Hi everyone, thanks to this episode of New Keegan Times. On this episode, we have an amazing guest. We have the multi-talented Freya Adams. Freya is an accomplished American actress, writer, and producer. Freya is best known for her critically acclaimed role as Gwen 2.0 in the movie and Vantageous, which is now available on Netflix. Freya has also appeared on network series such as New Amsterdam, The Rookie, and the Blacklist, in addition to building an impressive list of commercial credits.
Freya is passionate about telling diverse stories both in front of in sorry, in front of and behind the camera, and is actively expanding her career as a creator in film and television. Welcome to the Multitalented Freya and thanks for coming on the podcast.
Thanks for having me. It's really an honor to be here.
You're extremely welcome. All right. Let's jump straight into it. Take us back. Tell us about I guess your life growing up, your family, um, and everything relating to that.
Yeah, sure. I was raised in Wheaton, Illinois. Um, my family uh is Muslim, Indian, first generation. And um yeah, I mean, it was very uh the Midwest, super nice. And um, you know, I mean, yeah, that was basically it, you know. Um, I would say um both my parents were engineers, none of them were like in the arts or anything like that.
And I found myself like in high school um really just gravitating towards that, you know, like doing plays and there was like acting competitions and speech camps and like and I always I had, but I didn't have, I would say, familial support in that direction because everyone was in the sciences, you know. So um I I always saw it as like a hobby, but I never really thought I'd be able to really um go into it uh as a career. I didn't I didn't have any modeling for that, you know.
Um, but yeah, like that that's kind of like where it started from. Like I would say like watching a lot of television, connecting to books and literature, like really just sort of um you know finding um connection and I like in those ways, you know? Fantastic, incredible.
Um, tell me about you got your breakout role, I guess, with and vantages. Tell me about that and how that experience was.
Yeah, I mean, well, it was originally a short film and then it got made into a feature, and then it went to Sundance, and um, it was directed by Jennifer Fong, and it was it was really like um before that I had done a lot of mostly like television stuff, like studio stuff. So being on an independent film like that, um it was very different, and um, it was challenging.
Um, my character was um she was like a robot, she was a created person, and so you know, there was a lot of work and development and um trying to figure out how deep to go into that, you know, and there was a lot of um, you know, because the director was from Malaysia, the majority of the cast was Korean. Um, so it was really interesting to see how the story really impacted a lot of people, you know.
Um, and it was interesting because I was a created robot, you know, so I was like inserted into the family. So I did even experience like on set working on it, like sort of that sort of outsider-ish experience, you know. But yeah, so we went to Sundance. It was really incredible just to see the whole um industry and on the independent film level and just like how that all works in that way, you know.
Yeah, wonderful. And what would be the biggest, I guess, um, learning from the experience too? So moving forward past that, what did you really take out of that?
Well, I would definitely say there's a um, because she had written the production and directed it, and she I I mean she pretty much like created it as like a vehicle for herself to be able to do the type of work that she wanted to do. So I think it was the first time that I really saw somebody um kind of maybe like create space for her own vision, you know.
Before that, like everything was like auditioning and like booking a job and just being like a W-2 actor, and like, you know, so really just sort of um being invited to somebody else's party type of thing, you know. So uh yeah, I mean it I think it planted the seeds, and it took me a long time to sort of build the infrastructure to be able to execute on that, but it planted the seeds of this idea of like um creating your own IP and taking ownership in it, you know?
Yeah, that's fabulous. What do you what is the I guess the main part of being an actress that you love the most?
I love working with a script. And I love like um, I really love working on other people's writing, you know, like other people's ideas, characters, and then really just sort of just the discovery process of who and what they're creating. And um that's what I really enjoy. And then I I when it's like a great set and there's people and there's a sense of unity being on set, and everyone's working in the same direction, like that's really exciting as well.
Like everybody working together towards like the same vision of the story, you know, it's um it's a great feeling, you know, it's like you're all in the same vibration tone, basically.
Tremendous. And um, what has been the most challenging part in your career?
I would say the business part, you know, like um it's been rough in Hollywood, I would say, for the past couple of years. And um, you know, the craft of things, like working on scripts and then like writing, that's one aspect.
But then you have to do the whole business admin part, like developing relationships, following through, learning how to communicate, like talking to agents, talking to managers, talking to producers who are who know nothing about the craft, who aren't really interested in it, you know. I think a lot of people don't really understand how much. I mean, because if you're a really good actor, you make it look easy, right?
