The Inner Screen’s Lead Writer, Shane Ramdhany, interviews Braelyn Rankins, who stars as young Mufasa in the highly anticipated upcoming film Mufasa: The Lion King.  Braelyn joins us in recollecting his experience working on the film.  He shares what has both drawn him to and inspired his career in acting as well as his conceptualization  on what constitutes the greatest challenges in the medium.

Tell us about your experience on working in the upcoming Lion King prequel, Mufasa?

Mufasa was actually my very first project that was strictly voice work, so it was a whole new experience for me. I’m used to being on camera and bringing physical energy to my characters, so adjusting to just using my voice was definitely an interesting challenge. I consider myself a very expressive actor, so figuring out how to convey emotion and depth without relying on body language was a different kind of creative puzzle. But it was so rewarding to see how my voice could bring this iconic character to life, and I’m really excited for people to see it!

What drew you towards the career of acting?

Growing up, I was like a lot of kids who would watch shows on Disney Channel and think, I can do that too. Shows like Ant Farm and Jessie were my absolute favorites, and they really sparked my interest in the entertainment industry. I’d always imagine myself in those roles, so eventually, I realized that acting was something I wanted to pursue seriously. It felt like a natural path for me to take.

What do you find to be the greatest challenge as an actor?

I think that to be a good actor, you really have to be comfortable with embarrassment. It can be challenging at times to fully immerse myself in certain roles, especially when I'm on a set with so many people. Especially, since I’m a bit more introverted, it can feel awkward, but I believe that getting comfortable with this comes with experience.

Who is your role model?

Ariana Grande has been a source of inspiration for as long as I can remember. She’s such an incredible talent. I listen to her music almost every day. I’m beyond excited for Wicked and would absolutely love the opportunity to work with her one day.

Tell our readers a bit about yourself outside of acting. For example, What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I’ve been recently learning how to crochet; I love trying to create my own little pieces. I also enjoy playing the piano. I’m still a beginner but it’s always fun learning new songs to play. I also co-host on our family's podcast, "Life With the Rankins Podcast: A Conversation on Faith, Family, and Film." We have conversations with all types of entertainers throughout the industry to showcase our journey to acting in Hollywood. This allows me to reflect on my own path while educating and inspiring aspiring actors.

Anything you’d like to share regarding any other upcoming projects?

I’m keeping a lot of upcoming projects under wraps, but I can say that there are definitely some exciting things in the works. I’m so grateful for all the opportunities coming my way, and I can't wait to share more when the time is right. Stay tuned!

For someone who is still so young in your career, have you always wanted to be an actor, and what was it that drew you towards acting?

I’ve had a passion for both acting and singing since I was a toddler, it’s one of those things I’ve always been drawn to. Getting to do both in roles like Mufasa has been a dream come true for me.

Finally, The future seems bright for Braelyn Rankins. Where do you want to be in the next 5 years?

In the next five years I hope to create some of my own projects! I’ve been talking with a few friends about writing and producing our own films. Hopefully, by then, I’ll have the opportunity to step behind the scenes and contribute in new ways.