Young actress’ anti-drugs speech is being used as a lesson for middle school students
Kayden Brenna Tokarski, a 14-time award-winning actress who plays a young Julia Roberts’ character in the Critics’ Choice-nominated series “Gaslit,” is serving as a lesson for middle school students.
Kayden served as keynote speaker for the 34th annual Walk Against Drugs in Orange County in 2021 – spreading the message to tweens and teens to say NO to drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and vaping – and was also a “celebrity” speaker for the 2021 Red Cross LA fundraiser that also featured Mario Lopez. This month, Kayden’s speech from the Walk Against Drugs is being used as a lesson for 7th graders at a South Orange County, California school.
“I am incredibly honored and grateful that my speech is being used as a lesson in middle school,” Kayden said. “Especially with all the issues facing teens today, it’s so important to reiterate that using drugs, alcohol, tobacco or vaping are not choices any teen should make.”
In addition to giving back (Kayden was also part of the Joyful Child Foundation’s “Be Brave, Be Safe” pilot aimed at empowering kids against predators), the 13-year-old actress plays a mean girl in the upcoming sci-fi movie “Roswell Delirium” starring Anthony Michael Hall. The film, which premieres this summer, is written and directed by Richard Bakewell and also stars 1980s icons Dee Wallace, known for her motherly roles in 1980s hits like E.T. and Cujo; The Facts of Life’s Lisa Whelchel; Die Hard’s Reggie VelJohnson; and Flash Gordan’s Sam Jones.
Most recently, Kayden filmed a TV movie in April in Kentucky and was cast in the 2024 thriller “Redland.”
