Karen Johal
Actor, Performer
www.instagram.com/karen.johal
EDITOR’S NOTE: We did this interview with Karen back in April/May 2020. It reflects a moment in time when the world was in a very specific place and just beginning to grapple with the full extent of the COVID-19/quarantine pandemic, so we ask that you consider this context when reading through this lovely and thoughtful interview. And since the world has continued to evolve in ways we couldn’t have predicted in even the short time since this interview was completed, we decided to circle back with Karen for a brief check-in and update, which you can find on the site here.
We know many of you are dealing with incredible stress and trauma as a result of recent events, including the very real loss of livelihood, mental and physical stability, and even dear loved ones. Here at All Roads Magazine, we still believe in the value and immense power of sharing our stories and experiences with one another. They help us to connect and feel less alone, they can provide us with a much needed distraction, they assist us in our reflection and healing, and they can allow us to ponder the future and try move forward a little lighter and with hope. So, we hope this one offers you a chance to take a small break, release a cleansing breath, and get to know an incredibly warm and driven artist who seems to radiate optimism, resilience, and light. Stay safe, be well, and enjoy…
Welcome Karen! Let’s start off with the obvious place to start, please tell us a little about yourself:
My name is Karen, I am originally from Birmingham in the UK, I have been living and working as an Actress in New York for the past five years. I graduated in 2017 from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts NY Company. I am currently waiting out the Coronavirus pandemic at home in the UK with my family, cooking and eating every morsel I can find in the house and on a mission to complete Netflix.
As you may have mentioned, you completed your training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) in New York City. What led you to New York and what were your experiences at AADA like? Did they have an influence in shaping the artist/person you wanted to become?
I was auditioning for drama schools back in the UK and at the time AADA was holding auditions in London so I applied and got accepted into the Fall class of 2014. I was not necessarily aiming to move there but when I got in it made complete sense, I had always wanted to come to New York but never imagined my first time visiting would be to move my entire life there. My experience at AADA gave me the training I needed to pursue acting professionally, I made a lot of great progress there as an artist and a lot of my experiences there can be credited to the person I am now, not just professionally but also because of the personal journey I went through, AADA was the catalyst for the growth I experienced starting out as an artist. I picked up a sense of where I fit in, who I wanted to be and why I was pursuing acting in the first place. I knew very little about the industry but very steadily learned about the craft of acting in one of the best cities in the world. I was also surrounded by people who had the same ambitions and aspirations as me so that gave me a sense of motivation to succeed that I had not experienced before.
If you haven’t answered this already, what made you decide to (or feel prepared to) take the leap to pursue acting full-time professionally?
It started around the time when I was living in the UK, I was at that age when you're in school and everyone around you is telling you that you should be doing something with your life and that you need to make a decision about who you want to be as an adult but a career in this industry is one of the last things that the people encourage you towards. A lot of the time the choices you have available to you are safe so that they will give you a steady life and people encourage that choice with the best of intentions but I had always wanted to be a actress and I didn't know how to make that a possibility so I spent a lot of time thinking about not only making it possible but turning it into a practical and feasible career choice. I did not know anyone who had gone to drama school and didn't know anyone in the industry so I was starting from scratch.
The ultimate decision came out of knowing that I wouldn’t be happy doing anything else even if I failed trying. I did not feel prepared with the little knowledge I had to just start auditioning and feel my way around so I started off looking into training programs in the UK. When I got in AADA and was accepted I knew I would be investing a lot of time, money and effort so I had to pursue things all the way, it was definitely a huge leap of faith and I had to move forward not only for myself but for others around me to prove that this was a bankable investment even if I myself was unsure at times.
How did you navigate such a huge transition as moving to an entirely new country?
It was hard. I had moved out of my parents house and left my entire family who are all from the UK when I was 23 and one of my best friends had just passed away that summer so it was all a bit unbelievable. A lot of people I knew would say that they couldn’t do what I was doing and it probably seemed like a crazy lifestyle change to make.
I think moving to another country to go to school gives you a bit more safety, there was a structure and a schedule so I had a place to be and a sense of purpose. I had worked really hard to even get accepted so I knew moving was not going to be easy. The school had an apartment building next door where I lived with some of the other students, so I had a home life too and I met some amazing people there. I met one of my best friends Eliza who is also an actress. She moved from London in the Winter, having her there going through the same transition of moving to a new Country made things easier. Some years later we have fortunately become like each other's family which is a real credit to our friendship given that it started from two British girls moving to America to become actresses! We are also so lucky today with technology I can FaceTime, Skype, zoom and virtually be with my family when I miss them which over the years has been pretty frequently. The transition was not easy but I also fell in love with New York which I think is unavoidable, so as hard as the first few months to a year probably were for me I wouldn’t trade a second of it.
