INTERVIEW BY DINO TAKASHI Edited by Clara Seely-Katz

On times when the pool of Hollywood actors seem stale a boring, the likes of Chiara Aurelia appears. It’s inspiring because it provides hope- hope that a fresh generation of creatives is pumped and ready to provide higher quality content. There’s hope that the emerging generation is not just about doing silly internet trends and dancing to snippets of pop music- they’re way more than that. They have fresh perspectives, they have creative ideas, and they have promise

What Chiara possesses is more than a just promise. It’s a powerful force charged and ready to take over the entertainment scene anytime soon. She’s the YA (Young Adult) Scream Queen of her generation and we definitely can’t wait to see what she’s going to do next.

In this Collectors Print Issue, we are highlighting rising star Chiara Aurelia as someone that you should definitely keep your eyes on. We hope you enjoy this issue and get inspired and excited as much as we do.

Chiara Aurelia, the lead of Freeform's instant hit Cruel Summer, is all about not taking herself too seriously. She is bubbly and radiates energy that feels like an attractive force. She is polite, funny, and takes her job seriously with that youthful passion, curiosity, and enthusiasm. She was casually donning a white button-up shirt and light blue denim pants as we were both waiting in front of the New York studio's main entrance. Even with her mask on it was obvious that she’s smiling- smile lines appeared on the corners of her eyes when she greeted me, “Hello, my name is Chiara. Are you also here for the photoshoot?" I affirmed that I was, and introduced myself as the writer from A Book Of who would be interviewing her. After I called the studio to let us in, we had a chat in the elevator. I learned that she had been in NYC for a month filming the movie "Luckiest Girl Alive" alongside Mila Kunis. The film is based on American author Jessica Knoll’s 2015 New York Times Bestseller debut mystery novel. She was leaving New York the next day to go back to LA. I asked her if she considered Los Angeles or New Mexico home. She said Los Angeles but she was surprised that I knew about her hometown, Taos, New Mexico. 

This is a very big year for you, and we're very excited about what's going on with your career. How are you feeling with all these milestones? 

Oh, I'm feeling super excited. This whole process has been really wonderful. The past year has been great. I'm super fortunate for the milestones- the big ones and the small ones. 

You have been acting for a while now. How would you describe your acting journey so far? 

I've been acting since I was very young, since I was four or five. I started in school theater, then I started to take part in small productions. As I got older, I got more invested and more excited by it. I was able to do it in a professional capacity, which was super wonderful. This last year has been great. What's interesting about the last three projects that came out this year is that they were actually filmed over the last three years of my life. It may seem to an outsider that this has been a monumental year; it really has been a lot of work and dedication over the years [of filming] And that’s what has gone into what you guys are able to see today. 

“Having the ability to transform into different characters, to different people, and doing a job that you love are things I am super grateful for.”

How were you able to navigate the pandemic, and what kept you busy during all the lockdowns last year? 

A lot of different things kept me busy. Learning about being alone and spending time by myself, reading and writing and watching really good old movies and television shows, being able to connect with and talk to friends that I may not have spoken to in a long while. There are a lot of things that prepared me- a strong family and good people around me.

How do you balance your time, and how do you manage your personal and work life? 

I try to keep a balance. I want to make sure that I dedicate enough time to my friends, family, hobbies, and other important things. But I love my job, and I think it doesn't really feel like you're doing work if you're doing something that you love. 

And here we are talking today! And what's the most valuable lesson that you learned that you always carry with you? 

Nothing is good nor bad. It's just is. You have to live in the moment. Enjoy everything for what it is and enjoy every bit of it because all those little moments that seem hard when you're in them, you end up coming out, and you feel like you've learned something from it, and they affect your life in ways that you might not expect.