Our Talent Spotlight of the day is Kaori N.

Kaori has been with MAX for 7 months and has already gotten 15 auditions and 4 bookings! We are happy to feature her on the blog today to share her experience. 

Kaori was born in Tokyo, Japan and moved to Toronto with her parents when she was 9 years old. She spoke no word of English and had to attend ESL classes for the first two years of elementary school in Canada. She was a competitive pianist since childhood, so she continued her study in music into post-secondary education. 

After completing school, she did not feel quite ready to settle into a career. So she went backpacking to various destinations inAfrica and Europe. Her most memorable trips include trekking Mt Kilimanjaro, numerous safari in Tanzania and Kenya, and even the then war-torn Serbia. She even lived in Austria for a year as she enjoyed being away from home. 

After the fun 20s, she spent her 30s and 40 s in the event planning/hospitality industry, managing and executing weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and corporate events. She then decided to pursue her long-held dream of helping other women in midlife get stronger and healthier. She obtained her personal training certification and she now trains women one-on-one via Zoom.

Check out her personal training business, Daily Flex – A personal Fitness Company here.

MAX: How did you get into modeling/acting?

Kaori: I was always interested in modelling, but back in the 80s (when I was a teen) I was either not slim enough, tall enough, or the industry was not quite as inclusive yet for non-caucasians.  I considered taking acting lessons but back then I was self-conscious of my English-as-second-language accents in my speech.   Fast-forward into the year 2021, in the middle of one of the covid pandemic lockdowns, I sent my photos to Max Agency – just to see “what might happen.”  After all, I felt that the society had become much more inclusive of the older population (Im 51) and non-caucasion ethnicities, I thought that I might have a chance at securing a job or two! 

MAX: How has your experience been with MAX? Any memorable moments from set?

Kaori: A recent shoot for an upcoming theatrical-release film was a great experience!  They took my head cast to design facial prosthetics for my role!  More inspiring was about working with a team of hard-working and talented crew – I miss working with them now that the shoot has wrapped, and am keeping my fingers crossed that I will get to work with them again in the near future.

MAX: What is your dream role?

Kaori: Id love to be cast as a futuristic humanoid robot in Westworld in a battle scene.  Or a Pepto-Bismol commercial and sing or dance along to its catchy jingle!  I would also love a chance at fitness modelling or be featured as an editorial/catalogue model for any one of my favourite fitness attire brands.  

MAX: What is the best advice that you have received about getting into the industry?

Kaori: Dont overact.  Expand your network.