At just 15, Kayden Koshelev has already made a name for himself with standout roles in Search Party, Firebuds, and Drag: The Musical. From singing alongside Kevin Hart in Me Time to showcasing his versatility in theater and TV, Kayden credits his success to his love for storytelling and the lessons learned from industry icons. Beyond acting, the martial artist and avid writer is passionate about crafting sci-fi and comedy scripts, drawing inspiration from gaming and life experiences. An advocate for youth mental health and supporter of City Year, Kayden uses his platform to inspire and uplift others. Looking ahead, he dreams of portraying a superhero and continuing to take on diverse, challenging roles that push creative boundaries.
1. You’ve built an impressive career at just 15, with recurring roles on Search Party and Firebuds. How have these experiences shaped you as an actor, and what have you learned from working on such high-profile projects?
Personally, I believe that every role that you take will shape you and teach you something, but when it comes to recurring roles such as those, they are my personal favorite because it really gives you time to develop your character along with being side-by-side with such incredible actors
2. In Netflix’s Me Time, you worked alongside Kevin Hart. What was it like collaborating with such a comedy icon, and how did this project challenge you creatively?
I’ve said it once and I’ll continue to say it because Kevin Hart is amazing and that whole experience was something I could never forget and I really hope I can work with him again in the future. When it comes to the experience itself I would say that my role was a rather fun one because not only did I get to sing my heart out but then I also got to do a hilarious scene with Kevin hart.
3. Your lead role in Drag: The Musical showcased your versatility as a performer. What drew you to musical theatre, and how does it differ from your work in TV and film?
I’ve been drawn to all forms of performing since I was little and never had a favorite. The difference for me between musical theatre and film is just the process. I love musical theatre but for me it is much more demanding in the best way possible. When it comes to on screen roles, although it is still a lot, I feel like there is a tremendous weight that disappears after the whole auditioning process and then it becomes the fun part. With theatre the whole thing is the fun part and there’s fun moments every day of rehearsals but it’s very draining sometimes especially with doing show after show.
4. From guest roles on shows like How I Met Your Father, Bunk’d, and Chicago Med, you’ve demonstrated your range across genres. Do you have a preference for comedy, drama, or voiceover work, and why?
I don’t really have too much of a bias between genres because I just love getting to be versatile. But with my personal favorite genre I would have to say something along the lines of mystery and comedy for sure.
5. As a martial artist, how does your training influence your approach to acting, and have you had opportunities to incorporate these skills into your roles?
I just recently picked up martial arts and I am truly loving it so far. It’s great for working out and getting to socialize a bit. With its correlation to acting, I think that you can never have too many skills because you never know exactly when they could come in handy or when you’ll need to utilize them.
6. Beyond performing, you’re an avid writer. Can you tell us more about the stories you’re passionate about creating and whether you see yourself pursuing writing in the industry?
I definitely see myself being a writer alongside acting because the two certainly go hand in hand. I’ve written all types of things starting when I was much younger – I used to love making my own power rangers fan-fic. I would use the general theme while incorporating my own characters. I mostly just have a giant roster of characters and personalities that I like to draw from no matter the genre. Now I write more sci-fi stuff along with a comedy element for sure.
7. You’ve expressed a commitment to supporting youth mental health and work with organizations like City Year. Why is this cause important to you, and how do you use your platform to raise awareness?
Yes, personally I have struggled with certain mental health issues and I know how important it is to shed light on them. So, I definitely don’t want to lose sight of those type of things and will continue to advocate and promote organizations that support mental health in young people and education based organizations [like City Year].
8. Gaming is one of your favorite pastimes. Do you find that your love for gaming overlaps with your creative process or inspires your work as an actor?
I really do love gaming and I think that a lot of games can inspire plenty of creative ideas whether it’s for scripts or characters. Also, sometimes when I play games with microphones, I will just play around with certain characters in voice chat for fun, so I do believe that gaming has helped me throughout my career.
9. At such a young age, you’ve already built a diverse portfolio of roles. What do you think makes you stand out as a performer in an industry that’s constantly evolving?
I just really want to be known as someone who can do anything and take on any role that’s thrown my way and I think that’s definitely one of the things that will help me throughout an evolving industry like show biz.
10. Looking to the future, what are your ultimate goals in acting, writing, or other creative endeavors, and what projects can your fans look forward to seeing next?
Honestly, I do have many goals but for now I just enjoy doing what I love especially since I’ve been doing it for so long and I’m very grateful for everyone that has supported me. In the future, one thing that I really want is to portray is some type of superhero and I know it’s probably a bit cliche but it’s something I’ve been wanting since I was 5 years old.
Where can we follow you on social media?
You can follow me on Instagram at @kaydenkoshelev_official
Topics #Kayden Koshelev #Kevin Hart #Mental Health Advocacy #Rising Star
