. Even though on set the hours are so long, we really wanted to embrace everything, knowing that it was going to be the final time.

PC: Season 2 just premiered on Netflix. If you had to summarize the season in one sentence, what would it be and why?
Kiana: It has the energy of a firecracker and the passion of a beautiful family.

PC: Throughout the two seasons, Moe has had probably the biggest transformation. When you look at her journey as a whole, has anything surprised you?
Kiana: Coming into Trinkets, I didn’t know where Moe’s journey was going to go. I knew we had the foundation of the Trinkets book, written by Kirsten “Kiwi” Smith. But I knew that they were taking it in a different direction.

I didn’t really know where the journey was going to take me as an artist. There were a lot of things that surprised me but in the best way possible. I didn’t think that Moe’s dad was going to come back. I didn’t predict that Moe’s brother was going to come back either. I didn’t think that there was going to be so many changes in Moe’s family dynamic.

Coming into Season 2, with all of those things, it was really, really exciting. I feel so much happened in such a short time. In just two seasons, the writers did an amazing job giving these characters such a full life and full story.

PC: Take us back to your final scene in the series when they yelled “cut.” What were you feeling in that moment? What’s been the biggest takeaway from this project?
Kiana: It felt breathtaking and heartbreaking in a way. We shot that scene on the Oregon coast and we actually got to stay a night there. It was just Brianna [Hildebrand] and Quintessa [Swindell], and I. That was such a beautiful opportunity for us to share time together, be in that space. The weather was beautiful. The wind on the beach was amazing.

That scene, we’re running on the beach and it felt so free. That’s what it felt like when they said “cut” as well. It was such a strong feeling of gratitude for the whole experience and all the friendships that I made.

PC: If you could share some parting words with Moe, what would they be?
Kiana: I love Moe so much. I would tell Moe to continue exploring who you are, continuing being open and allowing yourself to get hurt because those are the moments when you’re going to grow the most. And continue believing in yourself.

PC: You mentioned this a bit earlier, but you have another project coming out soon. Is there anything you can tell us about Fear Street?
Kiana: I can tell you that we filmed three movies. They all take place in different time periods. I lead the cast in all three. The creative team behind them are so amazing and innovative. The way that these movies were shot were so exciting. There’s a lot of movement and utility of the Steadicam, which is my favorite operating camera: Steadicam operating.

The movies are really thrilling. They’re horror movies, but they also have aspects of comedy, heart, and love. All three are slated to come on Netflix summer of 2021. I’m excited for everyone to see them because we worked really hard and had a blast shooting them.

PC: What’s one thing that you know now that you wish you knew when you started your career?
Kiana: I wish I knew that it doesn’t really matter what you look like. I feel like as a young woman in the industry, I’m sure even people of all different genders and identities can agree with this, that the industry has this facade of you have to look a certain way. Your body has to be a certain way.

Early on in my career, I spent a lot of time stressing about how my body looked, my size, and the way that I looked on camera. Moe really showed me that the moments where you just have no inhibitions and you’re just yourself, you shine the brightest.

That’s something that I’m taking to my craft for all my future projects. Don’t worry so much about what you look like. Just be an artist, dedicate to your craft, and allow your light to shine.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Kiana: I was really into Tiger King.

PC: Favorite book?
Kiana: Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O’Neill.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Kiana: Hamilton.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Kiana: My favorite artist is a singer named Light. She’s a Canadian artist. I’m introducing her to all my American friends.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Kiana: I would choose my sister, Kyla Madeira. She’s ten years younger than me and she’s an actor as well. She would be the perfect choice.

To keep up with Kiana, follow her on Instagram. Binge-watch both seasons of Trinkets on Netflix today.

Photo Credit: Lane Dorsey