
Most people would still be figuring out what to do with their lives at 25. Joey King is not most people. She has been in front of the camera for more than two decades; first in commercials, and then with roles in movies and TV shows such as Ramona and Beezus and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, respectively. The transition from child star to successful, functional young adult is notoriously tricky, but Joey has done it with grace. In 2018, she shot into mega-fame territory with the release of the first in Netflix’s The Kissing Booth trilogy.
Since then, she has expanded her range in genres spanning the dystopian YA Uglies to the Holocaust drama We Were the Lucky Ones. Last year, Joey was named the Max Mara Face of the Future at the Women in Film Gala. In this exclusive interview, she tells us about future plans and female empowerment.
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What are you working on now?
I’m working a lot on fostering my production company and getting projects to go through there. It’s all very exciting and new and challenging to build things from the ground up.
What is your earliest memory of the power of film?
It’s hard to say what the earliest memory is but I just remember how powerful it was when I would watch a movie at a young age and cry when a character I loved died or got heartbroken; or when a movie would make me belly laugh. As a kid, I fell in love with the feelings that watching movies gave me.
What’s the scariest thing about what you do?
Just knowing you can’t control your own narrative once the world’s got a hold of it and the perception of you can be entirely different from who you are as a person and performer. But I can’t control that, so why worry about it?

What role does fashion play in your process of getting into a character or story?
It’s hugely important to have the fashion, the hair, and the make-up all feel authentic to the character you’re playing. It’s so helpful when getting into character to feel connected to your costume. It helps me sink further into the person I’m playing.
What is it about Max Mara and its values that resonate with you?
I love Max Mara’s devotion to women and helping them build a better future, and also just how they celebrate the female body through their clothes. The Max Mara team is made up of some of the kindest people, so it’s no wonder their brand reflects that positivity into the world.
What does the Max Mara Face of the Future award mean to you?
It means so much to me. I feel so uplifted and beloved by both Max Mara and Women in Film and it feels surreal to be given this award. It’s so special anytime you’re recognised for doing what you love to do.
What are your hopes for the future of the industry?
I just hope to keep chasing what I’m passionate about and get the opportunity to collaborate with more female filmmakers and producers, and to learn more from the people I admire.