Mika Abdalla is the actor proving that, with a heavy dose of patience and ambition, you really can do it all. 

With her infectious charm and undeniable talent, Mika Abdalla is making waves in the entertainment industry. The Plano, Texas native – whose roots trace back to being a competitive ballroom dancer and equestrian – is capturing hearts and headlines with her stellar performances on both the big and small screens.

Mika's latest venture, Paramount and T-Street's eagerly awaited coming-of-age comedy, Snack Shack, promises to be a cinematic delight. Gracing Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video this month, the film sees Mika shine alongside Gabriel LaBelle and Conor Sherry. In its whimsical tale, Mika portrays an army brat girl who turns the lives of two best friends upside down after they win the bid to manage the local swimming pool snack shack. Described as "phenomenal" and dripping with 90s nostalgia, the film is a must-watch for comedy enthusiasts.

However, Mika's journey to stardom didn't begin here. She first caught audiences' attention with her captivating portrayal of Avery Hansen-White in Hulu's teen comedy sensation, Sex Appeal. Starring alongside names like Paris Jackson, Fortune Feimster, and Margaret Cho, she showcased her comedic prowess and on-screen charisma, solidifying her status as one to watch in Hollywood. Additionally, she captivated audiences as the lead in Netflix's hit series, Project Mc^2.

Fans of the CW's Emmy-nominated Arrowverse series, The Flash, will also recognise Mika from her recurring role as Tinya Wazzo (aka “Apparition). Bringing the reluctant meta-teenager to life, Mika left a lasting impression on DC Comics aficionados and casual viewers alike.

Beyond her impressive acting chops, Mika cuts her teeth on many mediums. Currently studying philosophy at UCLA, she’s living proof that while an actor’s schedule might boast as one of the most demanding—her ambitions refuse to be limited. 

As Mika continues to grace study halls, silver and small screens with her presence, there's no guessing where she’ll end up next. With each role, she proves herself to be a versatile performer capable of captivating audiences with her wit, charm, and undeniable talent. 

Sitting down with Rollacoaster, we get to grips with what we can expect next and how she’s managing to do it all. Our advice? Keep an eye out for Mika Abdalla—she’s poised to become Hollywood's next big thing...

ELLA WEST: How has this year been so far for you?

MIKA ABDALLA: Pretty hectic, but overall good.

EW: What are you most excited for this year? Both inside and outside of your career?

MA: I’m finally graduating college which has been a long time coming, one good thing about the strike was having time to cram in those last few classes. I’m really looking forward to getting back to work though, I’m sure every other actor can relate.

EW: Do you find it difficult to separate the two? Is work your profession or your passion?

MA: Totally my passion. I don’t feel like I’m ever “off the clock” or anything. Acting is so enmeshed in my life.

EW: When did you first realise you wanted to become an actor?

MA: Twice, honestly. When I was little (like five or six) I loved the attention I got doing print work in Dallas, so I was like obsessed with continuing to be on set. Then when I was around 18, my career went through a lull that sucked so bad, and I feel like the yearning for expression made me realise how much I really want to do this forever.

EW: You were born and raised in Plano, Texas, how much of your upbringing has informed the person you are today?

MA: A lot of it. I’m really grateful that, despite working a lot throughout my childhood, I waited to move to LA and got to have a fairly normal childhood.

EW: Why do you act? What’s your favourite part of it?

MA: Exploring characters makes me learn a lot about myself, which is really fulfilling. My favourite part of watching films is identifying with the feelings and experiences of the characters, so if I can provide that for someone else then I’m happy.

EW: You’re also studying Philosophy at UCLA…how do you juggle both? Do you find that these different paths can sometimes go hand-in-hand?

MA: It’s really, really hard to juggle both. I take back what I said earlier—this is the one aspect of my life that’s super separate from my career. I do feel like the process of reading philosophical works and working at comprehending what another person is trying to say about the world can totally apply to reading scripts. It’s all about understanding what a writer is trying to convey in both fields.

EW: What was the first acting job you ever booked? How did it compare to booking some of your major works, from Sex Appealto The Flash?

MA: I’d have to ask my mum, I think it was a JCPenney commercial. I don’t really remember what booking things used to mean to me, but it certainly has grown. There’s very little that’s comparable to the feeling of booking a job that you really want.

EW: From all of your projects thus far, what has been your biggest highlight and biggest lesson learned?

MA: Snack Shackmeans a lot to me for many reasons. I feel like it marks a new direction in my career that I’m really excited for. My last movie, Sex Appeal, taught me a lot about being responsible with my time and not letting myself get overwhelmed. It was my first large-scale project as an adult and since Project Mc2, so it felt like a learning curve.

EW: Huge congrats on Snack Shack! What can you tell us about the film?

MA: Thank you! It’ll remind you of what summer was like when you were a teen, it’s really immersive in that way. Since the release, it’s been so cool to hear how it makes people reminisce about their formative summers, and I hope audiences continue to do that as the film moves from theatres to digital platforms.

EW: Tell us more about your character…in what ways were you able to resonate with her personally?

MA: Brooke feels like the character most similar to me that I’ve gotten the chance to play. She’s had to grow up a little faster which I can relate to; I also think Brooke can come across tougher than she really is.

EW: How do you feel before a project comes out/becomes available to stream? How do you handle nerves?

MA: It’s a mix between excitement and nerves. Part of me is thrilled to finally be able to share something I care about so much with the world, especially since it’s been nearly two years in the making. At the same time, it feels like our baby and I think anyone who feels strongly about a project would be at least a little nervous about how it’ll be received. At the end of the day, if you’re proud of the work you’ve done, who cares how other people feel about it.

EW: Where does your confidence come from?

MA: I don’t know if I’d call it confidence. I more so accept that I’d rather be comfortable as myself than be uncomfortable trying to make sure other people are happy with who I am. That’s definitely my mindset, like, 60% of the time though. The other 40% I’m horrified and the confidence is an act.

EW: What do you want your future to look like? Do you believe in setting goals for yourself?

MA: I think setting goals is super valuable. I’d love to get into project development and even writing if I could ever finish a script. In reality, I really just hope to continue doing projects like Snack Shackwhich I feel so passionately about.

Photographers: Quavondo, Jaxi Hart

Hair/Makeup: Nina Bakhshi

Styling: Annie and Hannah

Interview: Ella West