Lexi Atkins

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LEXI ATKINS

By Jessica Payne

photographer Tereza Janakova @ ADB Agency

stylist Stacy Zimmerman @ JK Artists

hair and make-up artist Taylour Chanel using Anastasia Beverly Hills and R+Co

location Peerspace – The Urban Jungle Studio

Lexi Atkins launched her music career in 2015 and has since shared the stage with notable artists including Daya, Travis Scott, and Diplo. She has been covered by top media outlets: InStyle, Flaunt, and Teen Vogue (to name a few) — and is joining the ranks of female indie pop artists who are speaking their minds through their music and captivating the Gen Z audience. Aside from her music career, Lexi is an established actress and can be seen in Netflix’s highly anticipated sci-fi drama “Altered Carbon” (2018). In 2015, she appeared in Universal Pictures’ thriller, “The Boy Next Door,” opposite Jennifer Lopez and Ryan Guzman. She also starred in the indie films, “Zombeavers” and “Some Kind of Hate,” while having a supporting role in the film, “Ted 2,” opposite Mark Wahlberg and Amanda Seyfried.

JESSICA PAYNE [JP]: I am OBSESSED with Altered Carbon. Your character, Belle, is so different from other roles I have seen you in. Can you relate to Belle? How is she different than the roles you have played?

LEXI ATKINS [LA]: I don’t think I can relate to Belle as much as I’ve been able to relate to a lot of the other roles I’ve been able to play, but this is what was so fun for me! This character yes was much different than everything else, for so many obvious reasons. I usually play the girl next door type of roles, and I’ve currently never been on a futuristic set—so to really dive into different waters was an amazing experience that I’ll never forget. Belle has a special place in my heart.

[JP]: Do you prefer series work to movies?

[LA]: I honesty love both!

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[JP]: How do keep your music and acting lives separate?

[LA]: Sometimes it’s really hard to do so when I’m super busy! When everything is happening all at once I don’t get much sleep. I run to castings all day or I am working on a set and then at night in the studio or vice versa… so there really isn’t too much time for sleep! Thankfully each one feeds my creative outlet so much that it somewhat keeps me going lol!

And on weeks where something is a little slow, it’s really nice because I always have the other to balance that slow time out! So, I’m really actually gratefully to be able to pursue both because they keep me constantly getting to create/work!

[JP]: Do you have any plans to merge them?

[LA]: Of course. I feel like I already am somehow doing that, to me they both work in tandem!

[JP]: Do you prefer music or acting?

[LA]: I’m not sure yet if I could answer this question because honesty I haven’t been pursing music as long as I have acting. So, I really don’t know what it’s like to go on tour etc…. So, I’ll get back to you on that one ;)

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[JP]: Who are your biggest influences?

[LA]: OMGosh soooo many people. Honesty any woman that’s been working in the industry for a long time I look up too so much. It’s not always easy and to see anyone still succeeding and living their dreams is something that I just look to in awe! One of my favorite influences in acting is an obvious answer of Meryl Streep; her work is truly living art in my opinion. And for music artists in the industry I’ve always loved Bjork, Lana Del Rey, Banks, Kehlani, Grimes etc.

[JP]: Tell me about being Miss Illinois USA?

[LA]: It was definitely an experience that I’ll never forget, and through the pageant I’ve made lifelong friends. My favorite experiences in the pageant industry though were when I was Miss Illinois Teen USA back in 2010. Competing in that pageant gave me the drive to graduate high school early in hopes of attending the New York Film Academy. It also gave me the opportunity to move to Chicago early since I had graduated school, and from there I started to take classes at Second City! I fell in love with the whole comedy and improv world that year in Chicago and have been taking classes ever since!

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[JP]: I loved you as Allie in The Boy Next Door. What was it like to work alongside such big names so early in your career?

[LA]: Awwwww Allie holds a spot in my heart as well! That was one of my first big features and I swear every day on set I had to keep pinching myself! The little Midwest girl inside of me couldn’t stop smiling to get to work alongside such an amazing cast and crew and especially to get to work with JLO! I still remember singing “Jenny from the Block” on my iPod! I also grew up as a dancer, so to me she has always been like an icon!

[JP]: Which character that you have played is the most like you?

[LA]: Honestly the character that I’ve played that is most like me is something that I recently just worked on! It’s a new comedy called “At 30 We Throw Dinner Parties.” I’m really excited for this one to be released, and it was actually harder to play someone that was so similar to me in everyday life to tell the truth! I’m still not sure why that is?

[JP]: What do you do in your spare time?

[LA]: I LOVE LOVE LOVE researching…. I’m honestly a nerd at heart. I’ve fell in love with all things holistic health and beauty, so for the past five years whenever I have any free time I’m always researching some random Ayurvedic herb or supplement. It got to the point where I told myself I should probably start doing something with that amount of time that I already spend studying so I recently just graduated from IIN which is one of the top health coaching schools. And when I’m not nerding out on health I really love editing videos. Over the past year I’ve produced ten videos for my music album I’m about to release… and because of this I’ve had to learn Final Cut Pro a bit more extensively which has now turned into a bit of an obsession!

i'm honestly a nerd at heart

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[JP]: Do you have any pets?

[LA]: YES, I have a Persian cat named 12… yes like the number 12… and no it wasn’t from “Stranger Things,” I’ve had her before the show even existed! My single, “PURR” was actually inspired by her!

[JP]: What’s next for you?

[LA]: Right now, I’m spending most of my time on this visual album. Hopefully next will be FINALLY RELEASING IT!

[JP]: Is there anything else you would like our readers to know?

[LA]: If they haven’t already checked out my single “PURR” they should definitely take a listen, or better yet watch the video on my YouTube. They’ll see my free time editing skills ;)

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