You have mentioned in other interviews that you’ve often felt out of place in various environments, however you’ve found a way to turn that on its head and view it as an asset or superpower in how to promote yourself or operate as an actor. Can you talk a little more about that?
I think when I have felt out of place in the past it comes from this sense that I can’t quite believe how lucky I am to do the things I have done and to have achieved the things I have in my career, it's like having imposter syndrome in some sense. I didn’t grow up seeing a lot of people in the industry who look like me so why would I feel like I belong in these spaces when everything around me growing up has told me that I don’t belong in these spaces and that I am never going to.
When I think about how I navigate now, I am making room for myself. I am seeing more people who look like me in the industry who come exactly as they are and have met success from being completely themselves and that is not an easy thing to do today. I am trying to show who I am at the core while also trying to make it into a market that tells me there are 101 things that I need to change about myself. We are always being told that it's imperative to “sell ourselves” to meet success but the idea of being ourselves is often another version of someone else who has had success before us. Then it makes you think well if I do what they did I will be successful too and I’ll belong in this space just like they do.
In this age where social media has us believing in unrealistic standards it's hard to walk the line of what is branding and what is harmful and goes against your true and authentic self. I have learned to accept that I may have a bit of a wobble now and again and doubt whether I am deserving of a seat at the table and that is a natural thing to do, I am not going to feel okay 100 percent of the time but I am absolutely sure of who I am and how I want to navigate through the industry professionally and I have to offer that up in an honest way to respect the kind of artist that I want to be.
Resilience is key in this business. You seem to have a great ability to stay focused and move yourself forward even in times when the road ahead gets bumpy or the path forward isn’t clear. Can you talk about a few experiences that really tested your resolve and how you navigated them?
There have been times where things have been tougher than expected and I have even surprised myself with how resilient I can be, but the only way to get ahead and over these times is through them. Last summer I found out my grandmother has Stage 4 bone Cancer when I was in the middle of a run for “As You Like It” and I wanted more than anything to just go home, I was having an amazing time but I remember feeling guilty about being in this wonderful show, with these incredible people all the while secretly wanting to astral project back to England. I had to accept what I had control over, what made sense at the time and how to compartmentalize the rest.
And when I did eventually come home I knew it was the right time, I was exactly where I was supposed to be and in hindsight that experience is applicable to situations in the past where things have not exactly gone to plan and I cannot for the life of me figure out why and it's only when you come out on the other side then you go “Ah I see”. You feel every emotion under the sun and I definitely have had times where my mental health has taken a huge dive and it's a massive amount of effort to get back to a steady pace but my resolve comes from looking back at all the times I did not quit before where I could have. It is so easy to give yourself reasons to quit this business because it is not built for you to fly through it but nothing in life is. I have to weigh up what is worth struggling through and what I think I can endure and it is always more than I give myself credit for. I am also in such a fortunate position where my resilience is not just down to me. I have a supportive family and a handful of friends that I can count on for anything and that is so important, wherever I need to just talk or ruminate over a problem, I have people I can go to and that has not always been easy for me as someone who does not like to ask for help but its so important to do that especially when the way forward is not clear to you, the people you love really come through for you and hold your hand when you need them.
What advice would you give someone who’s just starting out (or super introverted) and not sure how to go about making connections and remaining resilient through so much rejection?
There is so much to navigate when you are first starting out. In school making connections and “networking” was really emphasized in a way that always made me anxious. I am not the loudest person in the room and am really terribly British when it comes to talking about myself in a promotional way but when I think about the people I have made professional relationships I never felt like I had to muscle any of them, I was in shows and productions where my work was the focus, it did the talking for me and the connections I made came naturally. I was very aware of just being myself and not being too pushy because I did not want to come off as arrogant which I was probably in no danger of doing but that was from overthinking too much about what is the right way to do things.
I think if you are naturally super introverted then it's tough to find that balance because you are told that you're supposed to be a brand and a walking, talking business but I would always advise to never change your nature. If you are shy but you become more confident through your work then that's how you are and that is a truly endearing quality that only you have and people will see that naturally. Rejection is an awful side effect of what we do, but it's a necessary evil you eventually get used to because it's not personal. There isn't a magical way to navigate through it but I would say that taking it in your stride makes it easier each time and each time you get through a rejection you are building up more resilience against it that then allows you to just focus on your work.
You’ve been very fortunate, and very skilled, to have been able to seek out a wide-range of mentors. What advice would you give someone looking to find a mentor or community of teachers/friends to lean on and learn from?
I was not necessarily seeking out mentors or looking to build a community in a direct sense, mostly because I didn't know how important and imperative it was to have one until afterwards. I have worked with a number of amazing directors and brilliant actors over the last few years, and I think by being a person who is prepared and reliable, others will naturally gravitate towards you because they know that you are going to work hard and be there when they need. People also love to support new talent, especially when they see potential in them.
