Long Live the ‘Vagrant Queen’–Chatting with lead actress, Adriyan Rae

Some may know her from her roles on FX’s Atlanta, BET’s “American Soul,” and FOX’s musical
drama star, or from her starring role on Hulu’s horror series, “Light as a Feather.” Now, however, Adriyan
Rae is starring in SyFy’s “Vagrant Queen.” This new space opera follows its main character, Elida (Rae)
through her journey in space as a former child queen who is now on the run from her mother’s murderer. It is set to air this Friday at 10 PM EDT.

Adriyan took some time to spill about becoming an actress, her new show, and more.

 

Photo Credits: Photographer: Diana Ragland

Hair: Kalin Spooner

Makeup: Shannon Pezzetta

Wardrobe Stylist: Monica Cargile

Alicia Barr: SyFy’s new “Vagrant Queen” looks edgy and exciting. And you look like you are really enjoying your time on set. Can you tell our readers about the show and what it has been like filming?

Adriyan Rae: The show is about a young Queen on the run from a republic government that’s trying to extinguish her royal bloodline. Amidst this running, she learns her mother is still alive and that propels her onto a new journey of trying to find her mother. It’s a snarky space opera based on a comic. We really home in on keeping the world like a live-action comic book, which is very unique compared to anything else I’ve personally seen on television now.

Filming was amazing, to say the least! We filmed in beautiful South Africa, all of the cast and crew were just so talented, so dope. I can literally say I have friends all over the world now, thanks to this experience.

 

AB: “Vagrant Queen” is based on Vault Comics. By chance, are you a fan of comic books?

AR: I am! I think the comic is really cool and I adore Vault Comics. They’re doing really great
things and building in a tremendous way. Plus, everyone I interact with at Vault are absolutely
delightful!

AB: Your character, Elida, seems both fierce and sassy, which promises to be entertaining to watch. Tell us about her. She seems like a fun character to play.

AR: Elida is loads of fun to play! She’s actually my favorite character I’ve played thus far. She has a hard exterior that she’s created to protect her loyal, caring, loving inside that could be taken advantage of. She’s been through a lot, so she has a big picture mindset and doesn’t get caught up in semantics and what society says is polite and the norm. This is why she doesn’t have much patience, but she can still laugh at a good joke, she’s fun, funny when she doesn’t try to be, and lovable.

AB: You have a double major from college in Physician Assistant Studies and Medical Laboratory Science. That’s very impressive, and quite a different career path than the one you have found yourself on. Can you tell us how you fell in love with acting instead?

AR: I fell in love on the set of a pilot called “Life Twirls On” by Kenya Moore. It was my first gig and I was bobbling between working in the lab full time and trying to get my foot into acting. I remember having 12.5-hour shifts [in the lab] and being ready to go home after 2 hours. I was doing anything I could to leave the lab and see sunlight and interact with people! Then I got on set of LTO and was there for 15 hours and was still so happy and ready to keep working. That’s when I knew I didn’t see this as “work” and I decided to make it my focus. “Find a career you love, and you’ll never have to work another day of your life;” I had found mine.

AB: Followers of your Instagram page know that you regularly post inspirational words of wisdom. What are some words of wisdom that have helped you throughout the years?

AR: There are a bunch of quotes that I live by, actually. Mainly my words of wisdom are those of daily encouragement. I literally have to take things one day at a time and make the best of each of those days. That’s how progress happens – in small steps, but steps none the least. Quotes like: “Hard-work is never truly overlooked;” “You have the power to become anything you dream of, create your life;” “God has a good outcome for any situation, we just have to open ourselves to it;” “You matter. You are worthy. Be you, love you, all ways, always.” I wear that last quote around my wrists on bracelets and I never take them off.

Written by Alicia Barr