Credit: Samantha Annis
We had the chance to chat with Kara Royster about her character Yvonne on the hit Freeform series Pretty Little Liars. We spoke about what it’s like joining the cast of one of your favorite shows, what fans and viewers can expect from the upcoming episodes and season finale, and what else Kara’s fans can look forward to from her.
Read on for our exclusive interview with Kara Royster below:
What inspired you to get into acting? Was there anyone who influenced you?
My older sister Kristie inspired me to get into acting. I really wanted to get into it because she would always practice her monologues in front of me, and I would just see how much she enjoyed it. From there I took acting classes and eventually went to Bak Middle School of the Arts, Dreyfoos High School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida, and then I moved to Los Angeles to attend LACHSA majoring in theater.
Can you talk a little about your character on Pretty Little Liars and what attracted you to the role?
Yvonne Phillips is the daughter of a politician and the fiancee of Toby Cavanaugh (Spencer’s ex). What attracted me to this character was how polished and kind she was. I have typically played mean girls (and love doing it), but this was someone a little closer to my own personal style and attitude. I hold Yvonne very near and dear to my heart. I also like that (so far) she isn’t part of the “A games.” It’s interesting to watch the things that affect the characters’ personal lives as well.
Were you a fan of Pretty Little Liars before you joined the show? How was that experience for you?
HUGE FAN! I have watched it from the very beginning and got my family into it as well. The opportunity to even audition for my favorite show was unbelievable, then getting to meet Keegan and Marlene and getting a little scoop on the plot was exciting, so actually getting the job was just a dream come true.
Toby and Yvonne have had their ups and downs throughout your time on the show. With this season winding down and Toby announcing they would be moving to Maine, what can viewers expect from the couple in the upcoming episodes?
The fans know to never count anything out! This last season is filled with all the twists and turns a PLL fan can dream [of]. As a fan, I have sat in these table reads with my mouth gaped wide open, haha! As far as Toby and Yvonne’s relationship and their move to Maine, you will see how in love they really are and how in turn Spencer must deal with letting go. But really you’ll just have to watch and see.
Credit: Samantha Annis
Pretty Little Liars is the ultimate binge show. What are your favorite series to settle in and binge-watch?
Well, #1, PLL, of course! I also love watching Game of Thrones, Big Brother, Real Housewives or Bravo everything, and all of the reruns of Scrubs.
What do you enjoy most about your job? Is there anything you’d love to tackle that you haven’t yet? Anyone you would love to work with someday?
One of the interesting parts about this job is getting to read the breakdown of a character and then getting the opportunity to bring them to life. A lot of the characters I play are quite different from me, so it’s fun to be allowed to become someone else. All the characters I’ve played hold a special place in my heart. My dream is to do a full-length action movie! I took stage combat classes in high school, got to work on stunts on K.C. Undercover and love big action movies. I’d love to work with Miles Teller. I think he is so incredibly talented and hilarious (also he’s VERY cute haha!).
What do you love most about fashion, makeup and, being a talented makeup artist yourself, getting to work in that kind of an environment?
I love that one day I can wear a fresh face with a summer dress and the next an LBD and a smoky eye with red lipstick. Sometimes people are afraid to try something new but the truth is, at the end of the day, we all take off our makeup and get into pajamas. It’s not permanent, so go for it!
Do you enjoy interacting with your fans on social media?
I love it! Going from being a PLL fan to being on the show has been such an incredible experience, so I love talking with the fans because we share a love of the show. I’ve been very lucky, for the most part, that the fans are able to separate me from my character, which makes discussing the show so much more fun. One of my big things when I started out was that I wanted to be made into a meme or a GIF, and now seeing all of those being created by the fans has been incredible. You can stay connected with me on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat: @Kararoyster.
What else are you working on? What can your fans look forward to from you next?
Be sure to check out the summer finale of PLL on August 30th. I might be back on K.C. Undercover – keep a look out! And the Pixl movie Before You Say I Do, which is coming out soon.
Thank you so much to Kara Royster for taking the time to answer some questions for us. We really appreciate it!
Be sure to tune in to Pretty Little Liars Tuesdays at 8/7c on Freeform.
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