Kali Reis: World champion boxer and Golden Globe nominee on her struggles to fit in

Reis has not fought since beating Jessica Camara to add the WBO light-welterweight title to her WBA belt in November 2021.

She was set to meet Britain’s Chantelle Cameron, who was the WBC and Ring magazine champion, in an undisputed contest – a fight she still wants to happen – but health issues forced Reis to take time away.

Not one to let opportunities pass her by, Reis found a new outlet.

“In the process of stepping aside this acting thing came about. I literally went to the channels and got the [acting] job,” Reis said.

“It wasn’t like I had a secret plan that I wasn’t going to fight and I’m going to get people hyped when I’m going to acting.

“I had nothing lined up. I was at home doing self-auditions for a year before anything came to fruition. It was divine timing.”

Reis grew up in an artistic family. Her father played the keyboard and toured with Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, her mother was a singer and ballet dancer, while her grandmother was a member of a drama club called citamard – dramatic spelt backwards.

“My mum used to have me in church plays. Music, dance, arts and expression was always part of my everyday life in the house,” Reis said.

Reis made her acting debut in a film called Catch the Fair One before picking up another role in Asphalt City, which starred Sean Penn.

Playing Evangeline Navarro – a no-nonsense police officer – alongside Jodie Foster in hit TV series True Detective: Night Country sent Reis into the mainstream.

Just three years after dipping her toe into the world of acting, Reis is thriving.

Reis made history, along with Lily Gladstone, by becoming the first native American women to be nominated for an Emmy this year, while she has also been nominated for a Golden Globe.

“I’ve been blessed to be around people who are masters of their craft and have the intention of being good at their job and be kind human beings,” said Reis.

“Being in their presence and in their energy, I’ve learned so much. I like to be the dumbest person in the room because now I’m surrounded by people who are really smart and all I get to do is listen, watch, observe and learn.”