3-Piece Set by Kaos
Belt by 0770 by enzo pirozzi
Shoes by Jonak Paris

Kim Matula has been in a diverse group of projects from her role in The Bold and the Beautiful which earned her a Daytime Emmy Award nomination, to playing a wrestling diva in Fighting with my Family alongside Florence Pugh and The Rock. Originally from Texas, she made her way to California where her talent has been rewarded in so many ways. Her excitement for the craft is contagious and genuine. With the release of Saturday Night, directed by Jason Reitman, we can only expect her light to be shined brighter and our screens to be filled with stories she will be telling.

How did you react to booking Saturday Night?
It was a pinch me moment. I couldn’t believe it. I wanted it so bad, and I had known I was “in the running” for months. To finally get that call from my team was huge. I wanted to cry but I was actually at work, on set, at the time and I knew I couldn’t ruin my makeup. And then getting that first welcome email from Jason really solidified it. It was a giddy moment. And luckily, I got to tell my parents in person which was just the best feeling. They were thrilled.

What prepared you for Saturday Night?
Well, first of all, Jason was so communicative right away. He was really clear about the tone of the film. It’s fast-paced, very real and lived-in texture. He recommended movies like The Candidate, Network, Shampoo. All with a very natural and sometimes chaotic feel that really highlighted the 70s. So, once I watched those (which honestly, I hadn’t seen any of!) I started watching SNL season 1. Over. And over. Because Saturday Night focuses solely on that first night, I only wanted to watch Jane in that context. Who she was to the show in those first couple episodes is what I wanted to explore.

2-PieceSuit by CoriiBurns
Shirt by Kaos
Shoes by Jonak Paris

What have you learned about Jane Curtin, and what do you admire most about her since becoming her?
Jane came up in comedy at a time when women were still not expected to be funny. When comedy was synonymous with the boys club. Which is just ludicrous when you think about who came before her. Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Eve Arden. So many men still saw a funny woman and thought she was the exception, not the rule. And whether Jane realizes it or not, her role on SNL was a source of inspiration and an important factor in the shift that allowed women to be seen as comedy queens. Every Saturday night. And I will take that inspiration with me wherever I go.

Can you describe what it was like to work with such a brilliant cast?
This is going to sound like a fake answer, but I swear it isn’t. Working with this cast felt like winning the lottery. Not only is everyone so talented and creative and silly but they’re also so supportive. I remember after our first table read, the room was buzzing. It was the first time we got to see everyone in their roles and we were all blown away. Everyone was just meeting each other, and we were spewing compliments and feeling inspired. It was a great day. We knew that going forward we could play with each other on set. Share ideas and collaborate on scenes. It was awesome.

Did you grow up watching SNL?
Did I?! Oh, you better believe I did. SNL was a staple in my house growing up. My dad would follow up every door knock with “land shark” or “candy gram”. My mom would make me laugh quoting Rosanne Roseannadanna’s, “she had a little sweat ball dangling off the tip of her nose!” I grew up watching the cast of the 90s and 00s and those characters were a huge part of my comedic education. When I made home movies growing up, I 100% channeled/copied them. Cheri Oteri’s Collette Reardon I used to do a lot. Will Ferrell’s Harry Caray. When we got into the seasons with Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig, my brain exploded. In the best way. These funny women were everything I wanted to be and they certainly ignited a comedic flame inside me.

If a movie was made about an event in your life, who would you want to play you?
Gary Oldman.

What shows do you watch in your free time? What is your favorite television show?
Well, my comfort show is The Office. I’ve seen it too many times to count. Buffy The Vampire Slayer had a chokehold on me as a kid. I would follow Phoebe Waller Bridge to the end of the earth so Crashing and Fleabag are both super high on my list. If we’re talking new shows, then I absolutely love Severance and can’t wait for season 2. And if we’re talking garbage, you’ll find me bingeing Love Island. That’s right. I’ll admit it. I love it, babes.

What do you love the most about acting?
There is something about getting to experience something big and feel all the feelings that come with it, but in another person’s shoes. There’s an interesting sense of freedom that comes with that. As an actor, you’re given permission to explore the character’s psychology and to react accordingly. To react in a way that is real and vulnerable but possibly far removed from how you would handle the same situation in your personal life. And that’s kind of a gift. It’s cathartic, it's vulnerable, it’s eye-opening. I love getting to be someone else for a bit. To hopefully help tell a story that resonates with someone watching.

Saturday Night is, obviously, taking place in the 70s. Is there a trend from that era you wish would come back, either in lifestyle or fashion?
Oh, I loved the fashion. Especially the color pallet. Seriously, the rusts and avocado greens. I love it. I want to bring back the fashion but leave behind the polyester.

The Bold and the Beautiful is such a beloved soap opera. Is there any special memories you have on that set?
Aw, that show holds a special place in my heart. It was my first job after moving to LA and I met some of my best friends there. People who are literally texting me as we speak. Linsey. Kristolyn. I’m talking about you.

2-Piece Suit by Shari Henry
Shoes by Jonak Paris

You played an NXT Diva in the movie Fighting with My Family and learned that you loved the world of wrestling. What else have you learned about yourself from the roles you have played?
That job was so much fun. That’s one of the best perks of this job. Being forced to learn a skill that I ordinarily would never have attempted. Wrestling? Me?! I’d like to think my background as a gymnast helped with my confidence in flinging my body around. Let’s see, I’ve also learned how to flip a butterfly knife. How to steer a dog sled. And how to survive freezing temperatures in nothing but a bikini and stilettos. Thanks, UnREAL.

What are you excited for most about your career?
It seems like every job I get is a new adventure. Something I didn’t see coming. That’s exciting. Plus, the thought of getting to work with actors and creators I’ve admired my whole life is a thrill I can’t describe. I wonder who will be next. (This is where we pull the camera back to reveal a giant vision board with nothing but pictures of Gary Oldman.)

CREW CREDITS:
Talent: Kim Matula
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director + Photographer + Producer: Mike Ruiz
Fashion Stylist: Melvin Sanders at TMG
Hair: Hailey Adickes Purpura at TMG
Makeup: Kindra Mann at TMG
Photography Assistant: River Chad
Assistant Fashion Stylist: Andy Myers
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Seana Watson
Location: FD STUDIOS

Kim Matula in "Saturday Night"