Inspirational Women In Hollywood: How Actress Aja Naomi King Of Women of Worth Is Helping To Shake Up The Entertainment Industry

…There are so many issues I’ve learned more about thanks to this incredible program and the women’s initiatives. If I could impact universal basic income, global healthcare access, climate action, quality education, mental health awareness — there are so many things that can increase quality of life and happiness. But sometimes I think our lives need more play and more time. I used to think about day camps for adults, like summer camps. Being outside, in the open air, is good for mental health. Maybe you’d make new friends, new connections, build better communities, and be with one another instead of being so isolated. Something like that…

I had the pleasure of talking with Aja Naomi King. Aja has established herself as a distinguished actress in American cinema and television. She is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting, followed by a Master of Fine Arts from Yale University’s School of Drama in 2010. Her education at Yale, where she performed in productions such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Little Shop of Horrors, and Angels in America, laid a solid foundation for her future in acting. Following her graduation, King spent several years in New York City, working as a waitress while auditioning for roles, a period that shaped her resilience and dedication to her craft.

King’s early career featured several short films and guest appearances on television shows like Blue Bloods and Person of Interest. Her breakthrough came in 2012 when she was cast as Cassandra Kopelson in the CW’s medical comedy-drama series Emily Owens, M.D. Although the series was short-lived, it opened doors for King, leading to roles in independent films such as Four and Reversion. Her performance in Four earned her and her castmates a Los Angeles Film Festival Award for Best Performance by Cast.

In 2014, King landed a recurring role on the ABC medical drama Black Box. That same year, she was cast as Michaela Pratt in the ABC legal thriller How to Get Away with Murder, produced by Shonda Rhimes. The show, which starred Viola Davis, received critical acclaim and solidified King’s place in the television industry. Her portrayal of Pratt earned her a nomination for the NAACP Image Award and brought her widespread recognition.

King’s film career gained momentum with her role in the historical drama The Birth of a Nation (2016), where she played Cherry Turner. The film, which depicted the 1831 slave rebellion led by Nat Turner, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and received positive reviews. King’s performance was particularly praised, earning her a spot on Variety’s list of “Biggest Breakthrough Performances” at Sundance. Her subsequent film roles include the biographical drama A Girl from Mogadishu (2019), the romantic comedy Boxing Day (2021), and supporting roles in The Upside (2017) and Sylvie’s Love (2020).

In addition to her acting career, King has been a prominent face in modeling and brand endorsements. She was the face of Olay’s fall 2015 advertising campaign and became a spokesperson for L’Oréal Paris in 2017. Her association with L’Oréal Paris extended to their philanthropic initiative, Women of Worth, where she serves on the judging panel, helping to recognize and empower women leaders in non-profit sectors.

King’s advocacy work with L’Oréal Paris’s Women of Worth initiative reflects her commitment to social impact. The program honors 10 women each year who have made significant contributions to their communities through grassroots efforts. King has spoken passionately about the importance of these women’s work, which spans diverse issues such as disability empowerment, voter mobilization, and combating human trafficking.

Her involvement in the Women of Worth initiative highlights her dedication to supporting women and fostering positive change. King’s own journey, from a young girl in Walnut, California, with dreams of performing, to a celebrated actress and advocate, underscores her resilience and commitment to her passions. Her personal story is marked by significant milestones, such as a pivotal phone call from Angela Bassett, who offered her advice and encouragement as she embarked on her acting career. This moment of mentorship profoundly impacted King, instilling in her the value of generosity and the importance of giving back.

As she continues to advance her career, King remains dedicated to her craft and her advocacy. Her recent work includes a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role in the Apple TV+ miniseries Lessons in Chemistry (2023). Beyond her professional achievements, King’s influence extends to her efforts in mentoring young women and supporting initiatives that drive social change.

Yitzi: Thank you so much for joining us Aja. Before we dive in deep, our readers would love to learn about your personal origin story. Can you share the story of your childhood and how you grew up?

