Paige Hurd Takes A Walk in Dumbo’s Waterfront District
Paige Hurd, who you can catch in Power Book II: Ghost and The Oval, takes a walk in Dumbo’s iconic waterfront district. Normally based in Los Angeles, we chatted about what she has come to love about working in New York, how her career began and how she is enjoying being exactly where she is.
Interview and Photography by Alison Engstrom. Paige was styled by Britt Theodora.
Hair by Monae Everett; makeup by Rebecca Restrepo
Paige is wearing a Dorothee Schumacher jacket and jeans; earrings by Bondeye Jewelry; shoes by Sarah Flint; trench coat by Frame.
Hi Paige, thank you so much for taking A Walk In New York! Since you are normally based in LA, had you ever been to the Dumbo waterfront before?
Right before I started shooting, one of my cast mates showed me the area, so I had probably walked around there once or twice before.
Whenever I bike or walk over here, I always feel so small as compared to the city landscape and two bridges. What did you like about it?
I like the piers and how they have the different things for people to play sports and things like that. I love how you have all of those areas of grass where you can picnic and it’s great because you have space to sit.
What do you love most about being in New York?
I am going to be honest, at first, I really didn’t like it, it’s really intimidating. My mom is from there so she was so excited, but I was freaking out because there is so much to get through, it’s a very fast-paced life. I’m not sure what happened or what switched but during covid, I started to really like it. I am really into walking around. I went to the gym one day and I ended up walking home; it ended up being an hour and a half—I walked over the Brooklyn Bridge and it was just nice. I like that aspect of it. Everything in LA is so far apart because we have our cars. I really enjoyed the outdoor dining as well.
Do you have any favorite spots that you have discovered?
There is this place called The Cabin NYC—it’s one East 4th Street—their brunch is to die for. I also love Blue Ribbon Sushi in SoHo.
Before we begin, I have to ask, while I was photographing you, a couple of fans drove by got out of their car screaming and wanted to take a photograph with you, which you so kindly obliged. Does that happen more and more these days?
Yes and it’s actually been really fun and nice. You get people who are really respectful and kind—I am always down to take a picture or to talk to people if I feel it’s in a way that’s respectful. That was really funny too because I knew exactly what was happening.
At first, I thought They were your friends! To back track for a minute, was there a film, TV show or performer that really left an indelible impression on you growing up where you thought, I want that to be me one day?
No, I like to be really honest; there was nothing that made me want to perform; I think just doing it from the young age that I started doing it that it came so naturally to me. I loved doing it. But my mom put me in acting when I was four years old. I started in Texas; we moved to New York for a summer and then we moved out to LA.
Since you got your start when you were quite young, how has it been to grow up in front of the camera? Is working and being on a set where you feel the most comfortable?
I definitely had to grow into it; there was a lot of trial and error, for me to be as comfortable and as nonchalant as I am now. As a kid, I feel like I have seen a lot more than normal kids. I’ve experienced a lot, I have had nice directors, mean directors and I’ve been yelled at—all of those things have shaped me into knowing how to be a professional, even still at a young age, because I am very young.
Was there a moment along the way where you told yourself that you would be doing this as your Professional career?
The moment is now! Right before booking Power Book II: Ghost and my other TV show, The Oval, I had a really long dry spell, when actors don’t work for quite sometime. It was like, alright, I don’t know what I am going to do with myself and maybe I was just a child actor. But now, I am starting to feel like, okay, this is what I am meant to do and it is going to take its time. I think the phrase is, time will take its course.
In ‘Power Book II: Ghost’, you star as Lauren, can you share more about your role in the series?
Lauren is a young girl at Tariq’s college, who advocates for African American students being in the class. She is passionate and really driven with her studies and super focused. I think she is going to become a friend to Tariq and help him stay on track because he has so much going on in his ‘other life’. She just wants to help him; it’s very innocent. She has no idea what is going on, so she is just there for him in the way that she can be.
How did this project come to you?
It was very last minute—I was so excited because Power is one of my favorite shows, so I was just excited to have an audition period. I remember walking out of my audition thinking, that was just terrible, I was like, you really ruined it for yourself, great job! Then I got the call saying I got the job and that was a crazy moment. It was probably one of my favorite moments in 2019.
Isn’t it crazy how hard we are on ourselves, when we need not be?
For sure and it’s always the time when you are doing better than you think!
Is there a dream role or collaborator that you would love to work with one day?
Dream collaboration would be anything with Angelina Jolie—I love her to death. I love drama, so maybe something more dark to tap into those emotions. I also think a really dope comedy would be great too because that would challenge me. I think I am naturally funny but when it comes to acting funny, it’s a bit hard.
I know you said you are a homebody and like to stay at home. Do you have any rituals to help you unwind after a long day?
Honestly, I like to just chill because everything is so busy. I like to just stay home; I like reality TV. I love being with my dog, hiking—outdoor things—and working out. Anything with a routine, I am into it.
Can you share anything else that you are working on?
The second part of season one of Power Book II: Ghost will be out in December. We will start filming season two soon. You can look forward to season two of The Oval, which is coming out soon too. Then I am auditioning and seeing what comes next.
