By: Lindsay Garbacik By: Lindsay Garbacik | July 18, 2022 | People, Celebrity, culture, Community,
The long-awaited film adaptation of the New York Times bestselling book Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, recently hit theaters and the internet is abuzz. The book spent an impressive 157 weeks on the NYT Best Sellers list and Reese Witherspoon jumped at the chance to transform the tale for the big screen through her production company, Hello Sunshine. Jojo Regina, a Houston local, is just 11 years old and plays a young version of the main character, Kya. It’s a serious role for a kid, but Regina never flinched at the opportunity to launch her career in acting.
We sat down with Regina to discuss her career as an actress so far, what it was like working with such a powerhouse cast, and her absolute favorite things to do in Houston.
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How and why did you get interested in acting?
I got interested in acting when my sister and I heard our Dad doing a voice-over audition. It just looked like he was having fun making silly voices, so we asked to try, and he let us. Then, he sent the voiceover to his agent and she loved it, so, we went to meet her for a little interview, and we got signed.
What was it like playing such a serious role at just 11 years old?
I was actually 9 years old when I first auditioned for the film, and 10 when we officially started shooting. But it was challenging and easy in some ways. It was easy because Kya and I are alike in a lot of ways. We both love our families, animals, and nature. We both like to play barefoot outside and go on adventures. The challenging part was our differences. Kya faces some really tough times, that is very different from my experiences. But, when you think about it, being lonely, feeling loss, and wanting to be loved, are things we all go through. So I was able to pull on those same feelings from different situations in my life and add in my imagination to connect with her and bring her story to life.
What was it like working with renowned actresses Reese Witherspoon and Daisy Edgar-Jones?
Oh my goodness, it was amazing! They're both so inspiring and supportive.
When I first met Daisy, we went on an Easter Egg hunt together. She was so cool. We got to see each other almost every day on set and we became great friends. She was super adventurous too and we played all the time. We hiked, fished, climbed trees and goofed around. Honestly, she was like a big sister to me. We got talking about acting one day and she said I was doing great and that I made her cry (in a good way lol).
When Reese came to set, it was such a fun day! We got to sit and talk. We chatted about our families, acting and singing. She’s such a great mom! She told me all about her kids and I told her about my sisters. We got pictures together and sang the "Cup Song" together. It was so much fun, but it’s hard to beat a duet with 'Rosita' [from Sing and Sing 2]!
When you’re home in Houston, what are some of your favorite places for dinner?
Oooh, yummy question! My favorite place is my mom’s kitchen! LOL. But, if we’re going out, I like Texas Border's Grill for the best crawdads in Houston, Sapporo for my favorite Rainbow Roll, Retro Cafe for my feel-good pho, Harbor Bistro for the fastest Sweet and Sour Chicken delivery ever, and Up Thai Kitchen for their delicious Yellow Curry and Chicken Satays. Oh, and for dessert, Twistee Treat soft serve.
Where’s your favorite place to shop in Houston?
I like the outlet mall in Fairfield, Memorial City Mall (for the carousel), and Learning Express. That’s where I get my Breyer horses. I have a whole collection of them. I love when you can play and learn at the same time. It’s kind of like why I love acting. There’s always something to learn and fun people to play with.
How would you spend your ideal day in Houston?
Oh wow, well, I’d start with a nice morning bike ride through some nature trails. Then, I’d have my dad’s famous breakfast burritos. Afterward, I’d go for a nice, cool swim and have a fudge pop, poolside. For lunch, I’d grab some nuggets from Wendy’s and a frosty. Next, I’d hit the nearest trampoline park to jump around for a while and then take a horseback ride around my instructor's ranch. For dinner, I’d stop at Sapporo for my Rainbow Roll. Finally, I’d go catch a movie at Star Cinema Grill, where I could have popcorn and a hot fudge brownie for dessert. Oh my goodness, you’d better pinch me, because that’s pretty much a dream come true.
Photography by: Amelia Rose Photography / Headshots. Courtesy of Jojo Regina / Horseback Riding Images.