Kayla Caulfield was at a doctor’s appointment when she heard the news: “CODA” had been nominated for three Oscars, including Best Picture.
The 24-year-old Massachusetts native, who played the role of “Off Key Girl” in “CODA,” is certainly on key with 27 film and TV credits creating a solid portfolio. But being associated with an Oscar-nominated film, it’s time for Kayla to polish her tiara. “Someone texted me and said ‘Congrats, “CODA” was nominated as a Best Picture.’ That really excited me. I didn’t need to see the clip of the announcement!” she said.
Filmed on the North Shore, “CODA” tells the story of Ruby Rossi (Emilia Jones), the only hearing member of a deaf Gloucester fishing family. The wrinkle? Ruby wants to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, something her deaf parents and brother don’t understand.
Kayla’s role as a principal singer is significant if you add up the time she’s in front of the camera and standing next to film’s lead. “This is like my first BIG principal role,” Kayla said. “I didn’t know how big [“CODA”] was going to be, or how big it would get. I thought it was going to be some indie film that you know probably won’t make it off the cutting room floor. So it’s crazy to see all of the attention this film is getting.”
Screenshot of CODA
Screenshot of CODA
“CODA” — Child of Deaf Adult — also stars deaf actors Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur, who was nominated for an Oscar for his supporting role. “He’s phenomenal in ‘CODA,’” Kayla added.
Will Kayla be on hand to share in the Red Carpet moment? “I don’t know how they’ll handle the invites for the cast and crew,” she admits. “But my mom and I might actually plan on going out there in late March [the Oscars air March 27]. We have a hotel already booked.”
The film, which can be seen on Apple TV+, was originally only in theaters, with a premiere in Cambridge. So what was it like seeing herself on the big screen? “It’s very, very special,” she said. “It’s also surreal to see it all come together.”
With friends and family members attending the various screenings, Kayla said she did point out her onscreen appearances. “I’d say, ‘Hey that was me! I was the one of the choir girls!’”
Although not ready to hide behind a pair of sunglasses just yet, Kayla is being recognized, including by fellow students in her acting class. Some have even been effusive in their praise of her performance. “You lit up the screen,” one person told her, while another called her “phenomenal.” “It was very, very touching,” she said.
Photo By Chris Fisher
Photo By Shannon Gray Beauclair
Kayla has remained in contact with some of the cast members from “CODA,” including the film’s star Emilia Jones. “She’s such a sweetheart,” said Kayla. “Such a great person to work with. I congratulated her when she got nominated for a BAFTA [British Academy Film Awards].”
While filming usually slows in winter, Kayla has been busy. The IMDb website lists her upcoming roles in the TV series “The White Queen’s Army,” which is in pre-production; the mini-series “Breakup AIli” which is being filmed; and “Higher Methods” and “Lightkeepers” both are in post-production.
For “CODA,” it was a few intense weeks of filming in Beverly that claimed her time. With a trailer she and two other choir cast members could call their own, Kayla had a place to store her costumes, a plus for the young actress. Kayla had auditioned for other roles for “CODA” before noticing a Boston casting call seeking “people who could sing.”
“I’ve been singing since I was six years old, and I went in and sang an Adele song,” Kayla said. “I was actually on set for another film and when I got the callback for ‘CODA’ saying, ‘We need a video of you singing Happy Birthday,’ and the rest is history …”
Photo By Paul Vicario
Photo By Ellen Korsh
On March 13, Kayla will learn how many BAFTA’s (the British equivalent of the Oscars) “CODA” will win. It has three nominations: Best Actress, Emilia Jones; Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Troy Kotsur; Best Adapted Screenplay, Sian Heder. (Heder is a Cambridge, Massachusetts, native who spent her summers in Gloucester.)
And then on March 27, Kayla will once again be watching as “CODA” returns to the stage with three nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay. The Oscars air on ABC.
When March arrives, New Englanders will feel the shifting tides along the coast of Gloucester where “CODA” began as Kayla Caulfield stands within reach of the Red Carpet, with exhilarated anticipation, support for the cast and crew, and more than just an offkey applause.
Up next: Read this interview with Oscar-winning actress and “CODA” star Marlee Matlin