Aja: Yes. Well, I grew up in Walnut, California, a beautiful little city that’s part of LA County. It’s like Pleasantville — a suburb and it’s gorgeous. I grew up feeling safe and happy, with that “come inside when the streetlights come on” sort of childhood. I have two amazing little sisters. When I think about my childhood, it always felt like a fun adventure, playing imaginary games in our backyard and pretending to be warrior princesses. It was all about enjoying life and the innocence and fun of being a child.

My father would always tell us a bunch of ridiculous made-up stories about how he and my mom met. They were always really funny, and I think that planted in me the idea of telling or sharing stories for entertainment because he was just so good at it. I wanted to be able to do that too. In elementary, junior high, and high school, I always enjoyed theater clubs, putting on plays, and singing with the choir. It was clear that performing and entertaining was in my blood. It always felt uniquely special to me to bring joy to people in that way.

I was lucky enough to go to UC Santa Barbara, where they had a theater program. I auditioned, got in, and had a wonderful experience there. It was there that I learned about graduate school for acting. I didn’t know that existed. I thought, “I could continue to do this!” I was lucky enough to get into the Yale Grad Acting Program after college, which was life-changing. It was pivotal in terms of witnessing what is possible when you put a collective of artists together and allow them to create to the fullest of their imagination. I was so inspired by every single one of my classmates, their generosity of spirit, and their artistry. It was always fun and incredible.

Then I graduated and entered the real world. I moved to New York after grad school and had many wonderful auditioning opportunities. But I wanted more. That greed of youth where you just want to do the thing you love, you’re so passionate about it, and you can’t get enough. Eventually, I was lucky enough to book TV shows, even though I always thought I would do more work in theater. It went the complete other way, and I ended up getting cast on TV shows, which skyrocketed my career. I have no regrets, even though I would still like to do a play again. My career evolved wonderfully.

I guess I sort of skipped the part where, even though I always enjoyed performing, I originally thought I was going to go to med school and be a doctor because I wanted the safety and certainty that came with that. In high school, I had a devastating realization that there was nothing else I could do with my life other than pursue acting. Luckily, it has turned out so incredibly well for me. I’m just utterly grateful and happy for the experiences I’ve had and the people I’ve worked alongside. That’s my background in a long-ish, short-ish nutshell.

Yitzi: Is there a person who made a profound impact on your life? If so, could you share a story about that?

Aja: Honestly, there’s a long list of people who have made profound impacts on my life. But if I had to pick one, it was kind of a one-off situation. My mom somehow knew a friend of Angela Bassett. When I got accepted into Yale, this friend told Angela, and Angela Bassett decided to call me on my cell phone before I started school at Yale.

When the call came in, it was an unknown number, so I didn’t pick up. Then I heard the message: “This is Angela.” My mind was blown. I couldn’t believe she was calling me. She called back and spent about 30 minutes giving me advice. It was a moment I will never forget. At the time, I was just some kid about to go to grad school. Here was this big star, this incredible woman whose work I loved and enjoyed my entire life, taking the time to call a perfect stranger to give them advice about going to school. That act of giving was so beautiful, profound, and generous. I’ve always been deeply touched by it.

Her advice to me is something I’ve carried with me in all the work I’ve done. She told me to always be open — to exploring the character to the fullest and to the collaboration. The time she shared with me was impactful. It made me want to give someone else that gift of time and advice. Whether you’re going to school, coming out of school, auditioning, or maybe just booking a show, you’re worth spending 30 minutes to talk to. You’re worthy of a conversation and connection. I try to pay it forward, giving others the same gift she gave to me.

Yitzi: Can you share with us the exciting projects you’re working on now, and any exciting social impact causes you’re involved with?

