A mere few weeks ago, the official trailer for B**** A**, the highly anticipated slasher picture, finally dropped. And while most of us watched through closed fingers as the blood-drenched clips of carnage began to unfold, there was another feature of the clip that caught our eye — the footage of the Houston, Texas native, Kelsey Caesar.

Having made his first on-screen debut in 2007 with the Mike Jones biopic, The American Dream, Caesar has since climbed the ranks from starring roles to box office spots — also landing a role alongside Chris Staples, Michael Irvin and Jose Canseco in Slamma Jamma. Tenacious in spirit and passionate by nature, Caesar’s work ethic and pursuit of excellence have led him to new heights, including developing working relationships with network titans MTV and Disney, subsequently leading him to work with Director David Katzenburg on the new Disney+ series, Just Beyond.

Beyond his domination over the acting sphere, Kelsey Caesar possesses a humbled demeanour. Having trained for the 2016 Olympics and dabbling in hiking, running and riding horses — it would appear there is no challenge that Caesar will not stand up to. Starring as Tuck in B**** A**, who breaks into a horror house and is forced to partake in a series of games that determine his fate, it would appear this drive came in handy in and outside of work.

Ahead of the official release of the horror feature, we sat with Kelsey Caesar to speak on his upbringing, the advice he holds closest to him and breaking out of the horror genre. To watch the trailer for B**** A** and for the full interview, head below…

Hey Kelsey! How are you doing? Where are we speaking to you from? 
I am all good and speaking from sunny Los Angeles, California.
 
Reflecting on the past year, do you have any highlights? What have been your peaks and pits so far? 
This year, I would say the highlight for me was being in a movie that was played in South by Southwest (SXSW). It was a dream come true, being from Texas and having a movie as a part of the festival. Really so far this has been a peak year, with lots of callbacks, auditions and magazine articles. With all this, I would say the pits would be the demand on time because of the peak. There is a lot to get done and I will get it done.
 
Thinking even further back, growing up in Texas and training for the 2016 Olympics, is there anything you would say to your younger self with the insight you have now? 
I would tell myself: Stay on the course you envision for yourself and completely trust your instincts. Don’t be afraid to make the hard decisions.
 
What prompted you to leave the training behind and put everything into pursuing your acting? 
TV and Film were always a dream of mine, going back to a very young age. The passion was always there. I just decided the commitment to being a competitive athlete and pursuing an acting career was not going to work for me. When I realised I wasn’t going to be ready to compete competitively in the USA Olympics trials, after taking six weeks to shoot a movie, it was time to decide. It was tough, I participated in sports also at a very young age.
 
Talk to us about your first acting role in Friday Night Lights, what was that experience like? Did you find that it showed you made the right decision to leave behind your track spikes? 
I did a small part in that show before during High School. It was my first time on a big TV set. Everything was so new and cool for me. I remember thinking about how the props made things look so real. We shot from 8 pm until 3 am the next morning at a real high school football stadium with fans and cheerleaders. It was amazing how it emulated a high school football game. It increased my fascination with acting and movie-making. It was more than reading lines from a script. I believe the experience had some impact on my decision.
 
Let’s talk about your latest film, B**** A**! What was the casting process like? 
The casting process for this was different because auditions were during the pandemic. The whole process was remote, even our table read. This made it hard in engaging and connecting with the producer, director and cast mates. It required strict attention to detail. The casting process is important in getting the right chemistry between the cast members in their respective roles. With so many young and new cast mates, I would say it all worked out and is reflected in the final product of the movie.
 
What drew you to audition for the part of Tuck in the first place? 
I was offered an audition for the role of Tuck. I love that Tuck was an individual who wanted one day to be the leader of the gang. He is the leader and a tough guy. I really loved that it was an all-black horror that is what made this role even more fun. 
 
The film has also received notoriety for featuring an all-Black cast. How did it make you feel to be part of this project? 
It feels great, and I am proud of being a part of something new and different. It can make an impact on the African American culture. I always wanted to do work that represents a purpose that is bigger than me.
 
Can you think of any favourite moments from filming the series? 
The best part of filming the movie was the props and mechanics of producing the killing scenes. It’s one thing to read the script, but another when creating and bringing the scenes to life.
 
Who did you watch it with when it premiered? What was their reaction like? 
My family came to the premiere from Houston. My family loved the movie. They really enjoyed the movie and thought it was fun to watch.
 
What do you hope audiences can take from the film? 
I hope the audience sees the creativeness, enjoys the movie, and has a good time.
 
Is horror your favourite genre? Are there any elements of film, in particular, you would like to explore next? 
Although I enjoyed doing the horror movie, it’s not my favourite genre. I really like Blockbuster films. I would love to explore Sci-fi. I think this is a space black audiences haven’t really explored much. Jordan Peele’s Nope was a horror Sci-fi that explored that element of film.
 
Speaking of which, we heard you have something exciting in the pipeline for 2023. What can you tell us about some of your current projects? 
I am in another film with the Candyman killer himself, Tony Todd, called Devilreaux. I also will be appearing in the final season of Hulu’s Wu Tang: An American Saga. I make a guest appearance as a hip-hop legend. Tune in to the new season to see who I play!
 
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given in your career so far?
Stay humble, focused, and professional. It goes a long way. 
 
And finally, what’s one interesting fact about yourself that I wouldn’t be able to find in a press release?
Two of my ex-roommates are Olympic Gold Dalilah Muhammad and Silver Medalist Nia Ali.