breaking the waves

Originally published in Schön! Magazine's Issue 35. (October, 2018)

Former professional kiteboarder Maika Monroe has traded sandy shores for the silver screen. Watch out Hollywood, there’s another Monroe on the scene.

Growing up in Santa Barbara, Maika Monroe’s vision of her future did not involve the movies. Rather, from the age of 13, she was focused on the life of a pro-athlete, competing in Red Bull’s International Big Air Style competition as a kiteboarder. It was only six years ago that she made the decision to focus completely on acting. Since then, the 25-year-old has cemented her status as a breakout star, appearing in a dozen titles over the last couple of years, including stellar performances in After Everything, Tau and The Widow this year alone.

Once Monroe had made up her mind, she had her break in the biggest way possible, working alongside the likes of Jeff Goldblum and Kate Winslet – something she humbly attributes to chance. “It’s so hard in this industry. Obviously, talent is involved but, also, it’s so much about luck – the stroke of lightning,” she says. “I was kiteboarding in the Dominican Republic when I booked my first movie with Dennis Quaid and Zac Efron.”

A self-confessed horror aficionado, Monroe first became aware of the possibility of professional acting whilst watching cult classics with her father specifically, Jack Nicholson’s performance in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest: “That was the first time that I was like, ‘wait – so this is a job that people get to do?’”

Glancing at her résumé, one might think Monroe prefers the more solemn side of the acting spectrum, but admits, “I don’t think I have a favourite genre. I was so surprised how hard horror movies are. With drama, you can somewhat relate – it’s closer to reality – but with a horror movie, it’s not something a person experiences on a daily basis. It’s definitely challenging.” The hardest part of filming, however, is “cringing having to watch myself”.

Disclaimer: This is an extract from an interview published in the print version of Schön! Magazine. Full version available upon request.

words. Sara Delgado
photography. Justin Wilczynski @ 7 Artist Management
production. Fox & Leopard
fashion. Mar Peidro
talent. Maika Monroe
casting. Anissa Payne
hair. Brian Fisher @ The Wall Group using Oribe
make up. Daniele Piersons @ Art Department
photography assistant. Aris Stoulil
location. Big Sur