Anyone who’s toiled at university knows planting your head in those books can be taxing. But imagine coupling your studies with a burgeoning film and TV career. Well, Siena Agudong won’t need to, as the 17-year-old, currently starring in Netflix’s blockbuster video-game adaptation Resident Evil, has recently accepted a place at the prestigious university NYU, no-less.

The grisly but addictive Resident Evil, set between 2022 and 2036, sees Agudong play a young Billie Wesker, a 14-year-old whose world is indelibly changed when a virus rips through the human population, leaving a meagre 15 million humans living, with another 6 billion now virus, infected-zombies on the go.

As she discusses below, Billie was a demanding role to take on, however, despite still being in the thick of her teenage years, Agudong’s got a pretty storied back catalogue of projects and experience behind her, including a part in Fast and Furious 9 and lead turns in Disney’s Upside-Down Magic and Netflix’s No Good Nick. So, if she brings the same energy to class as her acting endeavours, we have a feeling NYU will be a breeze.

We managed to catch Siena for a chat all about killing the acting game and embarking on a new chapter at university. Head below to read our interview…

Hi Siena! How are you? How has this past year been for you?
Hi! This past year has been so exciting. I feel like I have spent the beginning of 2022 preparing myself for the big changes coming later this year. I am so proud of my new project, Resident Evil, and excited for the world to see it.

Let’s go back to the beginning, how did you first get into acting?
I got the acting bug when I was 6 years old. I first started out doing theatre and worked at a diner and a show every Wednesday performing as Ngana in South Pacific at the Kaua’i Beach Resort. My now manager, Susie Mains came to Kaua’i to do an acting workshop when I was around 7-years-old. I connected with her afterwards to ask for some advice on how to get started. She said, “If you are serious, come to LA and meet me there.” My supportive family did exactly that and flew both my sister, Sydney and me out to LA in order to pursue both of our dreams in the industry. The week I flew out to LA, I was picked up by AEFH Talent, and a few months later, booked a recurring role in an ABC show called Killer Women.

You were born and raised in Hawaii, what was it like growing up there? Do you have a favourite thing to do in Hawaii?
I am so proud to be from Hawai’i. I feel so close to my culture. I think the best part about being born and raised on an island, is the morale and values you learn to carry with you. Hawai’i and my family have always taught me to never take things for granted, whether that is land, people, or opportunity. I think my favourite thing to do back home is to go with my family and just drive to a random spot on the island to watch the sunset. We usually pick up an acai bowl or a coffee and blast music on the way.

So far you’ve been in Fast and Furious 9, and the lead on Disney’s Upside-Down Magic and No Good Nick. Do you ever find yourself pausing and reflecting on how amazing your career has been so far?
I feel so incredibly blessed for the opportunities I have been given and all of the wonderful people I have met along the way. I hold my set families so close to my heart. I never want to take my blessings for granted and I think it is always so tricky to find a balance between pride and humility in your career. Since I was young, I always felt most comfortable downplaying my career out of fear that not doing so meant that I wasn’t humble. I am learning that a healthy career means that I can be proud of myself while also acknowledging that there is room to grow (as an individual and an actress). I am also so grateful for Hawai’i and my family because I found that going back home is the best way to ground myself.

You’re now starring in Netflix’s Resident Evil. How does it feel knowing the world is finally seeing this project?
I truly am really proud of working on Resident Evil. It was something entirely new for me as an actress and it was the most challenging role I have taken on so far. I grew and learned so much. To be a part of such a well-known and loved franchise is both humbling and nerve-wracking because you want to do justice to it for the fans. I am so excited to be a part of the Resident Evil world with this new series as it expands fans’ perspectives and dives deep into the family secrets of the Wesker Family.

What is your initial process when preparing for the role? Were there any rituals you undertook?
As I mentioned earlier, playing Billie was, by far, the most challenging role I have taken on. Billie gets infected and goes through a dramatic and heart-wrenching rollercoaster of mental and physical pain. There are only a few scenes in episode one where she is in a “normal” or “healthy” state. In preparation for this role, it was really important to me to strive for authenticity and reach these deep places without leaving a piece of me on set. In other words, I wanted to pour my soul into this role while also being mindful of my mental health outside of the character. I found myself confusing the character’s emotions for my own because would take some time to get out her mindset in some scenes. Ultimately, I learned that there is no preparation for a role like this. I’ve found the most freedom in a scene is when I let go. I had to forget everything I know and just “be.” Prior to Resident Evil, I was scared of emotional scenes because I had such a stigma on how these scenes should look. This project taught me how important it is to take a deep breath and just, quite literally, “feel.”

Congratulations on being accepted into NYU, also! Have you got any pre-semester nerves, or are you mainly excited?
Thank you so much! I am so incredibly honoured to be attending NYU this fall. I got the acceptance letter in the car and I started screaming before I even told my family the reason for my sudden burst of excitement, lol. I am nervous about the change in lifestyle and surroundings but that is exactly why I am also equally excited.

Tell us about the process of applying to a demanding college and balancing an acting career? Does it ever get overwhelming?
I am still in the process of figuring out how I will balance college and my career but I am looking forward to establishing relationships with my professors and continuing to audition. It is so important to me to get a degree while also pursuing my career. Finding that balance between school and work can get overwhelming, but I have a great support system from my family and team.

You of course have so many exciting things going on at the moment, but what is one of the things you are most looking forward to next?
I am shooting a movie next month which I am very thrilled about. I am really looking forward to being back on set and taking on another character that is drastically different from the last. I feel very grateful and excited to meet my new set family soon!