Veteran actress Danielle Kennedy chatted about starring in the comedy series “The Burbs” on Peacock.
The synopsis is: Synopsis: Set in present-day suburbia, The ‘Burbs follows a young couple returning to the husband’s childhood home.
Their world is upended when new neighbors move in next door, bringing old secrets of the cul-de-sac to light, and new deadly threats shatter the illusion of their quiet little neighborhood..
Experience in ‘The Burbs’
On her experience in “The Burbs,” she remarked, “My experience was exceptional. Everyone is so talented and committed to the story and to each other.”
“We all gave each other room to create and bring our best game to set everyday. This puts actors at ease and when you feel safe and relaxed you do your best work,” she elaborated.
Playing Agnes in ‘The Burbs’
On playing Agnes, she said, “What I like most about my character Agnes is her confidence and her ‘take no prisoners’ attitude. She does not second guess herself and knows what she wants and how she wants it done.”
“It was fun for me to play with that type of strong intention because in real life it has taken me a long time to get off the people pleasing train and actually step up to the plate and say this is who I am,” she explained.
“Like it or lump it. I found a certain freedom in being Agnes,” she added.
Lessons learned from the screenplay
On the lessons learned from the screenplay, Kennedy stated, “The screenplay taught me an important thing about myself: I can be a villain and people can not like me. They can call me evil and ugly or whatever they choose. The bottom line I know who I am and I have a job to do.”
“People’s opinions are not going to deter me from being me in this moment,” she said.
“It also showed me I have a better sense of humor than I thought I did because I can laugh off the cozy remarks. Again, more freedom,” she added.
Plans for the future
On her plans for the future, she shared, “My plans for the future include more TV, Film and Theater. I am headed to Chicago to do a film later this month.”
“My plans include lots more work. I have a million alter egos I am dying to explore and hope I can stay healthy and play in the sandbox for many more years,” she added.
The digital age
On being an actress in the digital age, Kennedy said, “I like being an actress in the digital age but it presents so many more opportunities with streaming, to tell more stories.”
“People can enjoy all of it in the comfort of their own home and still go out to the theater. Be it live or film. I love all the options. More opportunities equal more opportunities for story telling, and that’s what I do. Help tell stories,” she elaborated.
Advice for young and aspiring actors
For young and emerging actors, she said, “To young and emerging actors: Get yourselves in good acting classes. Learn from the pros. Ask questions. Read everything you can get your hands on. Do live theater. I worked 40 seat houses to 500 seat houses.”
“Get smart on how to audition,” she said. “Take on camera classes too. Find your tribe. Your community of young actors and grow up in the industry together, and forget about fame and fortune.”
“Concentrate on doing the work,” she said. “You have to love the work. Be passionate about it because it is a numbers game and you are going to get a lot of rejections.”
“Don’t take it personal. Rise up. Keep going. Be resilient. It’s a great spiritual lesson for all of life,” she added.
Success
Regarding her definition of the word success, Kennedy said, “Success to me is doing the work. Being in the thick of it. The prep, the actionable part of it be that filming or on stage in live theater.”
“Experiencing that connection in the middle of that mess with other actors,” she said. “Finishing the work and feeling a sense of family. I love the sense of family and creativity that comes together in the process of acting.”
“That is true happiness in the moment and how I describe the success of it,” she noted.
Closing thoughts on ‘The Burbs’
For fans and viewers, Kennedy remarked, “Watch ‘The Burbs.’ Jump in and get to know Hinckley Hills. You’ll laugh, you’ll be deeply curious about who we all are on Ashford Place.”
“Give us a season 2 and go even deeper with us into the mysteries of our town. Love us so much that you will want to follow our shenanigans for years to come. Enter our world and give yourself a break from the heaviness of your real life,” she elaborated.
“The biggest thing I want you to get out of it: anticipation. The anticipation one feels when they can’t wait to turn the page in a good novel or story to see what is going to happen next. We want you to be excited for the next revelation,” she concluded.
To learn more about Danielle Kennedy, follow her on Instagram.
