Kody Poisson is a rising actor in the film industry, steadily gaining recognition for his transformative performances across independent film, television, and music projects. He has earned four major award wins and one nomination, including multiple Best Actor honors for his acclaimed role in Painted Sharks, recognized by the Los Angeles Film Awards and the Five Continents International Film Festival. Known for his depth and versatility, Kody Poisson has delivered standout performances in Monkey on a Stick, Painted Sharks, and the TV series Condemned Woodstock, bringing complex characters to life with authenticity. Read below for an exclusive interview to learn more about his latest projects and what’s ahead.
Q: Where are you originally from, and where are you based now?
Kody Poisson – A: I was originally born in Germany, specifically the state of Saxony. I moved to Canada at a young age. In essence, born in Germany, raised in Canada. I’m currently based in Toronto.
Q: What motivates and inspires you in your acting career?
Kody Poisson – A: The question of what motivates me is mysterious. But to give you an answer, there is a form of ecstasy that occurs in self-demolition.
When everything is firing on all cylinders in acting, it’s ultimately ego death. There’s a great pleasure in losing the self in an art form. That’s probably what motivates me.
Q: Do you have favorite actors, filmmakers, or directors you’d like to work with?
Kody Poisson – A: I don’t tend to pick favorites. It’s like asking what your favorite song or book is, it changes. I prefer to call them heroes rather than favorites.
Heath Ledger was a hero of mine. I grew up with him, he was everything to me. Daniel Day-Lewis as well. Seeing There Will Be Blood was monumental and pushed me toward acting on screen.
More recently, Guillermo del Toro. When I saw Frankenstein, it was a true marvel of Gothic adaptation, like a poem on screen. That’s a director I’d love to work with.
Q: Is there a genre you’re most drawn to exploring?
Kody Poisson – A: Genre takes up very little room in my imagination. It applies more to the visual language of a film, not so much the acting. Acting is just play, like the games you played as a kid. It’s pretend on the highest stage. Getting caught in genre mechanics can really interfere with that sense of play.
Q: What’s the most challenging part of transitioning between diverse characters, and how do you stay authentic?
Kody Poisson – A: The work always begins with persuasion. I have to convince myself that I am this man, that’s the game you play with yourself..
Preparation for me is like meeting someone for coffee for the first time. I ask questions. I listen. Sometimes I hear a voice in my head and explore my curiosity with it.
What helps me maintain authenticity is allowing space to breathe between roles. If I jump from role to role, I start to resent the work.
I don’t forget the world, it’s my greatest teacher. A mentor once told me, You have to fill your artistic well from the world of experience. I live by that.
Q: Are there hobbies or talents people might not know about?
Kody Poisson – A: Reading and writing take up most of my free time. I actually read more than I watch films, I only watch two or three a year. I play the pan flute. I bought my first one from a guy in Hawaii, he made it out of bamboo. I’ve been playing for about four or five years. I also love ships, rock and roll, and good conversation.
Q: What projects have you recently wrapped or are currently working on?
Kody Poisson – A: I just wrapped a CraveTV epic commercial. It’s a medieval promo, I’m playing a knight. The final edit should be done in February.
I also have two feature films planned. One is Groomed for the Mob, shot in Toronto, a family-oriented story about navigating life within the mob.
Another potential feature is Beautiful Stranger. It would be my third collaboration with director Brian Lutes, a Los Angeles-based director whose projects are often filmed in Canada.
Q: Where can people find you online?
Instagram, @doctorcinebalmer
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10049516/
TRAILERS:
Comments are closed.