As one of the stars of Fox’s Lethal Weapon, Chandler Kinney is one of young Black Hollywood’s rising stars.
In the series, she portrays Riana Murtaugh, the daughter of Roger Murtaugh (Damon Wayans) and Trish Murtaugh (Keesha Sharp).
Ahead of this week’s episode, Kinney talked with Shadow and Act about the show, its third season, what’s on her playlist and a dream actor with whom she’d love to work.
Tell us about what you’re looking forward to in season 3.
Season 3 of Lethal Weapon will bring Riana a lot of opportunity for growth. She begins to shift her focus to constructing a brighter future for herself. She’ll start to feel the pressures of teen life intensify as she tries to balance friends, family, relationships and school obligations. And as she struggles to find her identity, Riana begins to act out a little more than usual, which will definitely cause tension between her and Trish.
I’m looking forward to showing more of that mother-daughter relationship and complexity of navigating through it! And, of course, we’re excited to have Seann William Scott on board portraying Wesley Cole. He brings an entirely different perspective and sense of humor to the story, so I’m really excited to see his narrative continue to unfold (really good stuff coming up!).
What’s a storyline you’d like to see explored this season?
I would love to see the Murtaugh and Cole families build a relationship and explore how each member deals with Roger’s and Wesley’s field of work differently. I want to see the bond formed between people that face the same difficult reality every day. A lot of the show’s comedy and action occur when the boys are out on the job, but the heartfelt moments are usually with the families. I would love to dive deeper into the everyday complications of family life and continue to tell the stories that all of our audience can relate to.
You’re working alongside some pretty big veterans. What advice have they given you about pursuing your career and utilizing your platform?
Both of my TV parents, Damon and Keesha, have always stressed the importance of being an ever-evolving artist. They have taught me by example that there is strength in being multifaceted within the entertainment industry. Having a deeper understanding of the technicalities behind producing, directing and writing in TV and film has only aided them in their acting careers. They remind me to continually observe and take the experiences presented every day as learning opportunities.
What’s on your playlist right now?
My mood changes with the seasons, so right now, I’m listening to Jorja Smith, Jhené Aiko, Ella Mai and H.E.R (just a small sample of my playlist). R&B pairs so perfectly with fall.
What are you looking forward to as we close out 2018?
As we approach the end of 2018, I’m honestly really looking forward to a clean slate. The beginning of a year is always so exciting to me as it brings the opportunity to restart and refocus intention and energy toward new goals.
What is a dream role you’d love to take on?
I would love to take on an action film one day and portray a strong, independent hero. I want a complex role that challenges me as an actress and forces me outside of my comfort zone!
Who is a dream actor with whom you’d like to work?
I hope to work with the incomparable Viola Davis one day. I’ve always admired her courageous artistry and vulnerability. She’s a risk-taker, and it pays off in her work. Sharing the screen with her in the future would be incredible!
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