I think it is important to seek out people that you know can help you and to be clear about what it is you are looking for. If you know that you are lacking in some skill set in a certain area, maybe there is a theatre company who can offer assistance with that or even people you went to school with who are creating something new. Going to events I think helps too. I went to an event by Actors Expo last year for the first time, it was completely free and I met some amazing people. I sat in on workshops from industry professionals and I learned so much from a format I didn’t know existed. I also think having a community with a diverse skill set is important too, having people who are not in the same industry really opens up your world and allows for a balanced exchange of knowledge.
How have you been faring in this time in quarantine? Both professionally and personally? Any advice for other artists in either arena?
I have been doing well. Been keeping a balanced schedule and just accepting this time for what it is and changing my mindset towards it. I have also been re-reading my favorite books, painting, cooking, eating and annoying the hell out of my dog with cuddles 24/7. I feel really lucky to be home with my family and that everyone is safe and healthy. I have been doing virtual readings with theatre companies who I did shows with last year. They have had to quickly adapt to a new normal with using Zoom which has been a really lovely way to stay working and connected. I have now had the time to really strip back to basics and look at my career ahead and really take the time to ask myself what I want it to look like and where I see it going.
This time is so unusual and there is no right way to do a pandemic. It’s so easy to feel pressure through what we see on social media but I am enjoying the fact that there is no concept of time right now. I am just checking in on my friends who I care about to know that they are safe, trying not to murder my siblings while I am at home and being really honest with myself about who and what I want to spend time on now. Things that were important before now seem trivial and we can survive with a lot less that we thought. And I would advise to other people that even though things are on pause right now you are exactly where you are supposed to be and if you can make it through this time safe and healthy then you would have achieved a lot more to be thankful for than anything a professional achievement can give you.
What’s something you wish you knew before you got started on your path? Or, what have been some important lessons you’ve learned along the way.
I wish I had a bit more confidence starting out. I think I hesitated to get started because I was not truly honest about what I wanted to do. So I wish I knew or had a stronger sense of myself and what I have to offer. But looking at how things have turned out now, I am glad that I did the best with what I had at the time. I have achieved a lot more than I thought I would and have come a long way from where I was at with my self esteem and confidence. A lot of obstacles that stand in our way are the ones we make up in our head and I wish I knew how to combat them earlier on because of where I am at now with them.
Given all that you have going on at any given moment, how do you find or strive for balance?
One of the most effective things that has helped is something that I do with post it notes that I made up a few years ago. I write down three main things that are important to me on a larger scale and try to put the notes in a place where I can see them everyday. That way anything smaller or trivial that is maybe having an effect on me mentally or is unproductive in some way becomes easier to deal with. For the last few years those three things have remained the same, and when I am comparing a main priority like my health versus a smaller problem it gives me that focus I need to put into perspective the actual scale of the things I have going on. I started doing this because I had just finished school and was dealing with some issues personally and it was affecting my career in a way it had not before. I didn’t know why or how to deal with it so physically writing things down and seeing how the personal issues were being inflamed into something bigger than they were really helped. I could see that my approach to try and juggle everything and ignoring my personal problems was making small tasks really hard to deal with.
Essentially, writing things down helps a lot. I have always kept a physical diary that I can write in and see everything I have coming up so I know where I am at. And I think I have done a pretty good job at balancing my career and personal life in this way but I think your priorities naturally shift over time as well. The people I care about in my life will always have priority over anything I do professionally and my mental health will always be more important than any social obligations I have. I definitely realised this and established it as a core belief from having my priorities the wrong way around. But you have to go through that so you can sort things and move these parts around to find the balance that works for you. There is no right way to get the perfect method and it's always going to change depending on where I am in my life. The most important thing is adapting to your circumstances and being honest about what you can handle and what you truly care about.
Do you ever experience fear, doubt, or loneliness? How do you manage those feelings?
Yes for sure. It comes in waves. I feel insecure just as much as anyone else but it manifests itself in different ways. Sometimes I don't really know what to do to dissipate these feelings so I have learned to stay with them when they come up and work with them. If I am feeling fearful of a situation or a circumstance coming up I can often pinpoint where it's coming from depending on what it is. And when I can’t, I just have to sit with it and try to be kind to myself as it passes.
Doubt comes with everything I do. I hate not knowing the outcome of situations I am in, especially when I have to be vulnerable, but I think what you learn from accepting these feelings is really valuable. My doubt and feelings of loneliness help me to be courageous because it forces me to move through them and in order to do that I have to show parts of myself that I am used to hiding. I think wonderful things can happen when you show your heart. It is not an easy thing to do and that is probably why we find it hard to talk about having these feelings in the first place. And when you’re stuck in that head space, especially as someone who overthinks, your mind tells you that you need to be alone or that you are alone and that no one wants to hear you out. But when you move through these emotions you actually learn more about yourself and how your vulnerability actually makes you stronger.
