Holly Taylor Takes A Walk in Brooklyn Heights Fruit Streets
Holly was photographed by Alison Engstrom
Hi Holly! Thank you for taking a walk in New York! Since this installment focused on Brooklyn Heights Fruit Streets, have you ever explored this area before?
Thank you for having me. I’ve never explored this area before so I’m glad this shoot gave me the opportunity to.
What did you like about the area?
I love the architecture of the homes! So much character, which is even further accentuated by the fruity street names.
Since the city has gone through such a hard time period, are there any places (restaurants, cafes, etc) that you love that others should know about?
Some of my favorite places are Amy’s Bread in Hell’s Kitchen, Junior’s, and Aunt Jakes. I have a lot more exploring to do but some of these got me through my days on Broadway.
Since New York has served as a backdrop to some of the projects you have worked on (The Americans!), do you have a favorite moment that could have only happened in New York?
As someone who avoided the city up until a few years ago I don’t have any cool answers for this. All I can think of is seeing rats on a subway platform and people not even reacting. Seems quintessential New York. But I’ve started to embrace the city the past couple years so hopefully I can get back to you with a better answer!
Growing up in Wayne, New Jersey, did the proximity to New York have any influence on your desire to be a performer?
I started telling my parents I was going to be on Broadway when I was 3. So as brazen as that was, I think that having Broadway so close to home made my little brain think it was possible. And it was!
What would you say was a pivotal moment that propelled your carer forward?
Definitely when I booked The Americans. That show changed my life.
You recently graduated from Kean College with a major in Fine Arts in graphic design/interactive advertising. Was it a conscious decision to not study acting/performing and to broaden your creativity and skills/passions?
Yes it was. When I started college, I had already been acting for about 5 or 6 years. I wanted to avoid putting all my eggs in one basket and learn a new skill in case acting didn’t work out. It’s also just nice to have another hobby or career to focus on in the quiet moments between acting jobs.
As I mentioned when shooting, you starred in one of the best shows of all times The Americans. Did you have a favorite episode or season and why?
Thank you! My favorite season was the last season. There was a time jump and big shift in my character’s identity. It was a transformative period for me as a person, and also as an actor. I’m amazed at how our writers and showrunners were able to wrap up the story in such a poignant, truthful, and heart breaking way.
Was it at all hard to close that chapter?
Yes, it was! I was so lucky to be on a show like The Americans. The crew would say all the time how shows like that only come around every 10 years. Not just because of the high quality work, but because of how well our cast and crew got along for six years.
Congratulations on joining the cast of Manifest! Can you talk about how your character Angelina Meyer comes into the plot?
Thank you. My character, Angelina, comes into the plot when Michaela and Zeke rescue her from being held captive by her own parents. She is mentally abused and traumatized so she has a lot of personal problems to work through when the Stone family takes her into their home.
What can viewers, who haven’t tuned in yet, expect from the new season?
I don’t think viewers will ever expect what season 3 holds for them. So much happens and things get pretty dark at the end. It’s an intense season that doesn’t give anyone a second to breathe.
You filmed during the pandemic. How did you find that to be from a creative standpoint?
I was really nervous to shoot through the pandemic because of how it would weaken the usual camaraderie of a set. It was difficult and challenging to navigate, but our cast and crew were so dedicated to getting the best results. My character is also pretty isolated and reclusive anyway so I could use that real life feeling while playing the role.
When it comes to material and your career, what inspires you and pulls you in the most?
What inspires me the most is simple, truthful stories. I love film and TV that really delve into the most seemingly simple relationships and stories, and reveal the complexities that humans create underneath them.
What has been the hardest and easiest parts to navigate in your industry?
The hardest part to navigate has probably been the phoniness that can come with this industry. I’ve been lucky to not come across much of it, but I make a big effort to maintain any authenticity I have no matter what. The easiest part to navigate… a hard question because I feel like all of this does not come naturally to me! But I would say making connections with people on set is the best part of the job.
Are you someone who has a five or ten-year plan on what you would like to accomplish or do you go with the flow and see where life leads you?
In life I generally go with the flow and don’t like planning too far ahead. Especially in this job it’s hard to plan anything at all, which can be exciting!
Do you have any summer plans?
My summer plans as of now are to read, paint, be outside as much as I can, and teach myself piano. Stay tuned to see if I actually do any of those things.
Is there anything else we should be excited about that you have coming up?
A movie I did called Rogue Hostage with Tyrese Gibson and John Malkovich is coming out June 11th! It was the first project I did during the pandemic so it feels like an important historic memory for me.
