By Katie Fedosenko
She’s a pro surfer with a concealed weapon. Grace Park, UBC Psychology alum and one of the 12 Kick-ass Ladies of Fall TV, is making headlines as Kona Kalakaua in the new hit-series Hawaii Five-0.
Formerly known as Lieutenant Sharon Valerii from Battlestar Galactica and voted one of Maxim’s Hot 100 Girls, Grace is no stranger to the camera. Her path to stardom is what sets her apart from other actors.
While studying at UBC, Grace started modeling on the side. She got to experience life on the set and being in front of camera. While her good looks and vibrant personality landed her roles in TV commercials, it was only after many serious acting classes that her path eventually led to series television.
“When I first started modeling I really liked the job,” said Grace. She found the projects, the photography, and the people she worked with rewarding and inspiring. Being on TV wasn’t in her plans.
As a child, Grace never wanted to be an actress. “I never did drama because I was mortified to do it in high school. I would have much rather been a research scientist or a chef.”
Grace initially came to study biology at UBC. She transferred into Arts because she found architecture more interesting, but she knew she would have to apply as a graduate student. Wanting to complete an undergraduate degree, she chose to finish her studies in psychology.
“I know my path may seem random, but it was the flexibility that UBC provided that helped me make the right choice. Looking back now I know that I did the right thing by majoring in psychology.”
Grace finds that she still uses a lot of the skills she picked up at UBC in her day-to-day work. She now applies her major in psychology to understanding and developing the characters she plays to give her acting a more genuine and realistic feel.
Grace is following her passion even now as she defends Hawaii from crooks and criminals in her role as Detective Kalakaua. “My mom used to call me a ‘fun chaser,’ because I would always follow what I liked most,” she said. This is still the case for her studies, her career, and her approach to life.