What do you do when you feel stuck creatively?
I try to get out of my head as much as I can, I think my creativity probably gets stifled the most in times of stress so I try to find the root of the problem there and then work out how to alleviate the stress and I find that clears things up.
What do you like to do besides performing?
A lot! I love to cook, I love throwing parties and hosting my friends for things like Christmas and birthdays. I paint and keep a sketch book which I am trying to fill at the minute with drawings. I love listening to music, I just discovered a new British artist Joy Crookes who I am becoming rapidly obsessed with after I saw her live in London earlier this year. I love swimming and going to the movies by myself which I am really missing doing right now. I think it's so important to have outside interests in what I do for a job. It makes up a lot of who I am and informs what I do as an artist at the same time, like reading books that aren’t plays and switching off from things so that I feel like I am more than what I do.
Of what you’ve accomplished or experienced thus far, what are you most proud of so far or found most rewarding? (either professionally or personally)
Professionally I have a lot to be proud of too. When I first graduated I was cast in Julius Caesar directed by Oskar Eustis for Shakespeare in the Park. Being on the Delacorte stage was incredible and it was one of the first shows I did. I also opened a show later that year called Journey to America at Carnegie Hall to an audience of over 2,800 where I got to implement some elements about my heritage into the show. But I am most proud of the lead role I played in Frank’s Plan on Amazon Prime Video. That was something I could show my family and friends on a streaming platform for the first time and it did really well and was made by a well-established director Juhui Kwon.
Personally I will always be very proud of moving to New York. It's not an easy thing to do and because it was such a long time ago it's easy to forget how big of a deal it was at the time. It has definitely been most rewarding personally as it has resulted in so much abundance in my life and is responsible for a lot of my most cherished memories.
What’s something you would love to do but haven’t gotten the chance to yet? (either professionally or personally)
I have a huge list of things I want to do over a long career span, if I am lucky, and I am working towards that slowly. I would love to understudy at some point because the work, technique and skill that it requires really scares me so I know that it would really test my ability as an actress. I would also love to be in a series that explores British Asian culture. I don't think that is something that has been truly explored in the industry so I would love to be a part of something close to my upbringing. A huge personal flaw is that I can’t cook rice so I would love to be able to do that, it would open up so many cooking possibilities! I’ve also never been skiing or to Disney World in Florida.
What are you promoting these days or what’s next?!
I have a few virtual readings coming up over the next few weeks which is exciting to be a part of! Figuring life out post-quarantine at the moment and I am filming a project in New York next year called Victimhood directed by Cody Clarke which was postponed because of Covid-19. The film is a thriller about a group of strangers who wake up in a panic room and have to decide which of them gets to be released. I play the lead role “Sana” who is a Muslim woman dealing with her faith and sexuality.
Now, let’s have a little fun…What advice that you would give to your teenage or younger self?
Take care of your skin. I know it sounds like a minor bit of advice but I think it's so important because I didn’t wear sunscreen until I was in my early twenties. Also, don’t over pluck your eyebrows, bushy brows become a well sought after trend kid!
Who or what inspires you?
Aside from my friends and family there is always someone or something different that I get inspiration from at any given moment. At the minute it's Nadiya Hussain and her cooking show on BBC Two and Julia Garner from Ozark but next week that's probably going to change!
Who or what motivates you?
My grandparents are responsible for a lot of what I have been able to do with moving to New York and getting educated so they motivate me in a big way. I also have an incredible group of friends whose support is unwavering, even from different countries, which is especially incredible during this time. Staying motivated for them has helped a lot during quarantine.
What scares you?
Horror films, tequila, and talking on the phone in public.
What brings you the greatest joy or satisfaction?
Wrapping presents and giving them to people I care about and seeing their reactions. Funnily enough, I get embarrassed receiving surprises or presents but the other way around brings me joy every time I do it for them!
What should everyone do at least once in their life?
Skinny dip.
What is a favorite memory?
From a Christmas party I threw from a few years ago.
What’s your favorite song or album? (or closest you can get to it) And Why?
My favourite song is I Believe in You and Me by Whitney Houston because it's from my favourite Christmas film The Preacher's Wife. My favourite album is In Utero by Nirvana because they are my favourite band and it was their last studio album.
What is your favorite restaurant or meal?
Las Iguanas (a Brazilian/Latin restaurant in the UK) and I also love sushi!
Who is on your guest list (alive or dead) for your perfect dinner party and what would you eat?
Chani Nicholas, Anya Chalotra, Mary Berry, Jameela Jamil, Eva Mendez and Dolly Alderton.
Antipasti starter, lasagne as a main and Sticky Toffee Pudding as dessert.
Where is your favorite place on earth?
In the ocean or swimming in any body of water.
What’s something you can’t live without?
Music and pasta.
