Rising Actress Ali Fumiko Whitney On Musical Influences, Zendaya, And Upcoming Film “Snow Valley”

This star is back for even more features!

The daughter of a Tony-Award Winner, Ali Fumiko Whitney has definitely been in the spotlight on if she would also pursue the entertainment industry. And we are so glad she did. Now, she’s here with two 2022 features so far, including the film “The Road Dance” and the Horror film “Snow Valley”.

We had the amazing honor to talk with Ali on filming during a pandemic, Broadway goal, and more!

How did you first get interested in becoming an actress?

A: “My mother, Elizabeth Reiko Kubota (Whitney), was an actress and introduced me to the arts, specifically musical theater, at a young age. She was a pioneer for Asian American Actresses in the 1980s and I am so proud to be continuing in her footsteps. You should check her out in John Waite’s #1 Hit MTV Music Video from the ‘80s, “Missing You” (she will be embarrassed I said so, but she is an absolute smoke show!!)”

What can you tell us about your upcoming film ” Snow Valley”?

A: “Snow Valley is a thriller written and directed by the late Brandon Murphy. It was created by my sister and her friends during the pandemic as they were inspired while quarantining out in Park City, Utah. I am honored to have been included and I am excited for audiences to meet my kooky character, Kiko! You can expect to see some comedy from this thriller.”

What lesson have you’ve learned from being in this industry from your father?

A: “My dad made a career through investing. While he does not have an artistic background, although he is a very good doodler, he has an incredible mind for business. He has always been good at understanding people and how to talk with them. This is an important skill set that I have learned and continue to learn from him. It has been cool to see him transition into investing in the arts as it is now a shared passion amongst my whole family.”

Who is an actor or actress you’d like to work with in the future?

A: “This is a hard question because there are truly so many!! I have been girl crushing on Zendaya for forever, so she is probably number one on my list. She seems like the most down-to-earth and genuine person to work with. Her transition into producing is something I aspire to do as well one day so I would love to work with her and learn from her experiences.”

If you weren’t an actress, what would you be up to right now?

A: “If I had not been accepted into UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television my plan was always to study education and become a teacher. I would love to still incorporate nonprofit education into my career at some point as I love working with kids. I want to bring more theater arts education programs to underprivileged school districts.”

What was your favorite experience while starring in The Road Dance film?

A: “My favorite experience was the friendship I formed with my castmates while filming. Because we were amid a global pandemic, we lived in a bubble while shooting. Hermione (Corfield) and I shared a duplex, and we used to host some of the guys for dinner and dance parties on our nights off. I genuinely feel like we became a little family during those six weeks, and I am forever grateful for those memories.”

What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?

A: “I grew up as an athlete and did not get involved in performing until I was older. I used to race on my High School’s ski team in downhill slalom skiing. My senior year I broke my back at time trials and ended up having to drop out of most of my musical theater college auditions because I was in a full spinal back brace. It is a funny story looking back now, but at the time I was devastated. UCLA was one of the few schools I was able to audition for because my back brace came off just in time for it. It also happened to be my dream school, so the lesson I learned is that everything happens for a reason ☺ “

Can we expect to see you on our screen more in the future?

A: “You can look out for my latest feature film, Cabin Girl. Another horror movie I have been working on in Louisiana. I am also prepping for my first-ever romantic comedy feature in which I will get to sing. Really excited for audiences to see both films as they are very opposite roles.”

What are some of your biggest goals for your acting career?

A: “I would like to be on Broadway at some point during my career. Musical Theater is what made me fall in love with the arts and I have always dreamed of making it to the big stage in NYC! Aside from that, I would love to star in an action TV series or Film. It would be cool to incorporate my sports background with acting in this way.”

Where can we follow your amazing journey?

A: “The best way to keep up with me and my journey is through Instagram @alifumikowhitney.”

Photo Credits: Storm Santos

Loryn Maul- Entertainment/Celebrity Reporter– Is an entertainment reporter at New Scene, where she writes about exclusive interviews. She prides herself on staying on top of the entertainment trends. She is also an experienced publicist in the B2B SaaS space.