Rising actress Sydney Park stars in Netflix’s There’s Someone in Your House. Tatler catches up with the actress about her role, growing up biracial and what’s next for her
Her first venture into the limelight is on America’s Got Talent as Syd the Kid, followed by appearances in various Kid's shows. Then The Walking Dead and Moxie but her big break came when she starred in the Pretty Little Liars spin-off. Rising actress Sydney Park is making sure that she's on your radar.
Recently, she headlines Netflix’s new horror movie, There's Someone in Your House. But there’s also an upcoming movie in the works. Park is booked and busy. Behind her recent dark roles, the Korean and African American actress is all smiles, a charming, talented woman who has captivated many hearts. Coming from a multi-cultural background, she’s not only determined to showcase her acting skills, but also to become a voice of her generation.
Tatler catches up with Park, who looks back at her childhood and experience growing up between two cultures, her notable roles, her newest movie and what’s next for her.
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You have such a multi-cultural background being Korean and African American based in Los Angeles. Did you ever have any identity crisis growing up?
I think for me, it was more challenging being in school with other kids who didn’t fully understand my background, on top of the added pressure of growing up in the entertainment industry where they didn’t get me either. Not necessarily being “Black enough” or “Asian enough” was weird. I’ve always been proud of where I come from though. I love how the world around us is changing and growing to be more accepting.
Do you have memories or have spent time in Africa or in South Korea?
I haven’t been to either. My goal is to travel to both places as soon as I can! I’m so excited to go home.
Did you ever feel like you have to conform to one part of your culture, like you had to identify being one or the other?
My father, who is Korean, really embraces Black culture and was always drawn to it when he was a little boy. When he married my mom it was a big deal for his family but not a surprise to him. I’ve always identified more with being Black, but both of my parents made sure to include Korean culture in the household, even though my dad lost most of it when he moved to New York as a baby. I’m on this journey to reconnect with my Asian side and it's been an enlightening journey for me.
Being biracial, what were some of the challenges that you faced growing up and how did that shape you to be the person you are today?
It was tricky being physically ambiguous to other people. I’ve learned to embrace peoples’ confusion! I don’t get offended when someone tries to guess my race. I actually love it. Every culture has a place here and has something to offer. This life has taught me to hold my head high, despite the setbacks. I see myself as a force, not someone’s checklist!
What moment in your life did you decide that you wanted to pursue acting?
This is kind of crazy but there is a video of me at three years old that my dad recorded on our VHS. My mom and I would do these hilarious “mock interviews” and I’d pretend to be various musicians, including my favourite Alicia Keys. In this particular video, I was just being my sassy self. I turned to my mom and said, “I want to be on that TV”. I was always charismatic as a kid! I couldn’t sit still.
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