An Interview with Reginae Carter from ‘Kold x Windy’

Photo of Reginae Carter Courtesy of ALLBLK.

Reginae Carter is a rising star in Hollywood, and in recent years has graced our multiplex and our televisions with her dynamic talent as an actor. Currently, she stars as Miss 290, one half of the Drill Group, K-Town, on Kold x Windy on ALLBLK, and we here at NTG had the honor of sitting down with Reginae to discuss her season two experience!
 
John Betancourt: Obviously, since we last talked, some big things have happened for you. Acting is now your focus, which is great, and you're everywhere on TV and film now, which is just phenomenal to see for you. But I'm curious to know what it was that called to you, first and foremost about acting.
 
Reginae Carter: Well, I've always wanted to act since I was a little girl, like That’s So Raven was, like, one of my favorite shows. Like, I honestly auditioned for it and everything. Like, I loved acting. I used to be in like, acting schools and have acting classes, so I've always wanted to act, but I didn't start getting, like, more serious to it, until I turned, like, 17-18, and that's when I did my first movie, Pride and Prejudice: Atlanta. And that's when I was like, “Okay, I like this. I love that I can tap into different characters. I love that I can work with, like legends. I love that all of this stuff is happening”, and, yeah, it was a blessing.
 
John Betancourt: Now what was it that attracted you to the role of Miss 290?
 
Reginae Carter: Well, I actually narrated season one, like did, like a story time narration on it the first season, and they called me back a year later and was like, “We want you on that.” And I'm like, “Well, sure, like, I had already watched the season one,” so I'm like, “I actually love this.” So, when they gave me my character, I'm like, “Oh my gosh. And I could be a rapper, not just in my mirror at home.” So, I'm like, “Okay, cool. Like, this is fun.” So, I just study all my all my favorite like female rappers and stuff, and became Miss 290.
 
John Betancourt: Now that I did not know. So, something new for me to learn today, and since you’re clearly deeply intertwined with the show, what do you love about it?
 
Reginae Carter: I feel like the show is very relatable. Um, especially with new artists nowadays, where they're coming from, a different background and different like, I feel like nowadays, with TikTok, with just everything, you can come up overnight, like you never know when your spot is gonna get taken, or when you might have competition, or whatever the case. So, I feel like the show is very relatable with saying Kold and Windy felt like they were gonna be on top for a minute, and nobody was gonna come in their way, where it's like, oh no, K-Town is here. So, what y'all gonna do?
 
John Betancourt: Speaking of that, actually, I do want to dive a little bit further into that, because this show has just been just a phenomenon. I mean, you see it on social media, people love it. You love it, so, I'm curious what you think makes this show resonate with audiences so well.
 
Reginae Carter: Well, like I said, I feel like people can relate to it, where it's like, sometimes it's hard to give up something that you've been dealing with or going through your whole life, to want something better for yourself, or to get to going to a different route. Whereas I feel like that's what Kold and Windy is kind of going through. They've been doing stains, robbing, doing all of this for years, where it's like, listen, though you got a chance to be one of the biggest like, y'all are one of the biggest groups, but you can't be on the news killing people at the same time. So, like, I feel like people can relate to that, where it's like, not as extreme, but certain things, you gotta give up one thing to get better.
 
John Betancourt: Now something I love about this show, is how every character is so incredibly realistic, and I’m curious how you made Miss 290 feel so real?
 
Reginae Carter: Well, like I say, I feel like everybody kind of kind of knows how it is to be like a female rapper, you know, the looks, the sexiness, the this, the that. So, I feel like I channeled that with also being from Chicago, being from the west side of Chicago. I have a lot of friends that's from Chicago, so they helped me with that. So, when I first found out about me being Miss 290 from the west side of Chicago. Um, I hit up my friends, and I was like, “Okay, what is it like? How? What they like? What do they say? How? How should I say this word?” Like, they helped me a lot with that So, I brought that person where, so you can relate to me, but I'm also hungry. I want this, like, and with Mae West, you can see the difference between us two, where it's like, I feel like she's like, a little bit more cooler than me, like nicer than me, but we're still on one thing, and that's taking over. And also, I studied a lot of female rappers, like Latto, The City Girls, like different things like that. So, I can become that artist too. There's a lot of studying going on, just so I could become Miss 290.
 
John Betancourt: Now, obviously you're aware of the phenomenon this show is, coming into this was there any pressure for you in joining this cast and joining a show that's so important?
 
Reginae Carter: Well, honestly, I don’t walk into a room thinking that it's pressure, but I feel like, as far as it already being a show, they already had their cast. Of course, I was like, “Hmm, how am I going to fit in? Probably, I don't know how that's going to be,” but… fit right in. Everybody was super cool. Everybody was super welcoming. It felt like a family. It felt like I was on the first season. So yeah, I really enjoyed the cast and the production and everybody on set.
 
John Betancourt: As a follow up to that, what has been the most satisfying aspect of this role for you?
 
