Meet Native American Boxing Champion Turned Actor Kali Reis
Native American boxing champ Kali Reis makes her acting debut in Joseph Kubota Wladyka’s indie film Catch the Fair One. The film sees Reis playing a boxer who infiltrates a sex trafficking ring to track down her missing sister and those responsible for her disappearance. Developed together with Wladyka, the film also earned Reis a “story by” credit. The plot incorporates Reis’ long-standing advocacy for Indigenous peoples’ rights, bringing awareness to the ongoing epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women.
Catch the Fair One premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last year and opened theatrically earlier this month on February 11. In its film review, Screen Daily wrote that Reis was a “magnetic, physically commanding presence.” At the same time, The Alliance of Women Film Journalists said the actress was “mesmerizing” in the role. Her performance earned the first-time actress an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Female lead.
Reis sat down with Casting Networks to talk about her experience on the film, how her boxing discipline prepared her for acting, and how she plans to chart her new career path going forward.
Wladyka reached out to you via direct message on Instagram to see if you had any interest in acting. He was a total stranger to you at the time, but this became the start of a creative collaboration that began a different career for you. Did you always have aspirations to act?
I come from a musically inclined family. My grandmother did theater, and my mom had me involved in theater when I was younger. Being an artist came naturally to me. I had aspirations of doing it; I just didn’t know where to start. I told myself if it was meant for me, it would find me, and a week later, Josef hit me up on Instagram.
Due to your public profile as an athlete — you have six world titles in two different weight classes — I can’t imagine he was the first person to contact you about acting.
As a professional, established fighter, I’ve received a lot of approaches. Like, “I’m this director for this TV movie, you wanna be in it?” But nothing ever materialized. With Josef, when we started that conversation, we clicked.
Did you have to audition for him?
Everything I’ve done, from bringing awareness to different Native American issues and my professional boxing — I guess it was one of those “I was auditioning my whole life for this” kinds of things. When he first met me in person, he interviewed me, we had conversations, and he got to know me. Those were unbeknownst auditions, in a way.
Did you take acting classes before shooting the script?
I had the pleasure of organically building the character with Josef. About three or four weeks before shooting, Josef knew I needed a little bit more push. That’s what coaches do. He threw me in an acting boot camp with Ms. Sheila Gray out of New York City. She’s amazing. For five days, I had one-on-ones with her for hours and then went to her improv class. During those five days, she was able to break things down for me and fine-tune what I had already figured out. She made me comfortable understanding what I was walking into and how to use my tool. It was like a therapy session every day! I’m so appreciative of her. I still work with her now. So that’s the only type of training I had — getting in touch with my instrument and being able to execute it when I needed to.
How beneficial was this experience with a coach?
With this role, the character was so close to me. Parts from my real life were put into this character. To have someone show me the process of tuning in, dialing in, and then being able to dial out was extremely important. It’s similar to boxing. When that bell rings, I’m a different person. When I’m out of the ring, I don’t want to fight with others; I want to hug everybody!
You got a high-profile industry award nomination with the Indie Spirits. How does that feel?
It is my first time out of the gate. It’s surreal. I got to creatively put my input into the writing process and build my character. Josef trusted me to tell this story, and we had a great relationship and friendship. I put my best foot forward, just like I do with my boxing. My intention was to tell the story the best way I could. I’m so honored.
Where do you go from here?
I have representation, and now acting is another outlet to be creative and artistic in. I would love to continue having the opportunity to tell these necessary stories like we did with Catch the Fair One. I want to be a familiar face for mixed Indigenous women and represent the underrepresented people of this land. Native Americans were the original people of this land, but you barely see them on-screen playing non-Indigenous roles. I want to be a talented actress that gets movies made. Put me in a Marvel movie as a Native cape-wearing superhero! [laughs]
Now that you’re putting yourself out there for roles, how has the auditioning process been for you?
The only type of auditions I know are pandemic auditions. I’ve never auditioned in person. Zoom and self-tapes have been my starting point. Since we wrapped the film, I’ve been auditioning. I want people to know who I am because this is my first movie, and unless they’ve seen it, they won’t know [what I can do]. I also want to know what’s out there. I want to fine-tune this instrument, so I don’t get rusty.
Rusty how?
In boxing, we don’t have seasons. I can be training for a year or two years without any fights. But I have to stay ready, so I don’t have to get ready. With acting, I tell my reps, “Send me on any auditions so that I can be ready.” I love getting feedback on my auditions because I’m walking into a territory that I don’t quite know yet. I’m fortunate enough to take criticism because I’m a fighter, and I have nitpicky coaches who always tell me if I’m doing something wrong.
Now for a slightly more frivolous question. The Spirit Awards are on March 6. Do you have a dress picked out already? Are you enjoying this somewhat more superficial aspect of red-carpet fashion?
Absolutely. At the Tribeca Film Festival, I used that opportunity to highlight Indigenous fashion designers to show the talent we have in our community. I had a custom dress made by Kayla Looking Horse. I wore Converse sneakers that were hand-beaded for me. Kayla also did my wedding dress, and now we’re working on something for the Spirit awards. I love her style, and I want to make sure I keep true to myself and represent who I am.
Are you figuring out during this fashion process who you’re not?
You will never catch me on the red carpet wearing heels unless you all want to laugh because I look like a baby deer [laughs]. I wear sneakers and Doc Martens. I do not want to wear any heels. I am very proud and comfortable in my woman body, but I know my limits. Heels are my limit! [laughs]
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