At a time when many young people in the film industry don't want to be aware of what they are doing, it is refreshing to seeing some talented and conscious actresses. The 24-year-old Netflix star Bianca Bosch, known for her role in The Kissing Booth Trilogy, isn’t just another OMG girl or teen movie star. When she isn't acting she can be found locally feeding the homeless in South Africa, starting her own lighting business, and learning Reiki. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about Bianca.

Where are you based?
I am currently based in Cape Town, South Africa! 2020 has not gone as expected! Hehe

We learned that you grew up in a family filled with culture and love for the arts and went on to train in contemporary dance. How did you decide you wanted to be an actor and what does it mean to you?
Being involved in dancing from a young age led me into musical theatre. That was when I discovered my passion for acting. I think acting and entertaining have always been in my blood, but it was specifically after high school that I decided I wanted to purely focus on doing acting for film. Acting, to me, is being the vessel that gives life to the writer and director’s work. Acting is having a truthful experience under an imaginary circumstance so that the audience can not only be educated, but also can emote with life.

Congrats on The Kissing Booth Trilogy. What does the movie mean to you? Did you ever expect that massive reception?
Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would book the very first audition I’d ever attend! Let alone for a Netflix movie! The way the movie was received was unbelievable. I’m beyond grateful for this experience. It has taught me so much in terms of acting and life in the industry; it’s also opened up doors for me, such as my LA manager and my agent in Canada. Some call it being in the right place right time, but I’d like to believe it is destiny – that this is just a steppingstone in my path. I feel extremely blessed for the opportunity.

In the film, you play Olivia who is the head of the OMG Girls, the most popular group of girls at school. Did you have a similar high school experience with Olivia and what similarities and differences do you think that you share with her?
I didn’t really enjoy school because all I wanted to do was dance, act and sing. I ended up going to three different high schools, so I never formed part of a solid “clique” mainly because I found cliques stupid and didn’t want to conform. I’ve always strived to go against the grain and be an individual. Maybe you could call me “the drama kid” ? So, in that respect, I’m the complete opposite to Olivia. She is a part of the popular “it girl” group at school and that is what she conforms to and is defined by. Olivia is the ditsy, bubbly, fun-loving blonde of the group. I would definitely describe myself as similar in that respect, but I believe we both have a depth beyond our initial impression.

Your character, Olivia, is bold and confident. What specifically drew you to play her?
Funny enough, I initially auditioned for Rachel, Lee’s girlfriend. When I got the callback, they said that the director had seen my audition and felt that I would be perfect for the role of Olivia! I had to go through four rounds of auditions for Olivia. I thoroughly enjoyed playing this character.

What is your favorite memory from filming Kissing Booth 2?
It was incredible to be back with the cast! All the jokes that were made in the makeup trailer and while waiting around in the green room. I was blown away by the all the sets this time! Especially for the Halloween party! The OMG’s and Tuppen got to arrive to Halloween party in a 1959 red Cadillac Coupe Deville convertible, which was previously owned by Sylvester Stallone. The scene didn’t make it to the movie but will always remain as a great memory!

Olivia is the popular “it girl” in the movie so it's really easy to give into negativity. How do you combat the noise that social media often presents?
I’ve been fortunate enough to have extremely loving and supportive fans that only bring positivity to my page. Although with regards to dealing with the negative effects of social media, I do turn off all my notifications, which prevents temptation and wasting time. You just have to take it all with a grain of salt, the majority of it is a facade anyway. I do find that the less time I spend on social media, the happier I am, as I’m actually living instead of sitting around comparing myself to others.

Do you have any experience with a love triangle? If Olivia was in Elle's place, who would she choose, Noah or Marco?
I’ve been in a few love triangles myself, but I won’t kiss and tell ;) I feel like Olivia would go with Tuppen! That’s who she’s really had her eye on since the beginning…

The movie's cast is incredibly diverse. How important is it to create this diverse cast in terms of inclusivity?
I don’t think it would be a true reflection of society today if it weren’t diverse. The movies we watch often mirror the times we are in. I think we are living through very liberal times, especially when it comes to diversity in race, sex, gender equality, religion, etc.

