Kara Mae Royster (born October 5, 1993) is an American actress who holds dual American and Canadian[1] citizenship. She is best known for portraying Yvonne Phillips in Pretty Little Liars, Abby Martin in K.C. Undercover, Alicia Banes in Supernatural, and Eva in the Dynasty reboot.
Kara Mae Royster | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 5, 1993 |
| Citizenship |
|
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Spouse |
Tyler Shaw (m. 2022) |
Early life
editRoyster was born and raised in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Her father, former professional baseball player Jerry Royster, is Black, and her mother is white with French Canadian and Irish ancestry.[2] Royster was inspired to get into acting by her older sister, Kristie, who would practice monologues in front of her. Royster took acting classes at Bak Middle School of the Arts and Dreyfoos High School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida.[3] At the age of 15, she convinced her parents to move to Los Angeles, California where she attended Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and majored in theatre.[4][3] In addition to acting, Royster developed an interest in makeup and was the head makeup artist for her high school's theatre department.[5]
Career
editRoyster's early credits include Faking It on MTV, Liv and Maddie on Disney Channel, and Scream Queens on Fox, in which she had a minor role in one episode.[6][7]
On December 23, 2015, it was announced that Royster was cast in Pretty Little Liars as Yvonne Phillips, the mystery woman Toby Cavanaugh (Keegan Allen) met before the five-year time jump. She was originally slated to appear in three episodes of the back-half of season six.[6][8] Royster appeared as Yvonne in four episodes of season seven.[9][10][11] Her final episode aired on May 2, 2017, titled "Hold Your Piece".[12] In 2016, while filming Pretty Little Liars, Royster made her feature film debut in Mono. She portrayed Christina Madison, the "queen bee, mean girl" of the group.[5] That same year, she landed roles in multiple episodes of K.C. Undercover[5] and Supernatural.[7][13] In an interview with Hush Hush Buzz, Royster revealed, "I had heard of K.C. Undercover before it came out, while I was filming Liv and Maddie, and dropped some hints to the casting director that I really wanted to be a part of the show and get the chance to work with Zendaya."[5]
In 2017, Royster booked a recurring role on The Fosters, Dawn, a flirtatious student who causes jealousy between Callie (Maia Mitchell) and AJ (Tom Williamson).[14] She then starred in the short-lived YouTube Red series, Youth & Consequences, in 2018.[15] It was announced in 2019 that Royster signed on to star in Instafame, a social media thriller, directed by Nick Everhart.[16] In 2020, she starred in the female buddy road comedy-drama film, Unpregnant,[17] and she recurred in the CBS sitcom, God Friended Me.[4] She was also announced to star in Don't Log Off, a comedy-thriller set entirely during the early days of the COVID-19 quarantine;[18] however, the film was never released.
On May 4, 2021, it was announced that Royster was cast in the Dynasty reboot, as Eva, a recurring role officially described as the "newest assistant and protégé" of Fallon Carrington (Elizabeth Gillies). The character was set to arrive later in the fourth season.[19] On December 20, 2021, Royster made her final appearance in the season five premiere.[20] Royster also appeared in two episodes of Jupiter's Legacy.[19]
In 2022, Royster starred the Tubi original thriller film, A Party to Die For,[21] and the BET original Christmas film, The Christmas Clapback.[citation needed]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Mono | Christina Madison | [22][5] |
| 2019 | Most Likely to Murder | Taylor | |
| 2020 | Instafame | Sasha Curtis | [16] |
| Unpregnant | Kaylee | [17] | |
| 2022 | A Party to Die For | Jessica | [21] |
| 2024 | Amp House Massacre | Janelle | [23] |
| TBA | Don't Log Off | Katy | [18] |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | This Indie Thing | Nia | Episode: "The Awful Truth" | |
| Fred: The Show | Girl | Episode: "Spirit of the 90's" | ||
| Hollywood Heights | Remi | 4 episodes | ||
| 2013 | Bucket and Skinner's Epic Adventures | Jessie | Episode: "Epic Copycat" | |
| Stevie TV | Jenny | Episode: "2.03" | ||
| The Goodwin Games | Kayla | Episode: "Happy Hour" | ||
| 2014–2016 | Faking It | Brandi | 6 episodes | [6][7][19] |
| 2014 | The Mentalist | Kiley | Episode: "Blue Bird" | |
| 2015 | Liv and Maddie | Kennedy | Episode: "Repeat-A-Rooney" | [6][7] |
| Hand of God | Olga | Episode: "A Bird in Hand" | ||
| Scream Queens | Girl #2 | Episode: "Mommie Dearest" | [6][7] | |
| 2016–2017 | Pretty Little Liars | Yvonne Phillips | Recurring role; 7 episodes | [6][8] |
| K.C. Undercover | Abby Martin | Recurring role; 8 episodes | [7][19] | |
| Supernatural | Alicia Banes | 3 episodes | [7][13] | |
| 2017 | The Fosters | Dawn | 4 episodes | [14] |
