Page 17 - Real Style Spring 2020

RISING STAR
DAYS OF OUR LIVES STAR VICTORIA KONEFAL TALKS CIARA BRADY, SOAP OPERA FANS, HER UPCOMING ROLE IN THE FILM FOG CITY AND MORE.
VICTORIA KONEFAL first graced our screens in 2016 with a guest role on an episode of Modern Family, and since then she’s moved on to star as Ciara Brady on the soap opera Days of Our Lives. She was even nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Best Younger Actress for the role. Her career is still gaining steam however, and soon she will be seen in the indie horror feature Fog City as the villain. Real Style had a chance to talk with this rising star.
Real Style: You are the third actress to play Ciara Brady on Days of our Lives, have you ever watched any of the episodes the other actresses were in?
Victoria Konefal: I saw a couple of throwback clips of Ciara when she was younger, but I never intentionally studied the other episodes to avoid picking anything up from them subconsciously. I wanted to bring my own flare to the character, and stay true to what I would do as an actress.
RS: What is your relationship like with Kristen Alfonso who plays your mother on the show?
VK: I absolutely adore her. We have a truly special bond. She actually had a huge influence in the casting of the new Ciara, so we had chemistry from the get go. We are both from the East Coast and that has made us even closer. We share a deep love
for chocolate, munchkins and Italian food.
RS: How long did it take for you to mesh with your co-stars?
VK: Everyone was so loving and welcoming from my first day, but
VK: I prefer film, mostly because the experience is much more immersive than filming a show. I find when I’m filming a movie I hardly every pay attention to my real life and I pour all of my focus into the character. It gives me an adrenaline rush. I pour myself into the show
it took a few months for me to
start feeling like I was a part of the family. That also had a lot to do with me feeling comfortable enough on set to be myself. It can take a while to get to know me. I’m very reserved initially, but when the bond forms it’s hard to break.
as much as I can, but because we are filming five days a week year round, it’s impossible for me to drop everything else.
RS: How do you find soap opera fans?
VK: I find them absolutely darling. They are the most intense and dedicated fanbase that I have ever observed, and the fact that they are my fans blow my mind. The love is reciprocated for sure. I wouldn’t be able to do what I love without their support.
RS: What can you tell us about your character in Fog City?
VK: This has been my favorite character to date. I love playing the bad guy. She is deeply troubled,
and her rebellious, vengeful attitude stems from a place of hurt and vulnerability. I find that the key to creating a successful villain is to find the kindness within them. There has to be a likable quality about
RS: Do you have a preference between working in film or for TV?
RS: What made you decide to attend the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts in New York?
her in order for the audience to feel compassion.
RS: Who would you like to work with one day?
VK: Meryl Streep is the first person that comes to mind, but I mean she’s a goddess. I’m sure EVERY actor has a goal of working with her on a film someday. Leonardo DiCaprio has also been on my list since I was a little girl.
VK: I knew from a young age that I was going to be an actress, so every move I made when growing up was catered to helping that dream come true. LaGuardia is one of the most prestigious performing arts schools in the world, and luckily for me
it was located in my hometown. Children move to the city from all over America to attend that school, and there was no way in hell that
I wasn’t going to try. I am very blessed to have grown up in New York City, for my education alone.
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PHOTOS, LEFT: YASMINE KATEB