Lilly was photographed by Kristin Gallegos and styled by Lucy Warren; makeup by Loren Canby; hair by Kylee Heath

Hi Lilly, it’s lovely to meet you! I’d love to learn more about your background! Where did you grow up and what did you dream about becoming when you were little?

Thank you! It is lovely to chat with you! I was born in Munich, Germany, and lived there most of my life. I also lived in South Africa for a year, Hong Kong for a couple of months, and LA for a year, too. I always traveled a lot, and am very grateful I got to see so much of the world. Experiencing different cultures made me very open-minded at a young age. I think it’s difficult to really know what you want to do when growing up. During school, you often don’t have the time to explore all the possible avenues and I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do when I graduated high school. At one point I thought I wanted to become a singer, then I did an internship as a criminal defense lawyer, but it wasn’t until my gap year when I discovered my passion. It’s funny because it was there my entire life, but I didn’t notice it.

Prior to acting, you modeled. How would you sum up that experience and has it helped you navigate the ins and outs of the entertainment industry?

At the beginning, it was very important for me to explore the relationship with the camera and overcome some insecurities. It helped me grow comfortable in front of the camera and play with different moods and looks. I still enjoy editorial shoots or photoshoots for film promotions. Yet, I noticed how much I appreciate being able to tell a story and explore a character filled with emotions and challenges.

How did you get your start in performing, were you also acting when you were modeling?

I was very academic and focused a lot on my performance during the last two years of high school. I decided to take a gap year to figure out exactly what I wanted to do, study, and learn from life. I hiked Kilimanjaro alone at 18, I did an IT internship in New York, and basically said yes to most things. One of those things was filling in for an actress who got sick while filming a short film. I was visiting someone on set and when she got sick, I was asked to jump in. Throughout those two days of shooting, I noticed that I never felt so fulfilled and content while working before and then it slowly came together in my mind. Once I returned to my internship the short film was actually Oscar short-listed and due to the traction it gained, I got casting opportunities and found my management shortly after. How I started is quite a funny story, but I truly believe in that some things happen if you are at the right place at the right time. After that experience I could not get it out of my head, and I noticed it was all I wanted to do.

When did you know you wanted to reach for the stars and make it your career?

It just felt so right. Every time I acted; I fell in love with it more. Every project left me feeling whole, and acting classes were my favorite time of the week. I know acting will constantly challenge me and make me grow in new and previously undiscovered ways, so now I seek out these growth opportunities.

Has there been a moment so far where you have had to stop and pinch yourself? Has there been a game changing or defining moment?

Every time I am on set, I pinch myself. It is an honor to have worked with the inspiring people I have—I’ve gotten to learn so much from them and every project I have been a part of. With Shattered being my first lead movie, the entire journey from January 2021 when I started the prep until now has felt surreal. It was remarkable to have the opportunity to deep dive into a character like Sky and explore all the layers of her personality, her psyche, and how she became who she is. I need to pinch myself that the movie will be in theaters this week, it’s just so exciting!

Congratulations! Can you talk more about the story line and how your character comes into the plot?

Shattered is a genre-bending movie. It has elements of romance, horror, thriller, and some dark humor. It takes the audience on a wild ride. Sky is a beautiful young girl, who uses her beauty as a tool for power and control. In a way, she is emotionally homeless, and Chris awakens the humanity within her. She has perfected her observation of people and learned their behavioral patterns to survive. Having grown up with an abusive stepfather, Sky doesn’t know any love except for one that is conditional and abusive. Hence, it is her story of female empowerment and finally taking control of her life by breaking free from the manipulation of her stepfather, Sebastian, which is wonderfully performed by Frank Grillo. It is a story of a young woman struggling and fighting for independence while being totally overwhelmed with feeling true emotions for the first time.

What was your process of getting into the role and what excited you most about playing her?

I did eight weeks of preparations. Six weeks of stunt training to learn how to use all the weapons Sky utilizes. Every object she gets her hands on, she uses as a weapon, and like a pro. Even when it seems like she is not in control, she is in control. I also study psychology and theater at USC, which helped me dive into the psychological aspects of Sky. I talked to numerous psychiatrists to really investigate what shaped her to become the person she is in the script, her story, her hurt, and her purpose. I journaled as Sky and constructed her emotional and historical framework to build a solid foundation to act from. That was also the most exciting part to play. The two characters of Sky; the innocent, lovable, and flirty one, and then on the other hand, the relentless, unapologetic one.

I always like to ask if there is a message or key take away that you want the audience to have after they finish watching it?

A key takeaway I had from working on the project was that we never know what a person has gone through. It is easy to judge someone from the outside and make assumptions, but real maturity and power lie in asking and investigating why they are the way they are. And of course, another one is safety. With digitalization nowadays, it has become very easy to be a target, so just raising awareness to people being safe. And how quickly your whole life can be turned upside down if you let the wrong person in your life.

With the new year ahead, do you have any personal or professional goals that you’d like to happen?

Yes! A personal goal of mine is to be curious—ask questions, get to know people, see new places, go outside, and explore. I want to get more involved in organizations that give back to the community. It is so easy to give a little, and I think nurturing our community is a wonderful thing. A professional goal of mine is to be able to dive deep into a character role like I did with Sky, maybe in a historical genre, or drama, and really explore their emotional arc.

When it comes to your work, what really gets you excited?

I get very excited about being able to make a story come alive. To be in a space with a lot of other creative people, who all work together towards one vision, the creative atmosphere that follows is so enriching. As an actor, you have the chance to build a relationship with the audience, taking them on an emotional journey.

Do you have any dream collaborators?

Wow, that is a hard question! There is a long list of people I would love to work with. I am fascinated by Oscar Isaac. His performances are so natural, they seem like a documentary, yet he plays such a vast diversity of roles. I admire how versatile and grounded his acting is. Another actress I admire is Margot Robbie, she takes charge of her destiny through her production company, creating meaningful content she believes in. She is very authentic and charismatic while being an exceptional actress and that is all you can strive for.

What’s one piece of advice you have received that you hold close to you and refer to it often?

I received a great piece of advice from John Malkovich while shooting Shattered. One evening we were talking and he told me that truly authentic acting lies in controlling or stopping an emotion from overwhelming someone. In reality, we try not to show emotions when we are uncomfortable, we try to mask them. Often when playing very emotional scenes, I have to think of that now. The powerful actions lie in the small movements. Hearing something for the first time, seeing it for the first time, reacting for the first time.

What else are you passionate about outside of acting?

I am very passionate about working out, understanding and learning about people, spending time in nature, board games, and being able to have new experiences and adventures. I love seeking out something I have not done before, or I am not familiar with yet.

Do you have anything else coming up that we should be excited about?

In August of 2021, I shot the action movie The Plane with Gerald Butler which will also be coming out this year! Stay tuned!

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A special thanks to Slate PR

Meet Lilly Krug