‘Fantasy Island’ Kiara Barnes reveals how ‘deeply connected’ Ruby is to her grandmother (exclusive)

There is something about Ruby fantasy island. After originally arriving on the island as a guest, Ruby extended her stay and became Roarke’s right hand. With her easygoing nature and sweet southern accent, Ruby is the definition of comfort her. hollywood life spoke EXCLUSIVELY with kiara barnes about the origins of Ruby’s accent and how her grandmother influenced the character.

I didn’t even consciously do it [the accent]. I was connecting with my grandmother who lives in Mississippi. I also have a lot of family in the south. I grew up everywhere: Missouri, California and Utah… I spent time in Mississippi. I’ve been around since I was a kid. But I have a lot of family in the south. Ruby’s character is deeply connected to my Nana, my grandmother. I think of course I was channeling Gloria and her energy alone. She has a lot of poise in the way she talks and makes you feel like you want to be with her and be there. She’s very intentional.”

She continued, “I wasn’t really planning it or consciously thinking about it, that’s how I want to do it. It came naturally that way. That’s the beauty of the idea of ​​not chasing roles or trying to find roles but letting roles find. You. This is exactly what it sounded like. It wasn’t forced. It just came naturally to me and I fell in love with Ruby. I find myself in that character and Kiara goes somewhere else to shoot, and then I come home and I’m back. He was very therapeutic to be honest. Only because I feel like I have her on set. I also had it last season, my grandmother came to visit. It was a huge and special moment to have her there.

Ruby, inspired by the character Tattoo from the original series, initially arrives on the island as a 75-year-old woman with her husband after she is diagnosed with cancer. After transforming into her younger version of herself, Ruby decides to get a tattoo on the island. Ruby ends up staying on the island forever and leaving her other life behind. hollywood life asked Kiara if she thinks Ruby can live a full life on the island.

I think he’s realizing that. She’s finding out. It’s all so new,” Kiara said. “This is like her second year as an employee on the island, so she’s still figuring out, well, if Helene can go, can I go? Is there any workaround? trying to figure out the ins and outs of the island because it has its own secret deals and things that even i think roarke is figuring out with certain things as well.

The actress added, “I think she’s getting more comfortable, but I think it’s great that Roarke is willing to find ways to help Ruby feel more comfortable. Because she literally left all of her life: children, family, grandchildren, to stay on this island. I think she’s just having a hard time thinking: Did I make the right decision?

Ruby and Roarke’s close friendship is central to the show. Kiara admitted she was “very nervous” about meeting her co-star roselyn sanchez for the first time. But she had nothing to worry about.

“Right away, he started making jokes and wanted to get to know me and my life. She just has this genuine nature to her work. She is very intrigued by people and conversation. All the anxiety I had has gone out the window,” Kiara said. hollywood life.

The FOX series has had a number of notable guest stars, including Teri Hatcher, my beautiful girlIt’s late leslie giordano. Kiara revealed that she thinks jeff goldblum would fit “in terms of personality” as a guest star. “She would just be there and enjoy the experience,” she said. “He has such a brilliant energy that I feel we could write something so fun and interesting for him. He is good at drama and good at humorous and level headed. So I feel like we can prove that he can do it. Which would be great. fantasy island Season 2 airs Mondays on FOX.

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