Like if a really good gymnast, like you don't see how much they're doing behind the scenes. They make it look very easy that they're doing these things. Same with singing, musician, you know. So when you're dealing with like the business aspect of stuff, like they they just they really have no clue, you know.
So you kind of have to like I feel like a lot of times I have to like jump onto their planet and like really have to learn like what their craft is in a way, yeah, and learning how to navigate through it. Yeah.
Um who what has been, I guess, even growing up, your biggest influences too that I guess made you have these ambitions and directed you into this way as well.
You know, I think as a kid it was honestly like more emotional, like wanting to be seen, wanting to find a place, wanting to connect, you know. I think honestly, you know, grow growing up with immigrant immigrant parents, it was hard in that way. Like I always felt like very isolated, and I, you know, so in in the beginning, it was definitely um, you know, more more for like a sense of community. And even like in college, it was the same.
Like I did theater, I didn't major in theater, but I did plays and stuff like that. So it was like sort of that like um, I don't know, like maybe familial environment in a way. So I think um, and then also, you know, I think it was the opportunity to play other people, like express my imagination, like that was really um, I think that is that's the joy. Like I like to be able to explore different worlds. It's like you can be brave and do that without taking the risks of doing that, right?
Like you don't have to necessarily like leave and jump and move to another country, or you don't have to necessarily like actually kill someone, or you don't have to actually like, you know, but you can have all those experiences through a character and a story, you know? So yeah, I think that was what it was in the beginning.
And then like when I started doing it as a profession, and then it was like the business stuff came in, and a lot of times it's like you're not being cast for your acting, you're just being cast for who you are, or a lot of times they want you to just be who you are, they don't want you to really act. It's very strange sometimes, right? So um I had to find like different motivations, you know, because the opportunity to do what I liked wasn't there so much.
So now the motivation is more about just like supporting great stories and helping people and feeling useful and um still connecting with people, you know. So yeah.
Fantastic. Thanks for sure. Do you still feel isolation compared to when you were younger now?
Sometimes I think so. Not so much. I mean, I feel like I've learned how to work through that with various tools. Um, you know, I guess like with maturity, you know, like I I I've learned how much like I have to push through that, how much it's on me to have to push through that. And that's the good thing about acting, like it's taught me about rejection, right? So so like now I I I guess I just don't take it personally.
Like it's just this thing that you always have to extend your hands, like put yourself out there, you know, and you know, every like 20 times you do it, you might get one person who sticks, right? So I've tried to like bring that over into like my personal life as well, you know. So if anything, I I feel grateful. I think acting has really taught me that you know your resilience, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
What's been the best piece of advice you've ever received?
The best piece of advice that I've ever received. Um I've I've received a lot of good advice. But um maybe um like I would say oh gosh, this is really interesting. I mean, there's so many. Um I mean I would say like uh keep things moving. Like energetically, like just keep things moving, you know? Like don't like freeze, don't stop. Like, so that would mean like just finish it.
Also, I would say don't focus on the results, you know, and also like stay like I really try not to think about the past and not think about the future, just really think about the present and like um what can I do now to just like put energy into something, you know? And enjoy the process, I would say.
What advice would you give to a young priority that's coming through? Similar to your background, um what advice would you give them?
Nothing's personal. Like everybody's just doing things according to their own um experience and orientation, like nothing is personal.
That's really great. Yeah. What would you like your legacy to be?
That's a great question. A lot of the things that I'm I'm working on right now, um like a lot of stories, like a pilot that I'm writing. I I want I want to champion stories and characters that give respect to like the people before. Like the pilot that I'm writing, it's about my family, but I feel like when I'm writing it, when I'm developing it, I feel like my ancestors are guiding me. Like, um, and I and I and I really feel like it's healing something.
My parents, it's really like my family, they're not into the entertainment business, not whatever, like they'll never see it, they won't be into it, you know. Um, but I do feel, and then like there's other projects that I'm developing as a producer with my partner, you know, and um, you know, we're dealing addressing like generational trauma, like family stuff, you know, other stories that we're dealing with.
Um and I and it's just for me, I'm just very fascinated about like energy in people's life and how it transforms, whether and it can be destructive or it can be positive, and like where the where a person's will can um participate in that, you know. Um that's something that I'm very much aware of and the patterns around that, and it makes for good storytelling, you know.