| Do I Say I Do? | Whitney | Television film | [3][5] | |
| 2018 | Youth & Consequences | Jayne | Series regular | [24][15] |
| 9-1-1 | Daphne B. | Episode: "A Whole New You" | ||
| Runaways | Millennial Wendy | Episode: "Earth Angel" | ||
| 2019 | Single Parents | KBS | Episode: "Summer of Miggy" | |
| Murder in the Suburbs | Nikki Leeds | Television film | ||
| 2020 | God Friended Me | Emily | 4 episodes | [4][19] |
| Mile High Escorts | Ashley | Television film | ||
| NCIS: Los Angeles | Jojo Ballard | Episode: "Cash Flow" | ||
| 2021 | Jupiter's Legacy | Janna Croft/Ghost Beam | Episodes: "All the Devils Are Here" and "Cover Her Face" | [19] |
| Dynasty | Eva | Recurring role; 8 episodes | [19] | |
| 2022 | The Christmas Clapback | Aaliyah | Television film | [citation needed] |
| CSI: Vegas | Valerie Bianco | Episode: "There's the Rub" | ||
| 2024 | The Really Loud House | Alexa Jordan | Episode: "The Man with the Backup Plan" |
References
edit- ^ "Kara Royster talks 'Supernatural, Asa Fox and 'Pretty Little Liars'". MovieTVTechGeeks.com. December 16, 2016. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ Moore, Camille (May 6, 2021). "10 Things You Didn't Know about Kara Royster". TVOverMind.com. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Interview: Kara Royster Talks Pretty Little Liars – Exclusive". PopCityLife.com. August 23, 2016. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ a b c Cha Kim, Nic (March 12, 2020). "Monologue Competition Offers Students Shot at Broadway". Spectrum News 1. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Russo, Caroline (July 13, 2016). "INTERVIEW WITH ACTRESS KARA ROYSTER". HushHushBiz. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Wagmeister, Elizabeth (December 23, 2015). "'Pretty Little Liars' Casts Toby's Mystery Woman, Yvonne (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g Prudom, Laura (September 9, 2016). "'Supernatural' Casts 'Pretty Little Liars' Actress for Season 12 Role (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ a b Wagmeister, Elizabeth (February 8, 2016). "'Pretty Little Liars' Sneak Peek: Watch Spencer's Awkward Lunch with Yvonne". Variety. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ Biedenharn, Isabella (July 6, 2016). "Pretty Little Liars recap: The Talented Mr. Rollins". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ Biedenharn, Isabella (August 10, 2016). "Pretty Little Liars recap: Season 7, Episode 7". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ Biedenharn, Isabella (August 31, 2016). "Pretty Little Liars summer finale recap: Season 7, Episode 10". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ Highfill, Samantha (May 2, 2017). "'Pretty Little Liars' recap: 'Hold Your Piece'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ a b Awesome, Amy (September 9, 2016). "Supernatural Season 12 Casts Pretty Little Liars Actress". ComicBook.com. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ a b Petski, Denise (December 1, 2016). "'The Strain' Casts K.C. Collins; Kara Royster Joins 'The Fosters'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ a b Lacroix, Emy (March 7, 2018). "'Youth & Consequences' Is a Super-Woke High School 'Scandal', According to Anna Akana and Kara Royster (EXCLUSIVE)". Life & Style. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ a b N'Duka, Amanda (May 7, 2019). "Mike C. Manning Joins 'Son of the South'; Makenzie Vega, Nicky Whelan Set For 'Instafame'; Amelia Crouch In 'Eight For Silver'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ a b Erbland, Kate (August 12, 2020). "'Unpregnant' Trailer: Haley Lu Richardson and 'Valley Girl' Director Team Up for Timely Road Trip Comedy". IndieWire. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ a b N'Duka, Amanda (July 29, 2020). "'Modern Family's Ariel Winter To Star In 'Don't Log Off' Thriller From Baer Brothers". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g Swift, Andy (May 4, 2021). "Dynasty Adds PLL Alum as 'Major Troublemaker' for Fallon in Season 4". TVLine. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ Scott, Jenna (December 21, 2021). "Dynasty Season 5 spoilers: Fallon's fate revealed in two-part premiere". FanSided. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ a b Lê, Paul (October 28, 2022). "'A Party to Die For' Review – Final "Terror on Tubi" Original Isn't All That Original or Thrilling". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
- ^ Mueller, LeAnn (July 14, 2016). "'Mono' Cast Exclusive StudioWrap Portraits (Photos)". The Wrap. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ "AMP HOUSE MASSACRE (2024) Review by Steve Kirkham". The Dark Side Magazine. June 26, 2024. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ Petski, Denise (February 15, 2018). "'Youth & Consequences' Trailer: Anna Akana Takes Control In YouTube's Teen Dramedy". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
External links
edit- Kara Royster at IMDb