Culture
K
a: t, Skirt: y, Boots: Dior
K: O
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B, r, i. a, n. ",, really little, B," l. "a, z"
e, r. ",. in the corner by myself," S. i. She began studying martial arts at the age of five, a discipline that would later shape her approach to life and career. "There is still always some kind of art in sport," she explained. "What's really the difference between that and dancing when it comes down to it?"
In her formative years, O'Brian's family played a crucial role in nurturing her talents. "My mom always encouraged my creativity. She wanted me to be a comedian," she recalled. Music also became an integral part of her life, as she mastered percussion and later delved into songwriting and rhythm guitar. "I've been a karaoke champion," she joked. "But drums were really my thing."
After earning a psychology degree at Indiana University Bloomington, O'Brian's path took an unexpected turn. She served as a police officer for seven years, specializing in crisis intervention. While the job offered stability, she yearned for a more creative outlet. Eventually, she took the leap to Los Angeles to pursue acting, a decision that marked a pivotal turning point in her life.
Her journey to Hollywood wasn't without challenges, and she initially navigated the industry's stereotypes. "I knew that my way into the industry was going to be through some kind of physical role," she explained. Her background in martial arts and law enforcement often led to her being typecast. "People would think, 'Katy would be a great person for this tough, military-esque character.' But there are a lot of other sides to me."
Despite these challenges, O'Brian has carved out a unique space for herself in the entertainment industry. She's known for standout performances in shows like The Walking Dead, Black Lightning, Thiab The Mandalorian. In her recent role as Jackie, an '80s-era bodybuilder in Love Lies Bleeding, she found the perfect opportunity to showcase her range. "Love Lies Bleeding felt so right," she said. "It was freeing because no one really was like, 'You have to do it this way.' There was a lot of trust in the process."
Reflecting on the role, she added, "The character was just so well written, and the story was so interesting and unique. I felt very bonded to that character. It kind of was easy in that way. The only challenging thing was I had to do cardio—and that was annoying!"
Beyond her professional accomplishments, O'Brian's personal journey has been one of self-discovery and empowerment. When asked about advice for her younger self, nws tau hais txog qhov tseem ceeb ntawm kev tawm tswv yim rau nws tus kheej. "Tsis txhob yig los lees koj tus ciam teb thiab tiv thaiv koj tus kheej," she said. Ib qho kev nco zoo nkauj tseem nyob nrog nws-ib qho kev kawm thaum ntxov-kev ua haujlwm thaum nws xav tias raug yuam rau hauv qhov xwm txheej pheej hmoo ntawm kev teeb tsa. "Kuv tau tawm tsam ntawm qhov teeb meem tshwj xeeb no, tab sis kuv tau pom zoo hnav cov khau no txawm tias paub tias lawv tsis muaj kev nyab xeeb. Thawj qhov kev sim, Kuv tawg kuv pob taws. Xya xyoo tom qab, nws tseem mob. Nws yog qhov kev ceeb toom tas li kom muab kev nyab xeeb ua ntej thiab lees paub kuv tus kheej."
Tsho: AKNVAS
Tam sim no, raws li nws puag ntau zuj zus thiab xav tau lub luag haujlwm, O'Brian txoj haujlwm ua piv txwv txog qhov tseem ceeb ntawm kev ua siab ntev thiab nyob twj ywm rau nws tus kheej. Nws qhov kev txawj ntse hauv kev sib txuas ntawm lub cev nrog qhov tsis muaj zog txawv nws hauv kev lag luam uas feem ntau sim faib cov neeg ua yeeb yam nqaim. "Muaj qhov kev ua yeeb yam ntawm kev ua yeeb yam, and then there's the business side. You have to play the game a little bit, but you also have to stay true to yourself."
Through her roles and her voice, Katy O'Brian continues to inspire others to embrace their multifaceted identities and pursue their passions unapologetically. "It's not about fitting into someone else's idea of who you should be," she said. "It's about becoming the truest version of yourself."
Photography: Erik Carter
Fashion Editor: Oliver Vaughn
Hair and Makeup: Cassandra Paige
Styling Assistant: Kallie Collett