For Kali Reis, boxing and acting aren’t all that different. “As soon as I’m walking out and that bell rings, I have to transform into this warrior, physically,” she tells the Cut. “I can’t have any kind of hesitation or thoughts of, I might die in there.” The True Detective: Night Country breakout and ex-professional boxer says survival on both fronts means fully committing, not taking things personally, trusting your dance partners (Jodie Foster, in this case), and, most importantly, thinking on your toes. “You can’t be one foot in, one foot out in boxing because there’s another person in the ring trying to kill me, let’s be real.”
In True Detective, Evangeline Navarro — initially imagined by showrunner Issa López as Latina — was eventually written as Iñupiaq and Dominican, making her both an insider and outsider to the community of the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska. “Not feeling like she had a place is something I resonate to a tee being from Wampanoag and Cape Verdean heritage and never feeling enough, having to prove yourself,” Reis says. To fill in gaps in Navarro’s background, Reis and her husband went deep on crafting their own, non-canon backstory, including designating Navarro as a Scorpio with a mechanic father named Pepe.
With the acclaimed fourth season of True Detective and two feature films under her belt, Reis is still grounded and down-to-earth in conversation, but she has grown a thick skin after learning how to work in the public eye. To the trolls hounding her about the unlikelihood of a police officer having cheek piercings, she has one thing to say: “If you’re going to come for me, make sure you give me something worth playing with.”
What was most memorable about working with Jodie Foster?
Oh, man, she is one of the coolest humans, most intelligent, funny, easygoing, talented people I’ve ever met and had the honor and pleasure to work with. She treats everybody with such kindness, love, and respect. The best thing I’ve learned from her is don’t take everything so serious. I’m an athlete, I have to get it right, but all we did was laugh; that’s very important to telling these dark stories.
Was there anything you particularly resonated with on a personal level with Navarro as a character?
Navarro has this craving and this urge to fight for what’s right, no matter what it looks like on paper or what should be logically right for other people. She fights for the truth of what happened, especially to women. She feels this protective aspect to physically, emotionally, and spiritually protect these women, as do I, being an Indigenous woman. I may be a fighter in the ring, but it’s for such a bigger purpose, too. I know we share that. But we’re different in a few ways, too. Navarro is a little bit of a hothead. I am too, but I don’t think I act out on it too much … [Laughs].
Now getting into the “Rules to Live By” questions — what’s your No. 1 rule for a successful dinner party?
Good hors d’oeuvre, like predinner snacks. Good company, no one wants some boring person coming in there. Good music. And a food theme, like whether it’s Mexican, Italian, or Asian, whatever. I’ve never done a dinner party, but the really good ones I’ve been to, those have been the top-four things that we’ve had.
What’s your No. 1 fashion rule?
Gotta have good boots or sneakers because I do not wear heels. Don’t put me in heels, because I’ll look like a baby giraffe.
What’s your No. 1 rule for sending a gift?
Give somebody something that you know they really would appreciate. Not something that you think is cool or expensive.
Would you send an Edible Arrangement?
I have, yeah. What are the negatives? It’s food! If anybody reads this, they can send me an Edible Arrangement any time. I’d rather that than some flowers. Don’t get me wrong, flowers are cool, but I like food.
What’s your No. 1 rule for giving advice?
Don’t give unsolicited advice. Not every problem needs a solution.
Did you get any unsolicited advice when you shifted toward acting?
I still do right now. I get the, Don’t get caught up in the Hollywood stuff. I’m like, Have I ever? Will I ever? So stupid, unsolicited. I appreciate it, but you clearly don’t know me.
Is that advice coming from individuals in Hollywood or outside of it?
Outside of Hollywood, or some think they’re in Hollywood but have been trying to get in. It’s the people that have maybe not been going about it the right way giving me this advice of how they’ve been in it for 20 years. But not every experience has to be terrible, you know? And then it’s a lot of the newfound family members, cousins, schoolmates that absolutely love me now. I take everything with a grain of salt.
What’s your No. 1 rule for canceling plans?
Be honest. Don’t make up some elaborate lie, like your dog ran on the highway. Like, if you don’t want to go, just say you can’t go.
What’s your No. 1 rule for meeting other famous people?
I don’t treat them like they’re famous people. I just treat them like they’re a person I maybe admire and want to say hello to. They’re just human beings. Wait, you said other famous people, so are you considering me famous?
I mean, you’re starring in a critically acclaimed HBO show! What’s your No. 1 rule for ordering food?
Try not to do it when I’m hungry, which is far and few in between because I get way too much. Don’t let your eyes order too much, if that answers the question.
What rules do you have in your home?
Take your shoes off when you come into my house and leave all that bad energy out the door.
What is your No. 1 rule on set?
I need to hear from one person, not multiple people, about what’s going on. I need one person to talk to me from set to me, from me to set. The line of communication has to be very simple. That, and snacks.
Have you brought in any rituals from your boxing days to acting?
I check in and check out. When I take my jewelry off, I’m completely checked into Navarro. It’s like the bell ringing. And then when I’m done, I would always need to get de-rigged. I would let them wash my face, and I had to put my earrings back in to go home. It would allow me to completely lose myself in Navarro, and then I’d be able to reel it back in and leave everything there. Some days were harder than others. There’s not much sleep you get while telling that story, working every day in those kinds of conditions. And especially learning on the job literally every day.
Do you feel you overcame any fears related to acting with this role?
Oh, yeah, many. Acting as a whole — like, am I capable, am I that good, or are people blowing smoke up my ass? I have no idea what this is like, are people going to understand what I’m doing? How I play any character, just like any other actor, is not going to be how somebody else plays it. If this was, say, Lily Gladstone as Navarro, or whoever, wow, she would do her own thing. That’s an important thing that I keep in my head — that I have to do what’s true to me.
Do you gossip?
Not really. I don’t like small talk. But I’m human. So it’s not like I don’t, but I don’t particularly like talking about people, or anything like that, unless they’re in the room. Especially something negative.
What’s your No. 1 rule while walking on the street in New York City?
Keep my hands in my pocket. And walk fast, because I’m definitely a North East Coast person.
What do you sign your emails with?
I think I say “thank you” a lot. I use emojis in emails; it’s probably very unprofessional.
What’s your No. 1 rule for posting on social media?
I have very, very thick skin, and I don’t care what other people think. I’ve been in boxing for over 20 years, so the criticism I’ve faced and things that people have said to me … I don’t like to argue, and I don’t get caught up, but if you’re gonna come for me, come correct, because I come hard. Especially on Twitter.
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