interview | paris berelc

dress. Kaufman Franco
jewellery. Marrow Fine by Jillian Sassone / Bondeye Jewel
opposite
vest + trousers. Moschino
t-shirt. Wilfred Free
shoes. Jeffrey Campbell
jewellery. Aureum

Paris Berelc is ready to make moves — big moves. After a fan- and critic-beloved starring role on Netflix’s Alexa & Katie as the titular Alexa, she had a featuring role on Netflix’s The Crew before landing her next big project: 1UP, a film co-starring Ruby Rose that Berelc describes as “so funny” and “a great movie about women getting the job done.” After all, as Berelc reminds us, “Who doesn’t want to watch a movie about hot gamer girls?” Schön! joins the actor for an exclusive conversation.

As a Milwaukee native, I have to ask: Kopp’s or Culver’s? What’s your go-to order?

That’s like asking me who’s my favourite sister! I can’t choose between the two. I will say I get Culver’s more often than Kopp’s. My go-to order at Culver’s is a chocolate Heath Concrete Mixer and the spicy chicken. At Kopp’s, I love burgers with the works and a banana split.

You began acting at 14. What do you think starting so young teaches you about the industry?

The biggest thing I’ve learned is that I don’t have everything figured out. Starting at such a young age, everybody treats you like an adult and you can tend to forget there’s so much to life that has to be learned still. I try to take everything day by day. I don’t need to have all the answers now.

dress. Manurí
shoes. Stuart Weitzman
jewellery. Marrow Fine by Jillian Sassone, Ring Concierge, Bondeye Jewelry + Studio Cult
opposite
dress. Kaufman Franco
shoes. Herve Leger
jewellery. Marrow Fine by Jillian S

dress. Kaufman Franco
shoes. Herve Leger
jewellery. Marrow Fine by Jillian S

corset. Dolce & Gabbana
jeans. Good American
jewellery. Marrow Fine by Jillian Sassone, Adina’s Jewels, Ring Concierge + Bondeye Jewelry
opposite
vest + trousers. Moschino
t-shirt. Wilfred Free
shoes. Jeffrey Campbell
jewellery. Aureum

This also means having a lot of people following your personal life. How do you keep your head high when people are trying to bring you down?

My family and friends are always there for me. I have a solid group that will always have my back. When people are trying to bring me down, I try to ignore it, too. Someone will always have something to say about the way you look, dress, what you do in your career … You can’t please everyone. Just do what makes you happy and stick to being yourself.

Many of our readers will know you from Alexa & Katie. What was your most memorable experience from working on that show?

There are so many memories I cherish from Alexa & Katie. It’s my favourite show I have ever worked on. It’s very uncommon to find a group of people who dedicate so much love and care toward a show. We had fun every day. We always ate lunch together. I loved having everyone in my dressing room. My favourite is when we would go on the roof of the parking lot and just hang out. Talk about life. Our last week together was the hardest. It was so hard to say goodbye to three years of being together every day. I would absolutely do a reunion.

What about that show do you miss the most?

The people. We were all super close. The entire crew. All the way from cast to hair and make up to grips to writers.

corset. Dolce & Gabbana
jeans. Good American
jewellery. Marrow Fine by Jillian Sassone, Adina’s Jewels, Ring Concierge + Bondeye Jewelry

dress. Area
shoes. Prada
jewellery. Albright, Marrow Fine by Jillian Sassone + Bondeye Jewelry
opposite
corset. Dolce & Gabbana
jeans. Good American
jewellery. Marrow Fine by Jillian Sassone, Adina’s Jewels, Ring Concierge + Bondeye Jewelry

dress. Area
shoes. Prada
jewellery. Albright, Marrow Fine by Jillian Sassone + Bondeye Jewelry

I’m sure working on a show like that gives you some touching fan interactions. Do you have any experiences with fans that come to mind?

I love meeting fans!! They are always so sweet. They’re the reason why I’ve had such a great career. I remember this really sweet little girl drew me a picture of Skylar Storm. It was so pretty!

Before acting, you focussed on being a talented gymnast. What lessons from gymnastics have stuck with you to this day?

Gymnastics taught me to never give up. If I fall, I get back up and do it again. It has definitely helped me with acting because I receive ‘no’s’ all the time — but I know to keep going and work on getting better and better.

Your film 1UP is currently in post-production. What can you tell us about the film and your role in it?

1UP is going to be awesome!! I just went in a couple weeks ago to do some ADR and I was laughing my ass off. It’s so funny, and it’s a great movie about women getting the job done. My cast is so wonderful. Who doesn’t want to watch a movie about hot gamer girls?

What kind of roles are you interested in pursuing that you haven’t yet?

I’m patiently waiting for my big action movie. I’m waiting for my badass, Angelina Jolie moment. My main goal is to have my own production company.

We know you’re a fan of Rock music — what have you been listening to lately?

Nothing But Thieves, I’ve been listening to a lot lately. And Soundgarden!

dress. Miss Circle
jewellery. Ring Concierge + Bondeye Jewelry

vest + skirt. Jeremy Scott
shoes. Manolo Blahnik
jewellery. CLD PR, Marrow Fine by Jillian Sassone + Bondeye Jewelry
opposite
dress. Area
shoes. Prada
jewellery. Albright, Marrow Fine by
Jillian Sassone + Bondeye Jewelry

vest + skirt. Jeremy Scott
shoes. Manolo Blahnik
jewellery. CLD PR, Marrow Fine by Jillian Sassone + Bondeye Jewelry
opposite
dress. Miss Circle
shoes. Bella Belle
jewellery. Ring Concierge + Bondeye Jewelry

dress. Miss Circle
shoes. Bella Belle
jewellery. Ring Concierge + Bondeye Jewelry

What else has been keeping you busy these days?

I started acting class again. Doing it as an adult is completely different from when I was a teenager. I feel like I’m more open and can retain the information better. I’ve been writing and trying to produce my own projects. I’m also getting back into stunt training!

Do you have any other projects our readers should be on the lookout for?

I filmed a Netflix movie this past summer that will air next year. I also just booked an indie movie. I start filming in the next couple weeks in Los Angeles. Can’t say anything about it yet but keep an eye out for that one. The cast is pretty awesome.

You’ve promoted anti-human trafficking organisations, and the National Human Trafficking Hotline is in your Instagram bio. Why is this cause so dear to you?

Human trafficking can happen to anyone. It doesn’t matter how old you are, where you’re from, or what gender you are. Mainstream media doesn’t give it the attention it deserves and the rates of human trafficking are the worst it’s ever been. I want to help people. My goal is to live in a world where human trafficking doesn’t exist.

What are you looking forward to right now?

I feel like this past year I have really evolved as a person. I’m learning so much about myself and taking the time to take care of myself. I’m looking forward to everything. I’m open to all possibilities. I’m excited to see who I am a week from now or a month from now or a year from now. 

dress. Miss Circle
shoes. Bella Belle
jewellery. Ring Concierge + Bondeye Jewelry
opposite
dress. Manurí
shoes. Stuart Weitzman
jewellery. Marrow Fine by Jillian Sassone, Ring Concierge, Bondeye Jewelry + Studio Cult

1UP is currently in post-production.

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