Monica Raymund
Actor-director Monica Raymund has been making art of one sort or another since the tender age of four. So, it should come as no surprise that she is now a creative force to be reckoned with. The Julliard-trained talent is currently starring in season two of “Hightown” on Starz, playing a federal Fishery Service agent who finds herself at the center of Cape Cod’s heroin epidemic while struggling with her own newfound sobriety. She was also part of the inaugural class of Female Forward, NBC’s initiative to grow female representation in the director’s chair. Monica recently sat down with us to share the advice she’d give to others, the actors and directors with whom she’d love to collaborate—and her secret skincare weapon. Read on for all the fun!
The Bare Magazine: Congratulations on the show! Care to give us any hints on where your character Jackie’s story is headed in season two?
Monica Raymund: We start with Jackie being on the up and up, sobriety under her belt, doing well. She’s secured a piece in the police department. Her boundaries start to shift, and we see her crossing the line in her work—and falling in love with her partner. Later on in the season, we’re introduced to a family member of hers, who really starts to trigger her trauma.
Bare: We’ll take that! Now, working backward from there a bit, where were you born and what was your childhood like?
MR: Originally, I’m from St. Petersburg, Florida. My parents have always been so supportive of my passion for the arts. I started out in music. My parents put me in piano classes at four or five and I played pretty consistently. Then I got into musical theater, singing, performing and finally acting. And when it came time to applying for college, I got into Julliard and graduated with a BFA.
Bare: Wow! Like you, so many talented people went to Julliard. Have you ever worried, what if this doesn’t happen for me?
MR: No, I don’t have a plan B. I think I used to when I was younger. When you’re 18 or 19, you’re easily persuaded to prepare for the worst. But I try not to create problems if there are none. I understood that this career would require hard work and discipline, but going to a conservatory like Julliard, they prepare you for a life of discipline.
Bare: What drew you to the role of Jackie?
MR: Her inner turmoil and her messiness. And the journey of trying to find purpose and fill a void within her. I thought it would be a challenge and an adventure, and I’m in an adventurous place in my life right now. I’m so glad that I accepted the challenge because playing Jackie has taught me to be a better version of myself. It’s been the greatest, truly.
Bare: Was the Jackie role originally written as queer or did you have some input in that?
MR: It was. Rebecca Cutter, the creator of the show said she had this natural organic vision. And it was of a queer, Latina woman. She didn’t know why. She had no agenda; it just appeared to her.
Bare: Is there another genre you’d like to try?
MR: I would love to try a period piece. Coming from a classical training, I feel very comfortable in that landscape. I’d love to do it in television or film. I’m also a big sci-fi and fantasy fan. So, I’d love to try that.
Bare: Any projects on the horizon you can tell us about?
MR: I just wrapped a movie called “Bros” with Billy Eichner. [It is billed as the first gay romantic comedy from a major studio.] The writing is brilliant, and it was so nice and refreshing to be able to do something light.
Bare: What advice would you give to others just starting out along your path?
MR: It’s sort of general. Stay curious. And stay tenacious. And keep reading. Keep reading plays. Keep reading books that aren’t plays. Read newspapers. Staying curious about the world is how we expand the scope of our experiences, and that makes us richer actors when we inhabit a role. In order to do that, our whole lives can’t just revolve around our jobs.
Bare: Could you tell us a bit about the Female Forward initiative?
MR: I got into the Female Forward initiative at NBC a few years ago. Once you’re accepted, you can shadow a show for two to three episodes, and you get to direct an episode. You also get a stipend and access to certain networking opportunities. So, it’s an incredible entryway for female directors to have access to episodic television. I got to direct Law & Order SVU. And now I direct a lot of their shows. In January, I’m directing “The Endgame” on NBC. It’s a new show.
Bare: Who is a director or actor you’d love to collaborate with?
MR: I have a huge directing crush on Denis Villeneuve. And Alfonso Cuarón. I’d love to work with the greats. And Regina King! I think she’s amazing. I definitely try to emulate her. I love her career. She’s gracefully weaved between directing and acting. I can tell she’s such a fierce, grounded woman. Also Catherine Hardwicke, who directed “Thirteen.”
Bare: Where are the biggest opportunities for Latinx women in Hollywood?
MR: We’re only now beginning to shift the space for Latinx communities in Hollywood. That change is nascent. There’s a lot more work to be done. The opportunities used to be non-existent and now the door is ajar. Now there are a lot more roles for actors in front of the camera, and networks, Like Starz, who are trying to actively bring on board Latinx directors and writers. There’s more space, but the work is just beginning.
Bare: What do you do to unwind?
MR: I do an infrared sauna session once a week. It’s the most indulgent expense but I really love being in the sauna and listening to “This American Life,” and just sweating. And I work out a lot. I do boxing and HIIT classes. And then I read a shit ton. I just purchased a new book this morning by Lily King, and I’m re-reading a compilation of short stories by Donald Ray Pollock. I’m a big fan.
Bare: Your skin is glowing! Tell us little bit about your skin and beauty regimen…
MR: Well, washing my face. Let’s start there. I do that morning and night. Then, I use a serum by IS Clinical. At night, I use retinol and a moisturizer. And I exfoliate twice a week. There is a microdermabrasion exfoliation product that is actually at Trader Joe’s. It’s the best exfoliator you can buy in a bottle. There’s only one on the shelf. That’s it.
Bare: What might surprise people about you?
MR: I think maybe that I am a nerd. I love my job, but I don’t like attention. Last night was the best part of my week. I put on acoustic guitar holiday music and did the crossword puzzle. That is my happy place. I’m not as cool as the characters I play.
Bare: What’s your off-duty style like?
MR: I’m very monochromatic. I like high quality garments but all the same color. So I wear a lot of black, camel and white. Joggers, James Pearse t-shirts, etc.
And finally, what are a few of your life’s Bare essentials?
MR: Absolutely coffee. Preferably French Press. Definitely Chanel Eau Fraiche or Le Labo Another 13—I go back and forth between those. Hair ties, probably. And let’s say sunscreen—Aveeno Protect + Hydrate, it’s just the best. And five, I’d have to say my ring. My partner gave it to me.
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