Kayla Harrison – Don’t Call Me Sir

Q) How did you get involved with the film Don’t Call Me Sir!?

A) The director, Bo Svenson, got my name from his daughter, Jean. Bo asked Jean who she thought would be good and Jean said my name. He did a little research and he came to agree. They called me and asked if I would like to play Rusty [Kanokogi]. I said, “Are you kidding me? It would be an honor!” I knew Rusty before she died and she is the reason I was able to reach my goals and become a champion. For me to be able to play her in the movie about her is really my way of giving back to her and helping her legacy live on.

Q) How did you get into character to play Rusty?

A) Bo is being very strict about filming. He doesn’t want me to get any bad habits. So, I am kind of just waiting for him to tell me what to do at this point. I’ve been studying the script and I know her story pretty well. No classes yet, though.

Q) Is this your first acting role?

A) This will be my first time ever, which is why I think Bo is completely insane. But he seems to know what he is doing. He has a lot of faith in me and if he trusts me then I guess I should have a lot of faith in me, too.

Q) Why is it important now to make this film?

A) I think that our society is at a very precarious stage right now where there are women who are starting to break out and show that you can be hardcore and as tough as you want. You can be badass and beautiful. I think that Rusty was a pioneer for that. She does Judo, which is a male dominated sport, during a time where women were barely allowed to leave the kitchen let alone get on the mat. Her story is one that so many people can relate to because she was told over and over again not to and she still did it. Despite what everyone said and what society said was right, she said, “Screw that! I’m going to be who I want to be. I’m going to do what I want to do. And I’m going to make it so that other people can do what I love, too!”

Q) What are some of the ways that Rusty really influenced you?

A) Like I said, she basically took on the International Olympic Committee and made women’s Judo an Olympic event. If it weren’t for her, I would not have been able to become an Olympic Champion or the first individual (man or woman) to win an Olympic Gold Medal in Judo. Without her, my dreams would not have come true. She was a pioneer. I would not be able to do Judo without Rusty. She is the Billy Jean King of Judo.

Q) What is it about the title of the film Don’t Call Me Sir! that makes it so fitting?

A) There is a scene in the movie where Rusty is doing something and a guy says to her, “Excuse me, sir!” She says, “Don’t call me sir!” It’s a very pivotal scene in the movie. She realizes, “I live in a man’s world, but I’m not a man. How do I fit in? Where do I go from here and what do I do?”

Q) What continues to drive you in Judo and challenges you with the sport?

A) I think that I’m just not done yet. I’m very fortunate that I get to wake up every day and not go to work. I get to do what I love for a living and it just so happens I get to beat people up. I thought about it after the Olympics and I realized ten or twenty years from now my body isn’t going to be able to train the way it does now and these are the best days of my life. To give that up and walk away while I’m in the prime of my life just didn’t feel right. I still have so much to prove and I think I can be a two-time World Champion and a two-time Olympic Champion. Then, I can sort of consider myself one of the bests ever.

Q) How do you plan to manage maintaining your eligibility while acting in the film?

A) Right now, we start filming in May. I think it will take a little over a month to film all of my parts. Then, there is six weeks of preparation and six weeks of post work. So, we are looking at a big chunk of time so I’ll be flying back and forth from Toronto to Boston. I’ll have a scene partner and also my trainer in Toronto when I am there so I can continue to train and work on the film. It will be my biggest challenge yet, but I am up for it!

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) I don’t think of them as fans. I think of them as friends I haven’t met yet. I really enjoy banter and hanging out. There is always something to say on Twitter or Facebook.