For awhile now, I have noticed this lovely actress who appears in various supporting roles in Hallmark and Lifetime films as well as guest and recurring roles in television shows. Since her name is Rukiya Bernard, I have never failed to not notice her name in the credits of any show or film I am watching. I am very sensitive to unusually memorable names such as hers. Add to that the fact that she appears in some of my favorite works and that she always gives a stellar performance, and I knew I had to seek out an interview with her. This summer, we set one up, but technology has only just allowed me to be able to share it with my readers. I am so glad that Rukiya was eagerly disposed to share about how she began her career in the entertainment
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What kind of training have you received? RB: There have been so many instances that inspired me to become an actress when I look back on the timeline of "Rukiya Bernard." My parents surrounded my sister and I with the arts, and we were exposed to a lot of performances from a very young age. I feel it was pre-destined, like when I was a kid, my parents used to call me "Miss Dress-up" because I was always going through their closets and then making them sit in the living room while I put on shows. But I think the defining moment when I decided to pursue this professionally was when I was in high school and I went to see a George F. Walker play, Problem Child starring Ted Dykstra and Kristen Thomson in Toronto. It was so good. The audience was howling the whole time, and at the end of the play Kristen delivered a beautiful monologue that made me cry and I thought, "What a whirlwind experience we've all shared here. This is beautiful and I'm going to do that." And that year, I applied to a number of theater schools and got into Ryerson University's program.
Andrew Walker, Meghan Ory, Rukiya Bernard Credit: Copyright 2015 Crown Media United States, LLC/Photographer: Eike …show more content…
Most recently I appeared on SyFy's Van Helsing as a survivor named Doc. It's about a group of people as they try to survive the vampire apocalypse and one woman's discovery of her supernatural powers. It's such an exciting, action-packed show with a kick ass female lead. Kelly Overton, who plays Vanessa Helsing, is amazing. What do you like to do in your free time? What I like to do and what I actually do are two very different things. What I like to do is shop for furniture and interesting pieces since I love interior design. I love a good massage and I love going to the movies, but what I actually do is a lot of glamorous diaper changing, fabulous hustling children to school, dance classes, daycare, soccer practice and also red carpet laundry folding. Mom stuff. I see you're also a dancer. Please tell us more about that part of your
What kind of training have you received? RB: There have been so many instances that inspired me to become an actress when I look back on the timeline of "Rukiya Bernard." My parents surrounded my sister and I with the arts, and we were exposed to a lot of performances from a very young age. I feel it was pre-destined, like when I was a kid, my parents used to call me "Miss Dress-up" because I was always going through their closets and then making them sit in the living room while I put on shows. But I think the defining moment when I decided to pursue this professionally was when I was in high school and I went to see a George F. Walker play, Problem Child starring Ted Dykstra and Kristen Thomson in Toronto. It was so good. The audience was howling the whole time, and at the end of the play Kristen delivered a beautiful monologue that made me cry and I thought, "What a whirlwind experience we've all shared here. This is beautiful and I'm going to do that." And that year, I applied to a number of theater schools and got into Ryerson University's program.
Andrew Walker, Meghan Ory, Rukiya Bernard Credit: Copyright 2015 Crown Media United States, LLC/Photographer: Eike …show more content…
Most recently I appeared on SyFy's Van Helsing as a survivor named Doc. It's about a group of people as they try to survive the vampire apocalypse and one woman's discovery of her supernatural powers. It's such an exciting, action-packed show with a kick ass female lead. Kelly Overton, who plays Vanessa Helsing, is amazing. What do you like to do in your free time? What I like to do and what I actually do are two very different things. What I like to do is shop for furniture and interesting pieces since I love interior design. I love a good massage and I love going to the movies, but what I actually do is a lot of glamorous diaper changing, fabulous hustling children to school, dance classes, daycare, soccer practice and also red carpet laundry folding. Mom stuff. I see you're also a dancer. Please tell us more about that part of your