General Hospital actor, student, and professional dancer Sydney Mikayla shares her passion projects and how to multi-task.
By Rachel Sokol
Daytime Emmy-nominated actor Sydney Mikayla currently stars as Trina Robinson on the award-winning ABC drama General Hospital. She’s also a successful voiceover performer and starred as Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas in the hit Lifetime movie The Gabby Douglas Story—which earned her a Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Movie.
With so much on her creative plate, we were thrilled she took the time to chat with us about her career goals and life advice. Oh, and did we mention she’s also a college student? Read on to learn what drives Sydney to succeed—and how she balances it all.
Tell us about your childhood.
I’m an only child, except for my dog, Champ. I grew up in Los Angeles, near Inglewood, home of Randy’s Donuts and The Forum. One thing I love about the area I grew up in is its beautiful culture. I definitely miss saying hi to my kind neighbors; I remember some of them being really excited when I would do new acting projects. I had a close-knit group of friends that were like family and for some reason we called ourselves The Chicken Club. We’re still friends to this day.
How did you get into acting at such a young age?
My mom is an actress and was in the original cast of The Lion King on Broadway. She put me into acting when I was about five because she said I was such a ham and I really loved performing. My parents have always been really supportive, but they've always stressed the importance of education. They made it really clear that an acting career can fluctuate, but no one can ever take away your education. They also only wanted me to continue acting and performing if I was enjoying it.
Dance has always played an important role in your life. Why?
I love to move and express myself. I also feel like dance is one of the only forms of movement that doesn't make me feel clumsy or out of place. Dance allows me to live in the moment and be exactly where I need to be. I find that it’s also a really good way to relieve stress and just stay in shape.
How do you prepare for roles?
I read the entire script if it’s available. Not only am I trying to learn about my character, but how that character relates to the other characters as well. I read stage directions, try to find subtext….anything that will help me develop a well-rounded persona for the role. Sure we all say words, but underneath those words is the character trying to say something greater and more important? When I audition, I try to convey all those things.
How do you handle rejection in any capacity?
I believe keeping busy can help you with rejection, so you don’t focus on what you don’t have or what you didn’t get. I also try to remind myself that whatever is for me, is for me. I also like to reflect on things, people, and opportunities that I’m grateful for.
What advice do you have for teenagers going through a hard time?
Focus on the positive! Figure out what helps you to get to a peaceful place whether it’s prayer, dancing, yoga, meditation, education, music…just the good things in life. There will always be some tough times but just remember to breathe, know that things will get better, and talk to someone you can trust.
What are some upcoming projects you can tell us about?
You can check me out as, Maya on Cartoon Network’s Craig of the Creek, Wolf on Netflix’s Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, and Olivia on Nickelodeon’s The Barbarian and the Troll.
What drew you to the role of Trina on General Hospital?
Trina is such a lively, complex character to portray. She’s smart, fun, and so loyal to her friends. On a lot of levels, I think I have similar personality traits as the character, so of course that drew me in. But I think Trina is a bit more outspoken than I am, and she definitely doesn’t hold back when it comes to telling others how she feels.
Who are your role models—and why?
My biggest role model is my mom, whom I truly admire and try to emulate. She is loving, humble and has a very compassionate spirit. My Godmother, Krishna, is also a role model because she has been a constant in my life…she is so incredibly driven and motivated to succeed at whatever she does. I’m really grateful to have been taught and mentored by Wendy Raquel Robinson, who was one of my first acting teachers and still inspires me to this day. I’d also love to work with Ms. Regina King again, whom I had the pleasure of working with in The Gabby Douglas Story. She’s a force to be reckoned with.
What causes are near and dear to your heart?
I would really love to get more involved with organizations that help women. Whether it's advocating for all women to have access to education or access to free or affordable feminine products, making sure women--and especially women of color--have equal access opportunities is something I’m passionate about. I love to see women thrive and have opportunities to be successful. Through my church I was also introduced to an organization that helps young women in Africa. I also love animals, especially dogs, so I’d like to support organizations that help animals to find good homes.
You just started college at UCLA! Are you excited? What will you study?
I’m so excited! I really can’t wait to make new friends and study sociology. I ultimately want to become a producer, so understanding human constructs will definitely help me to create authentic stories and represent people accurately.