Kandyse McClure Talks “Virgin River,” Character Depth, and Diversity in Hollywood
Whether it’s through her heartfelt performances or the warmth she brings to every role, Kandyse McClure continues to leave her mark on screen. With over two decades in the industry, she has moved effortlessly between various genres and characters, each one adding something new to her acting journey.
Ahead of Virgin River’s seventh season, EnVi chatted with McClure via Zoom to talk about her role as Kaia, how the show has shaped her journey, and the importance of creating space for Black women in entertainment.
Who is Kandyse McClure?
Kandyse McClure is a seasoned actor, who is still making her mark after 28 years in the industry. McClure made her screen debut in 1999 in the film In a Class of His Own. and since then, she has dabbled in a range of different genres: sci-fi, thriller, and eventually romance. In regards to the shift in genres throughout her career, McClure clarified that she really asked for a genre change. She wanted to take on new roles and emotional storylines that allow her to grow both professionally and personally.
But even taking on new challenges comes with obstacles you have to overcome.“It’s a bit psychologically wearing to deal with heavy subject matter. It’s interesting in the fact that you can explore all the vast aspects of human psychology, but your mind can’t tell that you’re not the one constantly going through it. You really have to maintain your mental hygiene,” she said.
If Virgin River was how you discovered McClure as an actress, there are a few standout projects she is in that definitely need to be added to your Letterboxd watchlist. In her own words, first on your list should be Dark Angel (2000-2002) starring Jessica Alba, in which she played Annie Fisher, a blind woman who is Joshua’s (Kevin Durand) love interest. Annie’s journey as a disabled character in a post-apocalyptic world is full of depth, and McClure gives her a quiet, grounded strength that has stuck with audiences for years after the show ended.
Next is Battlestar Galactica (2003), the re-imagined sci-fi adaptation of the original 1978 series. The three-hour long miniseries dives into the destruction of the twelve colonies done at the hands of the Cylons, a human created android. story spans multiple series and movies, you can spend a day deep diving into the franchise.
Last is Hemlock Grove (2013), which was Netflix’s second original scripted series based on a novel by Brian McGreevy of the same name. Set in a fictional town in Pennsylvania, the series examines the strange events that keep unfolding in this unsuspecting town. McClure’s performancecaptured the eerie and unpredictable energy of the town, making it a compelling addition to her already diverse body of work.
Joining the Cast of Virgin River
Netflix’s Virgin River, based on the novels by Robyn Carr, has built a devoted audience since its debut in 2019. Throughout its run, the show has garnered a loyal fanbase, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats from each teaser drop to the cliffhangers that close each season. When McClure joined the cast in its fifth season, she instantly won the hearts of viewers.
Looking back on the experience of joining a show with a dedicated fanbase, McClure said, “I felt like Kaia was already written and poised to kind of make this powerful entrance. So that was already in the writing, I just had to step into it.”
Joining an established set comes with a lot of pressure, navigating an already built dynamic and new vibes and faces to piece together. But this was never something that halted McClure from getting her job done on the set. “I learned how to do my job on a set. It wasn’t in a school. And while I did take classes, endless acting classes, where I learned to do my job was on a set. And that is a place I am incredibly comfortable,” she said. “They’re also just very warm people, and I happened to know Colin Lawrence before so there was a friendly face there.”
As Virgin River returns, Kaia has been part of the series for three seasons.. Like real people, characters evolve over time, and McClure reflected on the growth she’s seen in Kaia. “Kaia’s got a little more growing to do. She’s had to learn stillness during challenging times… learning not to run from things that scare her and to stick around when things get difficult.”
With a faint smile, she added, “Kaia’s never felt before and I really love that. She wasn’t meant to stay, she was blowing in and out. She was really rebuilding her life. Jealousy is also a thing that she’s never really thought about before, that she’s really gonna have to confront.”
