Who Is Imani Lewis? Everything to Know About the ‘First Kill’ Star

On June 10, Netflix premiered First Kill, a new series about vampires and vampire hunters. It is based on a short story by V.E. Schwab and produced by Emma Roberts’ company, Belletrist Productions. 

One of the stars of First Kill is Imani Lewis, who plays Calliope Burns. Although Lewis is not yet a household name, she already has an impressive background in Hollywood. Read on to find out more about the actor.

Imani Lewis’ acting background 

Lewis is a 23-year-old who grew up in New York City. According to Popsugar, she started acting as a teenager after being discovered while performing music at a nightclub.

Lewis’ first role came in 2017 when she was in Netflix’s hip-hop musical The Get Down. Afterward, she snagged roles on various series, including Star, Hightown, and The Equalizer. 

Lewis recalled having to travel for work when she was in high school and found it a great experience. She told Popsugar, “I’m an artist that is passionate about art and takes it very seriously. So I was like, ‘If I’m going to do this, I’m going to give it my best.”

Imani Lewis’ role in ‘First Kill’

In First Kill, Lewis plays Calliope, the new girl in town. Calliope is from a family of vampire hunters, though things get complicated when she falls in love with vampire Juliette Fairmont (Sarah Catherine Hook).

“When I read for Calliope, I instantly fell in love with her,” Lewis told TV Fanatic. “She’s so diligent — fast, strong, and strong-minded. I felt that kind of representation was just so necessary, and I’m excited for what it’s going to do for the other young girls out there that are going to see the character and see so much of themselves or who they want to be.”

The series also delivers queer romance—something not often seen in the supernatural genre.

“The storyline in itself, just all the representation, I’m so honored to be a part of it,” Lewis shared with Popsugar. “I love that it’s a teenage love story. I love that it’s a queer teenage love story between two young girls and that that’s not their fight. That’s not their journey. It’s not a journey through sexuality. It’s a journey through the lineage that they’re born into and this mission that they’re both born into: obtaining their first kills and earning their right and spot in their families.”

Imani Lewis makes music and is working on a fashion line

Lewis is not just an actor, however. She expresses herself through many different art forms, including music and fashion. Lewis makes music under the name Mocha Bands. Additionally, she is working on a clothing line, though the release date has not been announced yet.

“I want my project to feel like a mixture of all those things — like there’s a song for everyone. It’s the same thing with the clothing line,” she told TV Fanatic. “I want there to feel like there’s a piece for everyone, and everyone feels seen and feels included in some kind of way. I’m so hyped for many reasons, and I can’t wait for everyone to see it.”

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