Aja: One of the most impactful and wonderful things I’m involved with, thanks to being a brand ambassador with L’Oréal Paris, is being part of the judging panel for their Women of Worth initiative. On September 4, L’Oréal Paris USA will announce their 2024 Women of Worth honorees. Being on this judging panel and learning about the tremendous work these women are doing in their communities on a grassroots level has been profound and enjoyable. It’s amazing to know there are extraordinary people out there committed to making a wonderful impact in the lives of others.

I’m so excited because this partnership and collaboration create significant opportunities for these 10 incredible women, who are nonprofit leaders and true changemakers. They are granted $25,000 to fuel and enhance their endeavors, along with mentorship and increased visibility to heighten their impact. I’m really grateful that I get to play a small role in selecting the 10 honorees for the 2024 class. These organizations cover a wide range of issues, from dealing with food waste and food insecurity to helping domestic violence survivors flee abuse. It’s wonderful to learn about these programs, and I know others will be excited to learn about the impact they can have and how they can participate. I love what L’Oréal Paris does in partnering with these women and giving them a global platform.

Yitzi: Do you have any particular anecdotes about the selection process? Give us an insight into what it was like behind the scenes.

Aja: Yeah, behind the scenes, it’s really hard. L’Oréal Paris works with Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service. There’s such a thorough vetting process because so much is invested in each honoree. We want to make sure everything is above board and that we’re truly recognizing impactful work.

Learning about the women’s impact on both smaller and larger scales and how this relationship can help broaden their access is a big part of the process. But the main thing from behind the scenes is how hard it is every year to only select 10 honorees. For me, that’s really inspiring because it shows just how much wonderful work is being done by these incredible women. We all get to learn about them, and it’s amazing to see the breadth of their contributions.

Yitzi: Is there a particular woman or initiative that resonated with you strongly?

Aja: Oh, truly, that’s so hard because I love all of them. But one that really stands out to me is Hilary Cohen, the founder of Everyday Action. She’s worked hard to address Hollywood’s food waste on film and TV sets. I’ve seen this firsthand — there’s so much food, and it’s essential to feed the crews and actors, but we can’t just let what doesn’t get consumed go to waste. Hilary realized this and found a way to redistribute the leftover food.

With food insecurity being such a pressing issue, especially with the industry being slower due to strikes, many families have been hit hard. Seeing someone take action to ensure this food goes to those in need is incredible. I really connected with this initiative because I’ve witnessed the food waste firsthand, and I’m grateful for Hilary’s brilliance in tackling this problem.

Yitzi: So based on all of your experience, if a young woman came to you and said, “Aja, I’d love for you to mentor me on leading a social impact initiative,” what advice would you give?

Aja: I would say that what I’ve learned from these women is that many of them faced common stumbling blocks for nonprofits, like lack of funding and awareness. You can’t let that deter you. Whatever little bit you can do, however great or small, don’t be overwhelmed. Sometimes we get overwhelmed and stop ourselves from even starting because we feel like if it can’t be at a certain level, we shouldn’t do it at all. That mindset is a huge detriment.

Many nonprofits, especially at the grassroots level, start in homes, communities, and local levels where there isn’t funding or awareness. It’s a door-to-door initiative of getting the people in your community involved and saying, “I see you, I hear you, I want to help you. Let’s work together and figure something out.” Starting small and building from there is crucial.

Yitzi: Aja, because of the platform that you’ve built and your phenomenal work, you’re a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?

Aja: God, that is so hard. There are so many issues I’ve learned more about thanks to this incredible program and the women’s initiatives. If I could impact universal basic income, global healthcare access, climate action, quality education, mental health awareness — there are so many things that can increase quality of life and happiness. But sometimes I think our lives need more play and more time.

I used to think about day camps for adults, like summer camps. Being outside, in the open air, is good for mental health. Maybe you’d make new friends, new connections, build better communities, and be with one another instead of being so isolated. Something like that.

Yitzi: Aja, thank you so much for this fantastic interview. I wish you continued success and hope we can do this again next year.

Aja: Thank you. Thank you for your time. I really appreciate it.