Yobdee On Her Successful Dance Career And Learning Archery For Netflix’s ‘Virgin River’

A Netflix icon!

With several roles with Netflix, actress Yobdee has shown that she is the definition of a star! Her most recent role is as Maya in Netflix’s popular series ‘Virgin River’.

We had the amazing honor of talking with Yobdee about how she prepares for an audition, Garfield Wilson, and more!

You currently star as Maya in this season of Netflix series Virgin River. What is that experience like being on the show?

Y: “I’m so glad you asked! Being on Virgin River was a blast! The cast and people behind the scenes were so kind and fun to work with! I love meeting new crew members as I get to make new connections and sometimes re-work with them on other projects! love catching up with people I’ve worked previously with. The way everyone treats you on the set of Virgin River is full of kindness and they made me really feel like I was a part of the Virgin River family. Colin and Lucia were absolutely amazing to me. The experience was so positive and uplifting!”

There is a scene in Virgin River where you do Archery with Preacher. Did you learn Archery for the show? 

Y: “Yes! I did take lessons on Archery at this beautiful place in Vancouver! It was so much fun as I was learning so much about Archery I never knew about and how hard it is!”

Were you a fan of Virgin River before going on the show?

Y: “When the first season of Virgin River came out my mom and I were very intrigued as Virgin River tends to leave cliffhangers! I was absolutely in love as I have always wanted to be a nurse partitioner like Mel! I actually remember emailing my agent to watch out if there were any upcoming roles for Virgin River I really wanted to be a part of the amazing cast!”

You are an award winning dancer do you have a favorite performance that you have done/meant the most to you? 

Y: “Dance has been a part of my life ever since I was the age of 6. All performances I’ve been in have impacted me as they are a part of my growth as a dancer. My favorite one of all was my Solo I had in 2018, choreographed by Zac Vran from The Next Step. He really incorporated my culture by having lots of African moves and pop music along with Michael Jaxson’s popular song “Black or White”. I wanted to showcase who I am and the importance of embracing the culture I was from. It meant a lot to me as I was showing that it didn’t matter whether you are white, black, or Hispanic you are truly amazing and powerful and equal with all.”

You also starred in Netflix’s Travelers and Netflix’s The Healing Powers of Dude. What did you take away the most from those roles?

Y: “The Healing Powers of Dude was something I took the most away from as I was able to build connections with all the crew members including Dude the dog! Everyone was around my age, energetic and excited to be in this amazing production together. To this day I still see some of my co-stars at auditions and even keep up with them!”

Do you have anyone that you look up to as an Actress/Dancer?

Y: “Someone I personally look up to is Actor Garfield Wilson. Garfield and I met and starred in the TV series ICE when I was 8. Garfield and I have built a strong connection over the years and he has helped keep me up to date with movie industry facts, helping with self-tapes and helping me build a stronger craft, and learning how to professionally present myself on my social media platforms. He is one of the most professional, generous, and kind actors I know and has been rooting for me since day one.”

What can our fans expect from you in the future?

Y: “Currently, I’m focusing on building my craft. Taking acting lessons, and lots of dance classes from some amazing teachers and hope to return to NYC to take some street hip-hop lessons and acting lessons! Singing and musical theatre training on the weekends have also become a part of my craft!”

How do you usually get into the mindset of a character when auditioning for a role?

Y: “I like to either watch a movie/episode that is similar to the script I have received to see how other actors have performed the role and apply it to how I present my audition. I also use the method of seeing how I can connect personally with the character I’m playing. For example, one character I auditioned for was a girl that was African American and was treated differently because of her ethnicity. I was able to connect to that as those things have happened to me before. I also research the character’s behavior, attitude, the relationships they have with other characters, and the times they lived in.”

Catch Yobdee star in Netflix’s ‘Virgin River‘, available now on Netflix!

Photo Credits: Emily Marazzi of Marazzi Photography, specializing in Lifestyle and Event Photography

Kylie Montigney-Music/Entertainment Editor– Kylie has been a Host/Producer for over a year with her Podcast Talk of Fame at only 14 years old. Kylie enjoys talking to all her guests that are in the Entertainment industry and learn more about their journey to where there are today and to inspire young girls & woman to feel represented in the media.