INTERVIEW: Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson Shines on ABC’s Hit Show, ‘Big Sky’

Fans might remember Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson as Kendra on the Netflix series, On My Block. She can now be seen playing Harper on ABC’s hit series, Big Sky.

While Harper may seem like a regular teenage girl, she has her own secrets she’s hiding and we cannot wait to see what unfolds in season 2 of David E. Kelley’s new hit series that everyone is raving about. Glitter recently sat down with Troy to talk about the new season of Big Sky, her most memorable time on set so far, how she prepares for her roles, best advice she was ever given, and what pushes her on a daily basis. We also love her definition of self-love. Make sure to catch a new episode of Big Sky on December 9, only on ABC. Read on to find out more from this talented actress.

GLITTER: How long have you been acting?
TROY: I started acting when I was a kid, but just for fun in school plays and at theater camp.

GLITTER: What would you say was your big break?
TROY: I don’t know that’s hard to say. I don’t know if there’s been one job specifically that’s been a “big break.” I feel like it’s been an accumulation of several jobs and will continue to be. I know every artist’s experience and journey is different but for me personally, it’s been more of a gradual climb than like a catapult.

GLITTER: What can you tell us about the hit ABC show, Big Sky? Who do you play?
TROY: I play Harper on season 2 of Big Sky, who’s a new addition to the show, and I’ve loved getting to play her. When the season starts, she’s just a regular teenage girl. She’s focused on her friends, school, and work. But after she and her friends come across a crime scene and impulsively take bags full of money and drugs their friendships and group dynamic are strengthened but also tested. They get into some incredibly scary situations and it’s hard to tell who you can and can’t trust.

GLITTER: What can you tell us about the rest of Season 2 without giving anything away?
TROY: Well for a while now, after they took the bags of drugs and money from that crash, Harper and her friends have pretty much been able to get away with everything they’ve done and gotten involved in. But soon those charms that Max and Harper have, and Harper’s tattoo will start to come into play and Cassie starts piecing certain things together. I think that pressure makes certain people within the friend group crack which is crazy to see. It’s interesting to see who keeps it together and who has a harder time. Another interesting thing to see is what ends up happening with the man in the van who’s been following Max and Harper. This season is just getting wilder and wilder it’s awesome. 

GLITTER: Most memorable time on set so far?
TROY: A while back I got to shoot a scene that’s in one of the upcoming episodes with Kylie and that was a lot of fun. She’s incredible. Just very talented, very grounded, and just an all-around wonderful human being.

GLITTER: How do you prepare for your roles?
TROY: It honestly depends on the role. I try to just focus on the relationships and given circumstances of the character and find ways in which I can empathize with them. But more in depth or specific preparation can depend on the role and project and what I feel will serve the character, story, and me as an actor the most.

GLITTER: Do you ever read a script and immediately know how the character is going to act, or does it unfold as the scenes play out on camera?
TROY: I mean I don’t really plan how a character is going to behave. I get to know the character beforehand, understand their given circumstances, their thoughts, and opinions, their goals, obstacles, what motivates them, just their overall story and point of view on that story. But not specifically how they’re going to behave based on those things because I find then that things can get too controlled. After I do all of that work and prep, I try to just stay in the moment while acting and let whatever happens happen, and make changes as the scene and workday unfolds.

GLITTER: What do you like to do on your free time?
TROY: Lately some of the Big Sky cast and I have gotten really into escape rooms and we tend to do those whenever we have some free time. I also really love reading and going to bookstores whenever I can. It’s very relaxing.

GLITTER: Best advice you were ever given?
TROY: Find balance in life. It’s ok to prioritize your work/your art but it’s also important to make room for other things when you can. It’s hard to be an artist when you aren’t allowing yourself to be a human outside of your job when you aren’t allowing yourself to just live. Like yes, make room for your job/your art of course, but also make room for friends, family, hobbies, yourself, just living and enjoying and experiencing life in general.

GLITTER: Glitter has a Celebrity #SelfLoveCampaign, and we want to know, what’s self-love mean to you?
TROY: To me, self-love is taking the time to get to know yourself in as authentic a way as possible and learning to love and protect what you discover.

GLITTER: What positive message do you hope to send women who follow you?
TROY: That we as women are so incredibly valuable. I find that as a woman I feel this obligation to go above and beyond trying to prove to the world that I’m enough, that I can be valuable, that I deserve to be respected. I feel like I have to prove that I deserve the bare minimum. And I see other women around me feeling that obligation as well, but I don’t think that’s something we need to prove. We’re human beings who contribute so much to this world and we hold value and power and we deserve to be respected.

GLITTER: Many women are coming forward in the media and standing up for their rights as women. How important is this issue to you?
TROY: Incredibly important. I can’t even begin to express how grateful I am for the women who’ve preceded me and I want to do what I can for the women who will come after me. When women advocate for themselves, advocate for one another, and support each other in doing this, it’s beautiful.

GLITTER: What pushes and motivates you on a daily basis?
TROY: The amazing, wonderful, talented, strong, beautiful inside and out, radiating goddess energy women in my life.

GLITTER: What would be a dream role for you?
TROY: I would love to be able to work on a project that’s set in some sort of fantasy world or based on a fantasy novel.

GLITTER: What’s on your playlist right now?
TROY: I’ve been listening to Easy on Me by Adele nonstop. Also, holiday music and the 10-minute version of Taylor Swift’s All Too Well! So AMAZING!

GLITTER: Favorite fashion indulgence?
TROY: Anything with the Polo Bear on it. I just think that little guy is one of the most adorable things on this planet.

GLITTER: Favorite way to relax?
TROY: Reading is my favorite hobby and I love doing that to relax. I also like spending time in nature or just going to sleep.

GLITTER: Any beauty tips?
TROY: Wear sunscreen! Also, I think it’s important to know that it’s not necessary to spend a lot of money in order to have a good skincare or makeup routine. It’s more about finding the products that work best for you. And it’s completely possible to find inexpensive products that work well.

GLITTER: How can fans follow you?
TROY: @troyleighanne on Instagram