Like, so I would say I would I would want my legacy to be somebody who like brings like a higher level of storytelling and even acting um to the forefront. And I would, I mean, it's really interesting, like in our country right now, there's this big idea around like diversity and this and that. Like, I would love to be known as like a good actor rather than like a good, you know, Indian actor.
You're like, I I want to be known for like my skill level, like because these weren't things that I could control, you know. Um, so I think that's my legacy. Um, that's something like to break barriers in that way, you know, to just make it like an even playing field and to not be typed and boxed by other people's ideas about things, whether I'm a woman or like I'm ethnic or I'm this or that, like just to to be able to like be a really good craftsman.
Oh, that's really impressive. Thanks. Do you find it challenging because of your heritage being yeah?
I do. I do. It's interesting. I wouldn't have thought that before. Um, I mean, this is just my experience, but I'm Indian, but I don't necessarily uh look like the Indians that they like to cast in the media. Like they they seem to really like people who visually present Indian. You know what I mean? And then um I'm from the Midwest, and I I think I think uh I've gotten lost in the shuffle a bit, like where my representation, even other people, they don't exactly know what to do with me.
I'm I look Hispanic, I don't speak Spanish, you know. Um, and uh, you know, so it's it's very I mean I'm sure like other actors would have their own complaints, like if you're a white male and then heat, whatever. But um that is that has been something that's been really frustrating for me because like I went to graduate school for acting, I've done a lot, da-da-da.
But it's um, you know, I've I've come across, especially more in LA, not in New York, but it just seems like um, you know, there there just isn't like the imagination isn't very big in some some ways, you know, in when they're developing projects like on a huge commercial level. You know, there's this idea that um certain things make money and certain things don't. And somehow race and politics gets involved in that somehow.
Um, I'm not exactly sure how, because I'm not a business person, but I know like on my side of it, in the conversations that I have with my reps, like that it can be an issue sometimes. And that can be frustrating.
Like, I'll talk to my my friends who work in like regular businesses, like um, you know, regular IT, this, that, hospitals, whatever, and I'll tell them about certain things and they're like, oh my god, that's crazy, you know, that like people just speak so openly like that in that way. That's racist. That's crazy, you know. But I mean, it's just it still happens in in the entertainment business, you know.
And you've learned not to, I guess, let it affect you either.
Yeah, I mean, it did for a period of time. Um, but then it was like, what can I do? I mean, it's out of my control, you know.
And then I I mean, like I said, like I don't know if it's just the nature of the business because like I'll have white friends that'll, you know, they're struggling because they think it's all diversity, like every only di people of color, you know, but that's I'm I'm super diverse, like it's not working for me either, you know, because I'm not the right type of I'm not exactly the diverse person that they want to fit in that slot, you know. So that's what I mean. It's it's interesting.
Yeah, that's great insights. Um if you weren't in the entertainment industry, what would you be doing?
You know, I think I might be teaching or something. You know, I I I I like I like to guide people and I like the feeling that like I've made a difference or something with other people. And like it could be the arts, it could be acting, you know. Um I like history, I like like all those sort of things, like discussing those sorts of things, you know. Yeah, I think so.
Yeah, definitely. And you can tell from your personality, you seem like a very caring, you know, you kind of downloaded. Oh, thanks. Thanks. What's the best compliment you've ever received?
You know, I would say I like it when people think I'm funny. When they're like, wow, you're funny, and like I don't mean to be funny. Do you know what I mean? Like it's just the way that I look at something, and it's like I think that's nice. Um, these are great questions. This is really fun. Um uh I you know when people say like um, wow, I feel very comfortable with you, you know? And I'm like, wow, I'm just being myself. Like that's so that's nice, you know? Like, uh, what else?
Yeah, I would say that's it. Or you're easy to talk to. I've gotten that one before. Or I'm very present, I've gotten that one before. And I was like, yeah, I I I that makes sense to me because being an actor, being a writer, like it really trains the discipline of your mind, you know, your concentration.
What do you prefer? Acting or writing or producing? What do you actually prefer?
I like acting first. I really do. Um, because like I said, I love um I love exploring somebody else's ideas. That's really that sparked my curiosity, and it's you know, I feel like the writing and the producing thing sort of came um like like I said, like the pilot that I wrote, I just feel like that was channeled, you know. My uncle had passed away, and and I just I just sort of felt like characters were talking to me, you know, and that just happened.