Becoming Kaia
A new production also meant taking on a new set of emotional, creative, and technical challenges. But when McClure joined as Kaia, she admitted, “What I learned is Kaia is a defensive character in a really profound way. Not to say that people are stepping on my character, but it’s the little things. It’s like little tweaks in the script. They had to change one of Kaia’s lines in a recent filming in regards to saying ‘sorry.’ Kaia does not throw that word around, she’s not a sorry person.” McClure continued, “Kaia means what she says and says what she means, so does she mean sorry or is she just trying to get to the bar. It’s little fixes like that.”
By asserting herself into a conversation about Laia, McClure showed just how connected she is to the character she portrays . Her self-assurance is also influenced by the kind of environment the crew and cast have created while filming, which has made her feel safe. “It’s that kind of environment, and it’s been great. Because everybody’s doing it. Everybody is defending their character. Everyone is fighting for the scene to be the best it can be. And so there is this great kind of creative dialogue and you do kind of push and pull on each other. But I think that being in an environment like that is really great. Character defense is a really valuable thing I learned.”
McClure sees herself a lot in Kaia, and she looks forward to future seasons in hopes to explore more of her character’s backstory. “This life that Kaia left behind. I’m interested to know what she was running from because people are always leaving something. That’s how they find Virgin Rivers, they’re lost.…they’re looking for themselves,” she said. “And what they find in Virgin Rivers is community, connection, and care that restores themselves. But I wanna know what happened.”
When discussing this new era of her career in Virgin River, McClure couldn’t help but crack a smile as she described her role. “I was just lucky to have met the character Kaia Bryant in Virgin River because she really epitomizes all those things I wanted to venture more into. It’s always been this great gift that I was able to kind of spiritually or psychologically work through stuff that was happening in my real life,” she shared. Like as I grew up, as I matured, and faced challenges, I got to put that in the work I was doing. So it felt profound that the person, the character that I met at this stage in my life was a great gift of optimism, strength, and courage. That I was really grateful for.”
Even with the shift into a genre like romance coming from a sci-fi background, McClure emphasized, “It’s all kind of the same. It’s just a different style. You just got to get into the little nitty-gritty. What does she do, what makes her laugh, what makes her cry?”
Representation in the Industry
The discussion surrounding race and representation have been happening in the industry for years. But those conversations have shifted during McClure’s career, though she notes progress remains uneven. Reflecting on her early years in the industry, she explained that discussions about diversity were far less visible than they are today.
“I’m just happy that there are conversations about this. In all the aspects that include queer identity, LGBTQ+, [disabled] people. I’m glad there are multiple conversations about that.” McClure shared. “Before it wasn’t established like it is now, there was discussion of not being able to find parents for you or not wanting to do the ‘interracial’ thing. There’s also the feeling of being ‘the diversity hire,’ which never feels good. You want to be cast on your own merits and terms for your abilities.”
And while there are definitely signs of progress and conversations being had, McClure is clear that there is still so much work that could be done.
Because many professionals on set lacked knowledge around Black hair textures, she often had to do her own hair while her caste mates had access to staff who would handle everything for them. McClure reflected on her own experiences with similar challenges, “They love telling me I have ‘good hair’ when my hair is blow-dried out. But when I come with my hair curly, there is some apprehension. They’ll have big ideas of concepts they want to do with my hair, and I have to tell them my hair doesn’t do that. I’ve had to throw on a little wig or a ponytail countless times.” Statements like these extend the conversation outside of representation just being who appears on the screen, but also correlates to the support behind the camera as well.
Food for Thought
Beyond the romance and cliffhangers, McClure’s career journey is a masterclass in authenticity and persistence. She hopes her path can inspire any young Black aspiring actors out there to take this from her journey.
“There is no right way to do it. Save yourself the time of trying to fit into something that was never built to hold you. They don’t know until they see it, and maybe that is you. So you have to bring the fullness of yourself,” She shared. “And sometimes it’s a yes, and sometimes it’s a no, but at least you were true to yourself. I wasted a lot of time trying to be appropriate and good and do all these things. But really it’s about bringing your voice…that authentic voice is your most powerful gift.”
Tune into the seventh season of Virgin River, now streaming on Netflix. You can keep up with Kandyse McClure by following her on Instagram.
Interested in more conversations on authenticity and representation? Check out our interview with Olivia Cheng.
