Rebecca Reid from FOX’s New Girl

Rebecca Reid by Phil Poytner

We had the chance to interview actress, model, and comedian Rebecca Reid recently. We asked her about her transition from modeling to acting, and what we can except from her character Nadia on this upcoming season of FOX’s New Girl. Read our interview for more!

Q: What can you tell us about the upcoming season 5 of “New Girl”? Does Nadia get a new storyline perhaps? In what ways are you similar to Nadia?

A: In the new season, we get an idea of who Nadia was before she learned her American manners. Nadia’s definitely an outsider. I can relate because I think there are lot of people who feel like outsiders too. This season will be a fun new way to look deeper as to why Nadia is the way she is.

Q: How was working on “I Live With Models”? In what ways do you relate with your character Anna?

A: It was a great experience and nice to spend some time in Old Blighty. We also had the chance to film at Pinewood Studios, while they were filming the last Bond movie, “Spectre!” Anna likes to be spoken to honestly. You have to get straight to the point with her, no beating around the bush. I can relate to that!

Q: Which do you prefer…acting or modeling? 

A: Acting, of course!

Q: Which actresses do you look up to? 

A: Goldie Hawn, Charlotte Rampling, Isabella Rossellini, and Tilda Swinton.

Q: How were you discovered as a model?

A: The classic way! I was shopping with my Mom in Covert Garden in London and I was approached by a scout. The rest is history.

 Q: How did you get into stand up? 

A: Like so many of us do: An ex-boyfriend cheated on me. As a parting gift he bought me a ukulele. He said I should be on stage and talk whilst playing the uke in Los Angeles. I lived in NYC at the time. This was actually the best advice anyone ever gave me!

Q: Tell us about the character you created, Audrey Mouse. How did she come to life? Where did you find inspiration for her? 

A: Audrey Mouse would say: “I’m the sister of a certain mouse whose name I can’t mention, because he made us all sign a f**king confidentiality agreement. What I can say though, is my sister grabbed on to the tail of an American up and comer and the rest is history. It hasn’t been easy, living in the shadow of my sister, but it’s my time to shine now, I’m gonna be a star!”

I saw this portrait of a women smoking a cigarette; she was mysterious and beautiful to me. She was wearing this mouse makeup, without trying to look like a Disney character. There was something romantic about this image and I started to play with who she might be. I made myself up trying to follow the portrait, but it came out as something different. I had in my closet a vintage one piece suit from the Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto; it’s quite theatrical looking. When I put the image together, I had an idea of her story- where she had come from and where she was going. I wrote a set with John Patrick Shanley and then performed it. It seemed to work.

Q: Tell us about your life modeling in London? What made you decide to move to Los Angeles and pursue acting?

A: I moved to Paris first. Paris was my base and from there I went to Tokyo, New York and Sydney. I was modeling in NYC for a while and then studied acting. I came to L.A. and started doing stand up and then everything happened, probably because I was doing what I was meant to do.

Q: What is the best career advice you were ever given?

A: Being who you are is a bad thing until it’s good.

Make sure to check out Rebecca’s website as well!

XO, Britta