And then more opportunities happened, and then the opportunity to um partner with a friend who was producing um came, and it's been awesome. Like I've been learning, like Through that part, I've been learning all about this other end of the business, and which has given me so much insight now as to in my acting career, like, oh wow, it really wasn't personal. You know, like it's it's there's like so many insider secrets that people don't really share or know, you know.
Definitely. And um, what what does success look like to you? I guess even long-term.
You know, for me, long-term success is stability, like in all areas of my life and peace and growth, you know, like one thing that I've learned, because like when I did that film, I went to Sundance, like that was like boom, lots of exposure, lots of whatever, you know, things started moving really fast for me, but I didn't have the stability or the knowledge to grow it properly. So I lost it really quick, you know?
And so from that, like I've learned that um every time like you add something in your life, it's just a little bit more responsibility. So I would say for me, like long-term success is having like stability and peace, and being able to like meet my responsibilities and feel like I've executed them well and to collaborate with fun people, you know.
Yeah, great. What's what when you look back has been, I guess, a standout moment that you look back and go, wow, this has happened.
You know, I would say standout moment. I look back and I'm like, wow, this has happened. You know, I had a moment like that recently. Um, it's funny, it wasn't in my acting career. I feel like in my acting career, it's always been like I was surprised that it ended up looking the way that it did. Like when I went to Sundance or when I saw a film that I was actually in, and it just was so different than my experience being on it.
I would say now, like um, I I've met a producer that I'm collaborating with on my show, and I'm just shocked that I've met somebody who gets it, who really understands it, and who's like it's such a nice collaboration. I yeah, I would say it's it's such a joy when to have these like good working relationships with people, you know.
Yeah, for sure. And what's one fun fact about people that they may not know about you?
Oh, one fun fact, um gosh, I don't know. What is one fun fact? Um gosh, um what is one fun fact? I like to prank people. Cool. Yeah, yeah. Like I prank my boyfriend a lot, or like I prank other people, yeah, just because it's like amusing to me, you know.
Yeah, yeah, you'd say the light side of life and have a bit of fun.
Yeah, you have to. You absolutely have to.
Yeah, for sure. And what's your proudest non-working achievement you've had in life?
Honestly, I wouldn't I would say it's um being able to show up for my family. You know, like I feel like um I feel like through my experiences like acting and all this sort of stuff, I really learned how to grow my personality and and extend myself in ways because I was very shy as a kid, right? And then now it's like I can show up for my parents and I can be like super loving towards them, and and they're very reserved people, like they weren't like that.
Like, like I remember the first time I I remember I said to like my dad, like, I love you, and he was like, Oh, okay, you know, like, but now he says it back, you know, like I've trained them in a way, or like they've been open to it. Do you know what I mean? But I feel like um the love and the support I've gotten like from the acting community, or just my arts and like this, and like I've been able to give it back to my family, you know.
And is that a cultural thing that they don't say I love you?
You know, I don't know. I think it could be it could be an Asian thing. It's you know what it is? I think um it's you know, they talk about love languages. Have you ever heard of that? Yeah, so the love language is more acts of service in Asian, like words of affirmation. No, do you know what I mean?
So it's like they'll do things for you, they'll the whatever, but uh to talk about it is not, you know, and I think you know that's why I went into acting as well, because I didn't I because I grew up with that, I didn't know how to connect emotion to words, right? Right, so I had to like learn, I had to go to school to learn how to do that, you know?
And and yeah, I would say now, and it it's just it's it's great to see like how my family is so like they'll communicate their emotions now, you know.
Well, that's excellent. If you were eight eight again and you could change anything, it could be personally or professionally, what would you change?
Wow. You know, personally, I think I would have um you know, I looking back at it now, I think I would have been uh I w I would have more confidence in myself. You know, I I really I really never had a lot of confidence in myself and um I had to learn later in life how to act like I had confidence in myself until I believed I had confidence in myself, and I wish I would have done that sooner.
Right.
You know?
Yeah. That's great, thanks for sharing. Um Thanks for coming on the podcast. I do appreciate it. Um it's incredible everything you've done, everything you're doing in the future, and yeah, you're an incredible person and yeah, I wish you nothing but the best.
That's so kind, thank you. Thank you for saying that.
You're welcome, thank you.