AN EXCLUSIVE FROM INSIDE, THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE STRAZ CENTER
Yana Perrault’s career is soaring. Yana may be soaring herself, soon. She’s been picked to play the coolest Powerpuff Girl, Buttercup, in Powerpuff, a live action reboot of the ‘90s animated favorite. She’ll be at The Straz Dec. 28 through Jan. 22, holding down the roles of Maria Reynolds and Peggy Schuyler in Hamilton. She was on Broadway recently in Jagged Little Pill. She also is a presence on social media, her Instagram account often featuring her photography and occasionally a song because, yep, she’s also a singer and songwriter. She released her debut album, Headphones, Please, in 2018 and has followed that with several singles.
The cast of the Powerpuff reboot, featuring Yana Perrault (right) as Buttercup.
How did you get started in the business?
I come from a very theatrical family. My parents met doing theater in Michigan, so I was basically born onstage.
What’s always in your refrigerator?
Frank’s RedHot®. I put that on everything.
And we mean everything.
Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pine or Chris Pratt?
Umm … Christiana Perrault (aka me as a baby) makes a much cuter boy than all four of them, so I pick her!
What is your worst quality?
My worst quality is that I’m definitely too hard on myself, but I’m learning to ease up. I’m unlearning that ‘tortured artist’ mentality – reminding myself that excellent works of art can still come from a gentle place.
What music is on your playlist?
A good mix of Daft Punk, Steve Lacy’s new album, all the ‘90s pop girls and plenty of lofi-jazz radio.
Read any good books lately?
I’ve been keeping Fem by Magda Cârneci in my tour bag— I can flip to any chapter on any given day and it gives me everything I need.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
Take your time.
What’s your “guilty pleasure” television show?
Personally, I don’t believe in guilty pleasure. I will say though, there is no greater theater on television than the Real Housewives franchise. The one liners, the drinks thrown, the edits! The drama! I will never not be entertained people watching.
In the movie version of your life, who would play you?
If Zoe Kravitz is free, someone give her a call. Maybe my daughter (one day)? … If I’m not too wrinkly by that time, then I’ll do it. 🙂 Why not!
We can definitely see the resemblance (Zoe Kravitz on left and Yana Perrault on right).
Who or what inspires you?
All my friends and every woman in my life. New Yorkers. Queer folk everywhere.
What do you consider your greatest successes – personally and professionally?
The fact that I’m still here. So much of this life is a mental game and just staying in it and sticking around to see what’s possible, it’s worth all the dark times combined. Too many times I’ve wanted to quit the business while simultaneously wanting to take my own life, so I’m extremely proud of myself for trying, showing up and singing/storytelling for myself and others, even when it felt impossible.
If you hadn’t chosen a career as an actor, what other career path do you think you’d have followed?
Probably a tattoo artist. I cannot wait to be covered in tattoos one day. Or an international DJ. I could *definitely* retire doing that for the rest of my days.
We’d also like to retire DJ’ing as long as every day were like this.