A rising star in Hollywood, Natasha Kalimada is an actress, professional dancer, model, and influencer with a bright future ahead of her. Her new film roles in A-list productions such as “Babylon” and “Don’t Worry Darling” will shine a spotlight on Natasha’s talents while also showcasing her commitment to causes beyond her thriving career. Natasha has not only strutted down the catwalk and dazzled in front of studio cameras but she’s also dedicated her time to inspiring and mentoring young girls, as evident in her involvement with the non-profit organization Inspiring Girls USA. Please continue reading to explore how Natasha’s dedication to her craft and philanthropy have led to her success, how her journey can be an example for other aspiring entertainers and socially conscious citizens today, oh, and to hear about the best kiss of her life.

Where are you based?
I’m based in sunny Los Angeles.

What inspired you to pursue a career in the performing arts?
I saw my first Broadway show, CATS, at the age of four and knew I wanted to be a performer then and there. I’ve always had the never-ending desire to create and I’ve always been deeply reflective, observing, and finding meaning in everything.

How has your Princeton University education and MBA from Pepperdine University enabled you to achieve your career goals?
Princeton expanded my world, figuratively and literally. The hard work, dedication, and discipline from both University and business school life is the same fuel, so to speak, that I pour into my career. My career goals will always be a work in progress.

You were a dancer before an actress, and even performed with Taylor Swift. Can you tell us a bit about this experience?
I was one of the ballerinas in one of Taylor’s most iconic songs, ‘Shake It Off.’ She is so hardworking and takes care of her dancers.

What is your favorite form of dance?
My favorite form of dance is contemporary lyrical. It’s so athletic, technical, fluid, and emotional all at the same time.

Can you tell us a bit about your transition from dance to acting?
My transition from dance to acting, thus far, has been a 10-year journey of paying my dues and endless rejection, with small triumphs here and there. It’s been a tough climb to where I am now and I still have so many things I would like to accomplish as a actress. I feel like I am just getting started, and I am really excited about that!

You can be seen in the Golden Globe-nominated film “Babylon” starring Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie, can you tell us more about your role as “Princess of Isabella of Castille”?
Princess Isabella appears as a vision in white in one of the most celebrated scenes in Babylon — the sunset kiss with Jack Conrad. Both Jack and Princess Isabella are silent film stars and their classic kiss plays homage to the height of Jack’s career. Everything about that scene is so magical! I also trained with a butterfly handler for the dream sequence. I was actually holding a butterfly in my hand which I hid underneath my sleeve. The butterfly that lands on Jack’s shoulder is not CGI — that surprises most people. It was a real life one, so magical.

Everyone is dying to know, what was it like to kiss Brad Pitt on set?
It was the best kiss I’ve ever had in my life. The whole thing was sensory overload in the most whimsical dreamy way. We were on a mountaintop as the sun was setting, enveloped in the most gorgeous golden light, a real life orchestra was playing heavenly music next to us, canon balls were going off in the distance, about 700 soldiers were fighting beneath us, butterflies were whirling around us, and Brad had just come up from kneeling on his knee before me dressed in a regal medieval soldier’s uniform. O, and we filmed this scene for an entire week. So what was your question again???

How does your role in “Babylon” differ from your other acting credits?
This is my first large scale studio blockbuster production. Also, I was surrounded by Oscar winners and Oscar nominees. I still look back at that moment in time, and just say, Wow, to myself. Babylon stretched and challenged me as an artist in the most vulnerable and outrageous ways. I will always be humbled and grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such brilliant creative minds.

You have been through some extreme physical situations. Can you tell us a bit about your life-changing experience that led you to have to relearn how to bend your leg from a.90-degree angle? How did this impact your dancing?
I fell down a canyon in 2009 and had to be helicoptered out. Needless to say, I had numerous fractures, tears, and serious bodily abrasions that took a very long time to fully recover from. People still remember my crutches — it was a lot! I did my own physical therapy, which consisted of recovery exercises from dance, pilates, and yoga. The whole recovery process taught me how to be mindful of the way that I move and to be forever grateful for the gift of movement.

You also taught yourself to swim in less than 24 hours for an audition. Can you tell us the story behind this?
As an actor, I’ve always said ‘yes, I can do that’ to everything, even when the specific skill requires 10 years of mastery. I always figure it out afterwards. Let’s just say, I’ve picked up so many new skills and talents through the course of my performance life and am truly ready for anything thrown at me. I can get very obsessed with learning new skills — I love it. It feeds my athletic prowess.

Keeping with the physical theme, what are your thoughts on the importance of mental health awareness and how has yoga helped you to lead a balanced lifestyle?
Yoga keeps me centered and my mental clarity sharp. I love practicing in a heated room, around 115 degrees F, because I love putting myself in uncomfortable and strenuous situations and knowing that I can find peace within extreme discomfort. Mental health awareness is so important, especially in this line of work, where you’re constantly being told no and that you’re not good enough.

How can more people work towards better mental health through being active?
Movement cures so many ailments. I truly believe that it’s a necessity to move your body every day, whether it is simply stretching or going for a walk.

Inspiring young girls is really important to you. How do you hope to inspire other first-generation kids and South Asians to participate in the arts?
I love connecting with and mentoring children and teens who are passionate about something. I’ve spoken at schools in India and in the States — I always talk about the importance of resilience and try to harvest that within their early lives.

What made you want to work with Inspiring Girls USA to teach a special dance class to the MLC girls? How did the class go? Will you be partnering with them more in the future?
A girlfriend of mine from Princeton is a current Board Member of Inspiring Girls USA. She reached out to me a while back about the organization and I’m so glad I got involved. I was so lucky to be connected with the girls at MLC. They opened my eyes so much. I immediately felt a deep connection with them, hope to be back, and also connect with more schools in the near future.

How would you like to see more young women supported in the future?
I hope that every young woman has a mentor in life. Mentorship is extremely important and more often than not, as a female, it comes by very rarely or none at all. This is why I love connecting with children and teens so much.

What has been the most rewarding experience of your career so far?
Traveling the world, which has opened and expanded my entire life.

It has been a rough few years, how have you been staying positive?
I stay positive by surrounding myself with my family and friends. I have an exceptional group of close girlfriends, and we are each other’s biggest cheerleaders in life.

What is your motto in life?
LFG

To learn more about Natasha please follow the link below:
Instagram: @natashakalimada

Team Credits:
Photographer: Vince Trupsin
Stylist: Alex Clough
Make-up: Christopher Miles
Hair: Mika Fowler

Cover - Natasha Kalimada - Dancing Into The Stars