(Khobe Clarke, used with permission)
Written by Colleen Bement, Editor
Meet Khobe Clarke. This talented actor out of Calgary, Alberta can either be found on a sound stage or hiking a mountain, camping, biking, or skiing. He followed in his parent’s footsteps and made the most of the adventures he found in the Canadian wilderness. He rode a motorcycle across Mongolia and then climbed the nation’s tallest mountain. Khobe even climbed to Mount Everest’s base camp and no doubt, he probably wants a shot at the top! Oh yes, and he is an amazing actor who is known for roles in the Lifetime films “An Amish Sin” and “Dawn” and Showtime’s hugely successful series “Yellowjackets”. “Firefly Lane” fans will certainly know him from Season 2, Part 2 with his role as Coop in the 1970s timeline. He plays a confused high school student jock who was more sensitive than he realized. Alongside stars Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke, “Firefly Lane” will return to Netflix screens on April 27th. So let’s get to know Khobe Clarke.
Colleen Bement: Let’s start off by chatting about “Firefly Lane.” I really enjoyed that series, and you’re great as the character Coop from the 70s. How was the experience on the set? Do you have any stories to tell us?
Khobe Clarke: “Firefly Lane” was my first big job, it was the job that allowed me to first think that acting was a passion that could turn into a career. Working alongside the likes of Roan Curtis, Ali Skovbye and Kyra Leroux was a treat. At the time, I had no process, no character development strategies so I found myself mirroring how they did everything. To them, I was a castmate but to me, they felt like mentors. A particular story I have was after I had already shot 3 episodes, I got a text from one of the producers asking if I would sing in my 4th. I was already nervous to act and now they wanted me to sing?! I said yes before even thinking about it and the next thing I knew I was singing along to Barry Manilow’s “Mandy” in front of about 100 background actors while Roan and Ali hid their second-hand embarrassment. Sometimes when this life of acting feels rocky or uncertain I find comfort in knowing I will always have my experience on “Firefly Lane” to remember.
CB: “Yellowjackets” is such a hot show! What can you share about your experience with that Showtime series?
KC: “Yellowjackets” was my VERY first paid acting job. Three months prior to “Yellowjackets” I rode my bike 17 kilometers in the rain to audition for a student film that I would do for free. “Yellowjackets” was a massive shift from that. I remember arriving to the massive studio feeling like George Clooney. I had a trailer with a fireplace, a minifridge, a leather sofa, and my character’s name on the door. I remember trying to just soak up every second of the experience because I thought maybe it would never happen again.
One scene, 2 lines for a character named Kyle. The set was a well-oiled machine, and everyone spoke a language I had yet to understand. Speeding this and striking that! “Is this the martini shot?”. “I need to 10-1”. “Soft sticks!”. It was full of so many people, all with different talents doing a thousand tasks to accomplish one goal, to make a kickass tv show, which they did. All I knew was to walk up to the little tape on the ground and say my line and not look at the camera while I did it. Though I had no idea what was going on, I felt like I belonged.
CB: When did you know that you wanted to make acting your career, and, were your parents supportive of the decision?
KC: Other than a stint of thinking I could be a professional hockey player; acting is the only thing I have ever wanted to do. Once I realized I was a terrible hockey player I was fully set on doing nothing but acting. I felt like the home I grew up in was a very creatively inviting place. My parents are entertainers in their own way and would always entertain with shows I would put on in the living room whether it was my improvised stand-up routine or an equally as an improvised one-man play. I feel even though I get nervous in acting situations, I never feel afraid, and I think that is because my parents accepted my quirks and always let me take the stage in whatever light I wanted to step into.
CB: How do you prepare for a role? How do you get into character?
KC: Preparing for a role comes in two steps for me. The first step is knowing the material not until I get it right but until I can’t get it wrong. I will record myself saying the other actors’ lines leaving space for my own and won’t quit practicing them until I can multitask while doing the scene. If I can manage to fold laundry or do dishes while knowing the words, I feel as though only then am I ready. I have turned in my fair share of mediocre work and I would say 80% of the time it is because I am underprepared. The more comfortable I feel with the written dialogue and the story the more free I feel when it comes to making organic choices and finding new feelings on the day of the performance.
The next part comes to music. Music has this very fast-acting ability to manipulate how I feel. Depending on the mood of a scene I will try and match that feeling with a song shortly before doing it.
CB: Following up on that, do you get anxiety before an audition or the first day on set? If so, how do you handle that?
KC: Like I said above, my confidence comes largely from how prepared I feel. If I know my character, my lines, and the objective of a scene I don’t feel anxious at all and most times I feel as though I can fly. If I didn’t put enough work in beforehand, I would be a nervous ball of sweat and a bad actor. So… yes and no, depending on my effort.
CB: I read that you rode a motorcycle across Mongolia and then climbed the nation’s tallest mountain. PLUS, you climbed to Mount Everest’s base camp! WOW! I’ve done two 14ers and they almost did me in! What do you love about hiking?
KC: Mongolia was an incredibly impactful experience and it taught me a lot about myself. It’s the biggest landlocked country in the world where most of its population lives in one major city. A place of little to no industrial development where coal is burned and fences are nowhere to be seen. The people living in rural areas still cut their grass with scythes and live out of these tent-like structures called yurts. Riding motorcycles every day, living out of a backpack and a tent with a new destination to camp made me feel so connected to the earth. Western society can sometimes blind me by the convenience we have discovered. Constant cell service, streaming platforms, food delivery, Uber. It felt very refreshing to leave that all behind and it allowed me to focus on where my feet were.
As for the mountaineering, which you are no stranger to. It was intimidating and scary. Although where Khuiten Peak lacked in technical difficulty it made up for it by its intense exposure. You feel very small and vulnerable on a massive wall of ice and rock. Realizing there is no help if something goes wrong is a very sobering experience.
What I love about hiking is its simplicity. All you need is a pair of shoes and a destination. It’s not only good for your physical health but also your mental well-being. Plenty of time to think on a hike. I think shower thoughts and hike thoughts ride the same frequency. I am of the school that time outside should be a prescription. Even if your “hike” is a walk downtown, we should try and do it every day.
CB: If you were a baseball player, what would your walk-up song be?
KC: Tell Me Baby – Red Hot Chili Peppers
SPEED ROUND:
- When it’s time to kick back and relax, what are you wearing? Anything goes as long as I am not wearing socks.
- Favorite Gas Station Snack: Snickers Bar
- Latest TV Show you’ve binge-watched: Succession
- Movie you watch over and over: La La Land or Ratatouille
- Favorite book: Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
- Marvel or DC: Marvel but the “Dark Knight” is the greatest superhero movie of all time.
- Favorite country you’ve visited: Nepal
- Dawn or Dusk? Dawn
- Pie or cake? PIE!
- What’s your dream car? The Millennium Falcon.
- Camping: Tent or camper? If you’re in a camper that’s glamping, not camping. Tent all the way.
- Who inspires you? My Mom Barbara, my Dad Jamie, and sister Jaela. Susan Boyle. Heath Ledger. Anthony Bourdain. Helena Bonham Carter. Viola Davis. Eliud Kipchoge
Follow Khobe on Instagram
Stars Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke will return to Netflix on April 27th.
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