PEYTON LIST

Do you enjoy portraying Tory Nichols in Cobra Kai?

I love playing Tory I get to wear piercings in my hair and kick ass. The creators of Cobra Kai welcomed me into the Karate Kid family and saw that I had it in me to play Tory. They liked the challenge of going the complete opposite of what they jokingly liked to call my “Disney princess.” The first time we meet Tory for the first time she is the first person to take on Miguel the All-Valley champ and fight in a dojo full of boys. She hasn’t ’t had anything handed to her in life and has to fight for everything she has ever had. The Cobra Kai writers do a great job giving a glimpse into the life of even the seemingly evil characters. It is easy to understand why they have the outlook on life that they do.

Is it often you get a chance to play antagonist?

I don’t think I realized I was capable or right to play the antagonist before Cobra Kai. I still sit here shocked I was booked the role of Tory I think other people saw I was capable before I did. Since playing Tory I’ve fallen so in love with antagonist character I don’t really want to go back.

Do you do your own stunts in Cobra Kai?

We have our incredible Emmy winning stunt coordinator Hiro Koda and my stunt double, fight coordinator, and my idol Jahnel Curfman. I learn all of the fight sequences and do all of my own stunts. If there is ever a flip or a roll they fly Jahnel in but she works me hard to make sure I can do it all and doesn’t go easy on me.

Have you had any previous kickboxing training before joining the cast?

I had taken kickboxing classes for a bit just before joining Cobra Kai which was coincidental and thank god I had because I had to build up stamina. I would go so hard I’d have to stop in the middle of class to keep myself from throwing up.

When it comes to fashion, do you have a favourite decade or era?

It might be because I’m filming a 70’s period piece at the moment but the flare jeans, halter tops, sun kissed glow skin, and long natural hair is my favorite look. Everything about it was free and effortless.

You are passionate about supporting rescue dogs, what pushed you towards such noble cause?

I’m usually traveling for work and am never home or sitting still, but over the last year when Covid hit shelters were having to close and were overflowing with dogs. They needed more fosters than ever. It started off with one and now 20 fosters later we are still going strong. I think the dogs really gave me a sense of purpose during the shut down and gave me something to love on and take care of. If you can I highly recommend opening up your home and fostering an animal right now.

Can you tell us about your puppies?

I just adopted one of my fosters a king charles cavalier mix from Bella Vita Rescue who I named MO Rascal after my grandpa Elmo and Rascal after his messy wiry hair. I also have a Doberman Pit-bull mix Bette and don’t get me started on the amount of dogs my family has.

During these uneasy Covid times, how to do keep connected with friends and loved ones?

I am always picking up the phone and checking in with friends over this time. I really prefer FaceTime because I get to look them in the eyes and the face can say more than words. Checking in with my best friends every day has kept me sane. On my birthday we did a giant zoom party with my twin brother and I. We did a lot of zoom parties one week it would be a slam poetry read or a Coachella themed night with drinking games. We are about to start a Zoom book club really any sort of hobby or activity we can get involved in. Even staying home there is an insane amount going on I just can’t run away from it.

If it wasn’t for acting, who do you think you would have become?

I’ve always loved screenwriting as a pastime. I took a screenwriting course over quarantine and have been writing with a partner with my free time. Writing was a great outlet for me while being stuck at home, I was still able to create. I love being behind the scenes creating just as much as I like being in front of it all acting. That is definitely a goal of mine.

What is your philosophy on life?

I try not to take life so seriously and roll with the punches. Humor helps me cope with life my favorite things to repeat to myself are “it adds character” and “the show must go on.”