Karan Kendrick on Purpose, Passion, and Working With Hollywood Royalty

As an actress, producer, and co-founder of the Kendrick Academy, Kendrick has brought her passion to acclaimed projects like Just Mercy, Greenleaf, The Hunger Games, and now, as Mona in the buzzy new soap Beyond the Gates. In this exclusive conversation with Bleu Magazine, she opens up about her lifelong love for acting, how it blossomed into a career, and the powerful ways she’s giving back to the next generation.

BLEU: Let’s start at the beginning. How did you get into acting?

Karan Kendrick: I come from a family of storytellers. It’s how we communicate because we’re kind of a shy family. Storytelling is how I learned to understand the world. I believe it’s how our brain connects what we don’t know to what we want to know. If there’s a question about something, what’s the first thing you do? You try to seek out the information. But if you can’t, you make up a story. There’s something about that that soothes the part of you that needs to know. It’s always been such an integral part of my life, and I’m really fortunate to walk that out in my profession.

BLEU: So, it sounds like you feel like you’re walking in your purpose. Is that correct, and if so, when did you know you were?

Karan: Honestly, it’s funny. I remember growing up thinking, Isn’t this what we all do? My friends can attest to the fact that I just thought everybody should be in the arts. I thought that’s how life worked. I remember in college, at Spelman, I’d run back to the dorm like, Guys, come on, there’s an audition! And my friends would be like, What are you talking about? It didn’t really dawn on me until much later that not everyone was doing this. So yeah, I don’t think I’ve ever not known.

BLEU: You referenced “milestone moments” in college. Talk to me about that chapter in life. How did it cultivate your theatre experience?

Karan: I think being in that environment at Spelman—and I took classes at CAU (shout out to the CAU Players!)—helped me understand this as a career versus just a passion or something I loved to do. It became clear that there was a real path to pursue this professionally. That was the first time I really began to understand the business part of it.

During that time, we got to work with guest artists, people we recognized from television and film, who were absolutely killing it. And for them to come spend time with us? It made dreams for real. Also, it helped being around so many like-minded artists and scholars who were pursuing it as well.

BLEU: Okay, I always like to get the come-up story. So, I appreciate you sharing all of that with me. Now, let’s jump to the present. You’ve worked on major projects like Just Mercy, The Hunger Games, and The Vampire Diaries. Now you’re playing Mona on Beyond the Gates. Talk to me about how your career and experiences have grown since that first big job to where you are today.

Karan: My first big job was an episode of House of Payne. At the time, I was doing a play at the Alliance Theatre. The head of casting then came to see the show and wanted to talk to have a call with me. I had been trying to get an agent, cold calling, and pitching myself. Because although I was doing theater for years, I wanted to cross over into TV and film.

That call led to a meeting, and that’s what kicked everything off. I always say, the hard part isn't just getting someone’s attention, though that can be tough. The hardest part is once you have their attention, what do they see? What I didn’t know at the time was that the writers and producers of House of Payne were already considering me for Madea Goes to Jail.

I really love the work I do. I’m grateful for it. I get a script and think, Oh, it’s about to be a good time. Let’s go. It’s fun for me. But I also try to really honor the work—honor the voice of the writer, the role, and imbue the character with humanity. They’re not perfect, not completely flawed—just human. What does that look like? How does that show up in the words? I think people connect with that. And I also just try to be someone folks enjoy working with. I respect the people behind the camera, show up on time, and be prepared. Honor the community you’re a part of. I think that’s helped me sustain a career as a working actor. I’m also a Jesus lover. I believe we all have purpose and assignment. There are definitely more things I’ve auditioned for and not gotten than the ones I’ve booked, but I’ve never felt like I missed out. I just trust God to place me where He wants me, and once I’m there, I try to surrender to the work He has for me to do.

BLEU: You also have your acting school, the Kendrick Academy, in Fort Valley, GA. Why was it important to you to keep it in your hometown?

Karan: I hope that me being here, being present in my hometown, and sharing my journey does for the students what those guest artists did for me—showing them that this is real. This can happen.

And even if it’s not acting, or dance, or filmmaking—whatever it is—do it. Because there’s no logical reason why this brown, country, cornbread-fed, Jesus-loving Georgia girl should be sharing space with colleagues in the Marvel Universe or so many other incredible firsts who are creating this moment we’re living in—beyond the gates.

BLEU: You mentioned the Marvel Universe. So tell me what it was like working with Michael B. Jordan in Just Mercy. Did anything surprise you?

Karan: The first thing that surprised me was when he introduced himself on my first day on set. He said, Hey, I’m Michael. In my mind, I’m thinking, Yeah, I know exactly who you are.

I mean, he’s a big deal now, but he was a big deal then. His humility, commitment to the work, to the community, his integrity—it’s very intentional. He just carried himself with such grounded energy. Honestly, he felt like a nephew to me, if that makes sense. And all of them—it was such an incredible cast to be a part of, all around. And then, I mean, Jamie Foxx? Legendary.

BLEU: Yes, he’s a GOAT for sure! Now, let’s get into your character, Mona. She’s a fan favorite! What connects with you about her character? How did you know she was special?

Karan: I love Mona. I think Mona, whether verbally or nonverbally, lives in the space of what we call “intrusive thoughts.” But really, it’s her truthful thoughts. Mona is exactly who she says she is.

It’s funny to see how invested people are in the show, Mona, and how she responds to the world. I think she’s a very accessible character. She’s someone you immediately recognize and feel connected to. She might tell you a joke, but baby, she’s not going to tell you a lie. And you just have to respect that.

The writers make it easy. They’re doing such a great job with all the characters. It’s a gift to be a part of this show, this cast, and the Beyond the Gates community, both on set and off.

I come home to my own community and teach a group of women in their 70s and 80s twice a week. Honey, they have wisdom for the ages. And they will tell you what they think about these characters. One of them said to me the other day, Now they're getting into some stuff. Mona ain’t getting into no stuff, is she? To me, that just reinforced how Mona really serves as a kind of moral center in the world of the show. But I’m curious about that, too. Is she the moral center because she’s chosen to be, or is that her survival song? I’m so excited to jump into Mona in Season Two and see what that looks like—where it goes.

BLEU: Finally, for people who haven’t seen the show, give us three words that describe the series?

Karan: I’m just going to say: Get into it!