Kayla Cromer

Kayla Cromer (born February 17, 1998) is an American actress. In 2020, she began appearing as Matilda in the series Everything's Gonna Be Okay.[1] She is the first autistic actor to play an autistic main character in a TV series.[2][3]

Early life

Cromer was born in San Jose, California, to Pam and Reno Cromer[2] and grew up in the suburb of Morgan Hill.[4] She became interested in the paranormal at age 9 and received her first piece of paranormal investigation equipment at age 10 as a Christmas gift.[4] Cromer has investigated famous locations such as the RMS Queen Mary when she was in eighth grade[4] and the Winchester Mystery House.[2]

Originally wanting to be a criminal profiler with the FBI, she began to desire a career in acting after watching Keira Knightley in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.[2] In 2017 she moved to Los Angeles to focus on her acting career.[4]

Career

Cromer made her acting debut in the TV series South of Hell in 2015. She later appeared in the films Desert Dwellers and Blood Orange, the latter of which she wrote before landing the role of Matilda in Everything's Gonna Be Okay. She was set to appear in a film titled Okinawa but production was derailed due to the death of the writer and director in 2018. She has also worked as a model.[5]

Personal life

Cromer was diagnosed with dyscalculia, dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at the age of 7 and was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder years later. She publicly disclosed her diagnosis at the 2019 Freeform Summit.[6][7] She is the first autistic actor to play an autistic main character in a TV series[2][3] and works as an activist trying to end the stigma of being autistic.[8]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2016 Desert Dwellers Gloria
2017 Blood Orange Tiffany

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2015 South of Hell Young Maria/Abigail 2 episodes
2017 Ghost Brothers Herself 1 episode
2020-2021 Everything's Gonna Be Okay Matilda Moss All episodes
2023 Monster High Twyla Boogeyman (voice) Episodes: Creepover Party; Monster Movie

References
  1. Canfield, David (July 6, 2020). "Why Kayla Cromer deserves an Emmy nod for her groundbreaking turn in Everything's Gonna Be Okay". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 7, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  2. Borama, Jennifer (February 3, 2020). "10 Things You Didn't Know About Kayla Cromer". TV Overmind. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  3. Weaver, Emily (February 6, 2020). "8 Reasons We Love Kayla Cromer (Besides the Fact That She's Cooler Than Cool)". PopSugar. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  4. Bergado, Gabe (January 30, 2020). "Everything's Gonna Be Okay Star Kayla Cromer on Autism Representation and Changing Hollywood". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on July 7, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  5. Appelbaum, Lauren (January 16, 2020). "Neurodiverse Actress Kayla Cromer Breaking Barriers in Authentic Representation". RespectAbility. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  6. Tingley, Anna (March 28, 2019). "'Everything's Gonna Be Okay' Star Discloses She's on Autism Spectrum". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  7. Raga, Pippa (January 18, 2020). "Unlike 'Atypical' and 'The Good Doctor,' 'Everything's Gonna Be Okay' Actually Cast an Autistic Actor". Distractify. Archived from the original on January 18, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  8. Gallagher, Caitlin (January 23, 2020). "'Everything's Gonna Be Okay' Shows Getting Autism Right On TV Is Actually Pretty Simple". Bustle. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
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