Riley Voelkel is a vibrant actress with glowing radiant skin that reflects her beauty within. In her line of work it’s easy to get sucked into roles, where the line between yourself and your character blur, but Riley has found a way to stay grounded and focused on the present, even when playing characters that are such a departure from who she is in real life.
We got the chance to sit down with Riley to talk about her go-to beauty products, the season finale of her show Hightown, and the greatest lessons she’s learned from both her life and her career.
How would you best describe the journey your character in Hightown has been on, and what can you tell us about where this 3rd season will take her?Renee’s journey has been a rollercoaster! From the very beginning we see her relentless search for a better life for her and her kids and yet it always seems just out of reach. She’s ultimately just fighting to survive in the dark world she’s grown up in. We see her as a struggling mother who’s trying to balance her responsibilities with her own desires. We see her navigating power dynamics sometimes being a pawn in the game and other times a gameplayer. She knows her power and how to use it, but finds herself caught in her web of lies. In season three, I think the emotional walls she’s built around herself start to crumble. She’s forced to face her truth, which I think is a theme this season; everything comes to the surface. We find out who she really is, what she really wants and the extent she will go to get it!
What was it like to step into a role that is such a departure from your previous work?Playing an ex-addict, a struggling mother and an exotic dancer was definitely different from anything I’d done before, but as an actor I was craving the challenge and excited to play such a real and gritty role. I had to really dig deep to try to understand the perspective of a character whose life was so different from mine, or any other character I’ve played. Exploring such a complex character required me to tap into emotions and experiences that weren’t very familiar to me. This process was intense, but was incredibly rewarding. I also had the most supportive cast, crew and production guiding me throughout the journey. Renee ended up being the most creatively fulfilling role of my career so far and I am so grateful for the amazing experience!
What lesson has Renee taught you that you will take with you for your next project?Playing Renee has taught me so much and really challenged me to break through several creative walls. The process gave me new perspectives and brought out sides of me I didn’t know I had. I was challenged to be messy and vulnerable in ways I had never shared before. As terrifying as it was, there was a freedom in letting go and allowing myself to be that vulnerable on camera. The goal was to humanize these flawed characters and I was reminded how important it is to really try and give an honest portrayal of the struggles each character is going through, hopefully creating a deeper connection with the audience and their ability to relate to or empathize with the story and characters. There is so much I learned and that I will carry with me throughout my future projects.
How important is it to you to stay in the present, and live in each moment?
I think staying present and living in each moment is one of life’s most important lessons. It’s so easy to forget and to find ourselves caught up in daily stresses, something I know all too well. I try to remind myself that everything passes. Both the good and the bad. I try to be present during both, whether that’s relishing the good or working through the bad and growing from it. Sometimes taking a moment to “just feel” can be the most rewarding. It helps shine a light on the small things we are grateful for and letting go of unnecessary stress and anxiety. Life has a way of reminding you that it is fragile, everyday is a gift and the smallest moments can be the most beautiful.
If you had to narrow it down, what would be your 6 essential beauty and health products?One of my all time favorite beauty products is Glossier’s “Futuredew” oil serum hybrid. I have dry skin and this product always keeps me feeling moisturized. I love wearing it by itself or under my makeup which gives my skin a beautiful glow that lasts all day. It’s made with plant based extracts and can also be used as a highlighter!
Every night I make sure to clean my face with a cleansing balm (Eve Lom or Farmacy are my favorites). I used to use washcloths for this, but they tend to hold bacteria and lead to breakouts. Thanks to my friend and co-star Clair Holt, I discovered the perfect alternative: Clean Skin Club’s disposable and bio-based face towels. They are a game changer! They are incredibly soft and durable, and I love the feeling of using a fresh towel every time I wash my face.
I am an eyeliner girl, and have tried countless ones. However, my all time favorite is “Too Faced Better Than Sex” liquid eyeliner. It gives me the perfect application for my go-to winged eyeliner look! (A great dupe for this is the Loreal “Voluminous Noir Liquid Liner” which you can find at CVS!)
Another one of my favorites is Tula Skincare’s “Gold Glow + Get It Cooling and Brightening Eye Balm”. It contains hyaluronic acid and clean ingredients to hydrate, cool and reduce fine lines. It feels amazing, especially on puffy, tired eyes. I love using it under my eyes before putting on concealer or for a midday pick-me-up! It’s like a skincare and glow in one!
Orbe’s “Dry Texturizing Spray” has been one of my go-to hair products for years. Since I have fine hair, I love the texture and volume it gives. Plus, it smells amazing!
When it comes to health products, clean water is my number one. I genuinely care about what goes into my body, which is why I use a Berkey water filter to reduce the amount of chemicals that can be found in our normal tap water. The taste of my water has improved, and knowing that it’s cleaner has encouraged me to drink a lot more of it!
(As a bonus, I’ve recently become obsessed with YSL’s “Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Sticks”. They melt on the lips, look beautiful and smell delicious! My newest favorite!)
Do you have a go-to wellness routine to keep your mind and body in check?I am in a stage of my life where taking care of my mind and body is a top priority, no matter how busy or stressed I am! I see a big difference in my life when I don’t prioritize it. When it comes to physical fitness, I’m a huge fan of yoga and pilates and feel that they nurture both body and mind. Currently I am really into high intensity pilates classes which includes strength training on a megaformer and cardio intervals. I usually hate cardio, but the format they use has actually made me start to enjoy it! I am still a beginner at yoga, but I like to follow online classes at home (“Yoga with Adriene” being one of my favorites.) Breathing exercises have also been a wonderful tool in lowering my stress. Wim Hof (@iceman_hof) has some of the best guided breathing exercises that have helped me so much during stressful times. Also, when preparing for my role in Hightown, I trained in pole-dancing and, let me tell you, that is a full body workout! I was nervous at first, but ended up loving it. I tell all my friends to try taking a class. Lastly, my husband and I love cooking and eating meals at home. We love experimenting with new recipes and stick to a mostly paleo diet, with the exception of cheat days of course. Switching to cooking with mostly whole and fresh ingredients has made a massive difference in my energy and overall wellness.
If you could leave us with one piece of advice that you feel has helped you stay grounded what would it be?Try your best to be kind and try not to compare your journey to someone else’s. It’s so important to remember that everyone is fighting their own battles and going through their own journey. By being kind and compassionate, we not only uplift ourselves, but we also have the power to positively impact others. We never know what someone is going through and most likely it’s something we can relate to. It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others and thinking that life is a competition, but in reality, our worth is not in what we do for a living or how we look. I think it’s in how we treat others and the kindness that we show. I try to remind myself of this often to help me stay grounded and grateful.
What’s next for you, and where can we keep up with all the exciting life updates?
Currently, with the industry just getting back to work, I’m embracing the uncertainty and looking forward to the opportunities that lie ahead. Each role is a new adventure and I’m so excited to meet whoever my next character is! Also, I had the incredible opportunity to shadow director Laura Belsey on episode five, season three of Hightown. It was such an immensely fulfilling experience that has inspired me to continue learning and growing behind the camera and I hope to write and direct my own short film in the near future. If you’d like to keep up with my journey, you can follow me on my Instagram @lifeofrileyv. I share both personal updates and exciting news about my ongoing and upcoming projects.
Photo Credit-
Photographer: Tyler Patrick Kenny
Stylist: Alison Hernon
Hair: Corey Tuttle
Makeup: Liz Olivier
