Stunning actress and singer Jonetta Kaiser is set to star in the NBC Peacock series adaptation of "Vampire Academy" from paranormal television experts Julie Plec and Marguerite MacIntyre ("The Vampire Diaries," "The Originals," "Legacies") to both write and executive produce, with Plec directing the series. The highly anticipated fantasy horror invites fans to the new and exciting world of St. Vladimir's Boarding School and a royal society of vampires and half-human dhampirs, and is set to premiere on Thursday, September 15^th. 

 

Based on the bestselling novel by Richelle Mead, "Vampire Academy" comes a story of friendship, romance, and danger. In a world of privilege and glamour, two young women's friendship transcends their strikingly different classes as they prepare to complete their education and enter vampire society. One as a powerful Royal, the other a half-vampire Guardian trained to protect against the savage 'Strigoi' who threaten to tear their society apart. That is, if Royal infighting doesn't do the job first. Kaiser will play 'Sonya Karp', quiet, careful and decidedly odd, Sonya is not of royal bloodline and sits out on the fringe of Moroi society, preferring to spend her time in the library or her gardens. Not a person who likes a scene, nonetheless she has a quiet but profound power of her own. She is taken by surprise when a Dhampir Guardian named 'Mikhail' shows interest in her, a relationship that will expose both the brightest and darkest parts of her heart.

Born and raised in Louisiana, Kaiser grew up knowing in her heart that she wanted to be an actress and at the age of 14, after receiving a jarring diagnosis for scoliosis, she decided to actively pursue it. She researched how to become an actress (thank you Google), took her own headshots in her back yard, and started sending her resume out to casting directors. Around this time, she also started developing a passion for STEM and tech, teaching herself how to code and create websites which led to her starting her own tech business. She ultimately went to college for biochemistry but dropped out her junior year to fully immerse herself in the acting world and move to Los Angeles. Her first break was landing a role in a Big Sean music video, and from there she booked the SnapChat series "Two Sides" and "Breakwater". She also shot the sitcom "Millennials" opposite Philip Bolden and Kyle Massey.

 

Kaiser is a big advocate for mental health and body image positivity, something she personally has struggled with due to her scoliosis. Growing up in a low-income community herself, she is passionate about giving back and mentors underprivileged youth showing them that there are pathways to break the poverty cycle and empower them to get into fields related to STEM and entrepreneurship. She also has a special connection to sexual abuse and lends her voice to causes that fight against human trafficking. She additionally advocates for diversity in television and film both in-front and behind the camera.