We saw that in the movies OMG Girls' lunches consist of water and bananas. Do you think it is something Olivia does for keeping her body fit? What do you think about the effect of body positivity on young people?
The water and bananas diet is definitely a way for the OMGs to keep slim, to fit a certain body image. I believe it’s so important for young girls to grasp the difference between healthy eating vs. dieting. We are bombarded by the most impeccable looking girls on social media all day long. We tend to compare and judge ourselves instead of taking into consideration genetics, and that most of those “perfect” girls out there tend to portray an unnatural and obsessive way of living when it comes to exercise and eating, which isn’t the norm. I’m all about promoting a natural, healthy, sustainable way of living, and that goes hand in hand with mindfulness because positive body image all stems from self-worth.

What we appreciated that we saw so many independent and conscious women in the film apart from romantic relationships. Was that something that appealed to you? What message do you want to send to young women?
Find what makes you unique and hold onto that forever! Always move out of love and never out of fear.

You love interior design and recently launched a lighting business called Moodmakers, which is inspiring spaces that enhance the moods that people want to feel. Can you talk about this more? What inspired you to create this?
The idea sparked due to the load shedding we experience in South Africa (load shedding being the rolling blackouts due to lack of electricity). My love for interior design is what made me want to create a stylish solution. For homes to remain functional and cozy during the discomfort of darkness. You can check us out @moodmakers_capetown.

Jejune loves that you are passionate about giving back to your local communities in South Africa. We learned that your mission is too light and to heal the ones who need it with as much strength, wisdom, and empathy you can give. So, we want to hear your opinions on mental health in teens. What do you think how teen movies stigmatize mental illness in young people?
Wow, that’s quite a question… I would say that most of the teen movies I have watched do present everyone as having it all together, which may make those with mental illness feel ostracized. Yet with that being said, it could do more damage if writers onboard aren’t fully equipped to handle the issue. For many, mental illness is a lifelong struggle and requires a life strategy. Mental illness varies. It’s not a one-size-fits-all issue, and each strategy needs to be tailor-made for the individual. I think it’s so important to open up conversations around mental health so that our loved ones don’t struggle in silence and if films can serve as a medium for that, I’m all for it!

You also have been helping feed the impoverished in Saint Francis Bay. Can you tell us a little bit about this work? Have you been able to do this during COVID?
Well with COVID, volunteer work has changed with social distancing in place. I believe charity starts at home, and home for me is in Saint Francis Bay. Shifting our focus to the local townships (impoverished areas), we coordinated and prepared meals once a week and delivered them to the local soup kitchen for as many residents as we could supply. After going there each week and seeing the living conditions, and how excited these families were for their meals, I felt guilty, yet so appreciative to come home and live the life that I do.

How has COVID impacted your life? Do you feel like South Africa has been handling it well?
I feel extreme measures were put in place right in the nick of time, which has made it more manageable. I hate to admit it because I know it has caused a huge amount of damage to the economy, people’s livelihoods, and mental well-being, but I have loved being with my family 24/7 and being able to do all the things I plan to do “when I have free time.” I’ve really used this time to work on my mental well-being and my craft.

We heard that you are a strong believer in energy healing and are training in Reiki, a Japanese healing technique. Does it also help you cope with stress? Would you recommend this to young people who have mental health problems?
It is a HUGE help with anxiety. I’m in the process of becoming a reiki practitioner and I’m continuously mesmerized by the effects it has on me and the various areas of my life into which it extends. I would highly recommend it to anybody with mental health problems.

What’s next for you? Are there any kind of roles that you’ve been dying to play?
With COVID, things in the industry have come to a halt, Therefore, I can only stay prepared and be ready for when things do open up! Margot Robbie is my muse! All of her roles I’m inspired to tackle!

No spoilers but we are excited about The Kissing Booth 3! Where do you hope to see Olivia in the future, especially in the third movie?
All I can say is be prepared for a lot more dancing in the 3rd movie! ;)

How are you staying positive during a shelter in place?
I guess it took a while to adapt, but now that this is the new normal, the sooner you get into a balanced routine of exercising, working on your hobbies/job, and performing mindful practices, you realize that you need way less to bring happiness, and start appreciating the small things.

What is your motto in life?
Feed the soul and starve the ego.

To learn more about Bianca Bosch please follow her via the below accounts:
Instagram: @biancabosch and @moodmakers_capetown

Photo Credit: Jesse Fine

Bianca Bosch Might Be An OMG Girl In The Kissing Booth, But She Is A Sweet Heart In Real Life