Reginae Carter: I actually like that people are randomly telling me that they're seeing me on it, like, and then just different things. Like, I feel like a lot of people don't really – now that I'm acting more. I did Boxed In, I did my Libra movies, Boxed In one, Boxed in Two. And like, now they're kind of seeing me. So just to add another accomplishment, and people are actually like, “Oh, I love you on Kold x Windy, I can't wait to see what y'all do.” Like it's kind of giving people that… “what will happen next,” and I love that.
 
John Betancourt: Something else I've always enjoyed about this series is that it does kind of play in in both the light and the dark. It's very much a gray area show. Now, so far, your character hasn't had as much of that. But clearly there's still some of that desire to get into some of that darker part of the world with Drill as it is. I've always been curious for actors, does any of is it hard to differentiate, or hard to differentiate, hard to pull away from some of that dark material when you leave for the day?
 
Reginae Carter: Honestly, I feel like… I know with reality TV, it's helped me to like, say, for instance, when a camera is on, like, um, that's when you it's time to say, what you got to say, do, what you got to do. Like, for instance, like, when I'm that character, I come in that character, as soon as I get on set, like, that's where I'm at, but when I leave, that is my life, like, I know I'm not that character anymore. I don't take that home. And I also read about, like, the Joker or something. So, I really am big on, like, not kind of becoming my character, out of the scene, or off of set.
 
John Betancourt: If I can follow up on that a little bit further, because I'm it's always a great opportunity to talk to actors and just learn their process. So how then do you shut it off so easily?
 
Reginae Carter: Sometimes it's not always easy. I'm still learning how to because, especially, like when I was in Chicago, okay, I was coming home talking like I was from Chicago, they was like, “hold up, girl!” (Laughs) Like, sometimes, you know, it's kind of like, you gotta get it, but as long as it's not for the bad, like, it's nothing, being the character all day, like, hey, if you want to, if you feel like you killed that scene, and you want to do it all night, till you go to sleep, there's nothing wrong with it, until it's like you just being rude to people, or you're being mean, or it's like, I don't know, I feel like it's all in the energy that you give towards that scene or that character.
 
John Betancourt: It’s also quite impressive how everyone in this series is searching for something, searching for more. What would you say Miss 290 is searching for in this series?
 
Reginae Carter: Um, I feel like really, really showing that we have a drive. We're hungry for this. Like, we're actually in music, we're putting our all into this. Yeah, we from Chicago. We… we probably did some stuff. Maybe, you all never know. I don't know what's going on there but stay tuned. But as far as right now, I feel like, we’re those girls where it's like, we're different from Kold and Windy, and they see that, and they're like, “Hold up, what's going on?” And then we're also stepping on their toes. As far as probably like, working with the same people, so it's like, hold up. Now we're in the same room as them, what's going on? And I love that, because it's like, we're waking them up.
 
John Betancourt: What does it mean to you both personally and as an actor, to be part of a show that is this unique and this important?
 
Reginae Carter: It means it a lot, first of all, to be on ALLBLK where you know, it's promoting and honoring my people, black people, and also just giving people a chance. I love that Kold x Windy has a lot of new faces too. But that cast is, like, amazing. I've seen so many, like, so many scenes where I'm like, “Oh my gosh, she went really deep in this,” like, I love that. I'm also learning from them as actors and actresses as well. And I feel like we've been watching certain shows for so many years. Kold x Windy, is that new show that I feel like we'll have multiple seasons as well.
 
John Betancourt: Speaking of its importance, it does have a lot of messages in it as well, what’s the message you hope audiences take away from season two?
 
Reginae Carter: Um, it's a lot of things to take away from Kold x Windy season two, just like, say, for instance, like with your health. You know, I know Kold and Windy’s, Auntie or the lady that raised them, like your health, just like being more into your health. The music industry, always like being hungry, but never getting too big headed and humble yourself, staying humble, because you never know who will be the next person that may take your spot. You never know, like, so be humble. Keep working. Never feel discouraged.
 
John Betancourt: With season two out now, what are you most excited for audiences to experience?
 
Reginae Carter: I feel like I'm most excited for our audience to see -- I feel like the main question is, what is like, who is K town? Like, what are they about to do? Like, I really feel like it's going to be left off where it's like, “Oh, wait. They probably about to give them a run for their money.” And I feel like people are probably about to start choosing sides or figuring out, like, you know, this is when it's that time where it's like, “Oh, we're coming over. We're taking over,” and Kold and Windy, they not going for that. I don't know. They probably gonna kill us. (Laughter from Reginae and John.) Yeah, no, I'm just super excited. And hopefully there is Season Three with me on it.
 
John Betancourt: The last question that I have for you today, what are you most proud of when it comes to your work this season?
 
Reginae Carter: I'm always proud for people to see my craft and see what I'm doing like every project that I do, every movie, every series I love, like my growth from one to another. I love to see myself, to study myself, to also critique myself, what I'll do better next time. Because I'm my biggest, like, you know, supporter, and also, I'm gonna be, I'm honest with myself too. So, it's like I'm not in denial about anything. I'm very hard on myself, but not that hard. Like I feel like I'm very realistic with myself, I would say.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. Stream All Episodes of 'Kold x Windy' at allblk.tv.

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