Ever-smiling Myha’la Herrold, who finds joy in the littlest of things, such as parenting her two cats, is the kind of inspiration the world needs right now.

The actress has starred as Harper Stern in the British television drama Industry – and her performance has touched the hearts of many. Through her role, she has represented the unheard voices and overlooked faces of our regular workspaces.

She has also been seen in the recent Netflix drama Leave The World Behind alongside Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali.

If her onscreen performances were not inspiring enough, she has also been part of some meaningful campaigns that aim to spread positivity amongst the people. Mainly targeting Gen Z, Myha’la has now collaborated with Colgate for its My Smile is My Superpower campaign.

The campaign “aims to show everyone once and for all that, all smiles are beautiful smiles, no matter their size, shape, or shade.”

To pick Myha’la’s brain on what she thinks about the Colgate campaign, dental health, cats, and keeping positivity in life, we had a brief conversation.

Can you elaborate on how you manage the balance between your personal and professional commitments amidst your demanding work schedules, particularly with the recent release of “Leave the World Behind” in 2023 and the upcoming season of HBO’s “Industry” this year?

Myha’la: Well, yes! I have found it essential to prioritize certain aspects of my life to manage the balance between my personal and professional commitments. Whether it’s blocking out specific time for family and friends, scheduling regular breaks for relaxation, or delegating tasks where possible, I strive to maintain a sense of equilibrium.

Additionally, staying organized and focused during work hours allows me to make the most of my time and avoid unnecessary stress.

However, the biggest thing I do for myself is my self-care routine. My skin care, my dental hygiene, and my sleep routine, all of those things, are super important for me.

Beyond your involvement in film and television, you have been engaged in various meaningful endeavors, including the Colgate campaign, “The Beauty of Gaps.” Could you share your perspective on this initiative and its significance?

Myha’la: Yeah! I was so excited to be included in this campaign because I am super passionate about my dental health. Particularly, in this campaign, they are focusing on celebrating and maintaining the health of your unique smile. And I have two abnormal teeth – they are called peg lateral incisors.

COURTESY: Myha’la Herrold, “My Smile Is My Superpower” event

So many times throughout my life, dentists and random people have approached me, given me their cards, and said, “When you are ready to fix your teeth, use my card.”

And I was like, “What the heck! I did not ask for this. I love my smile.”

Partially because I felt violated by those people and also because I really do love my smile, I have really focused on the health of my teeth. I am really, I am a prolific flosser, and I brush my teeth twice a day, if not more. I also have really sensitive teeth; I am really prone to getting cavities regardless of how often I brush. I guess I just have naturally weakened enamel.

So, I use Colgate Total Plaque Pro Release, which is really good for sensitive teeth and helps to keep that plaque away, which is how I get so many cavities. I use that so that I do not have to have someone else’s teeth or some other kind of fake teeth in my mouth.

Therefore, I was really excited about this campaign because this one spoke to me personally which you don’t really get from a campaign for toothpaste. I don’t ever feel like they are speaking to me [referring to other campaigns], so that is a really special thing about this campaign.

It is encouraging people to maintain the health of their own smile, their unique smile, and I wanted to do that. So, I was really excited to being included in this campaign.

Reflecting on your career, could you recall a particular moment when you realized the impact your work had in bringing joy to people’s lives?

Myha’la: I think one of the most significant moments that moved me was when the first season of Industry premiered. I had a huge number of Black people, especially Black women, reach out to me, saying, “I work in finance, I am young, a person of color, and I haven’t ever felt represented on screen particularly in movies or media about the finance world.”

So, they just were like, “Thank you for doing this. I am so happy that this exists, and I feel really seen.”

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And I was even surprised by the number of people of color or other people in the finance industry – because what did I know about that. All I saw was headlines, which was mostly CEOs and COOs, and all of them are old white guys. So, I was like, “There is none of us there.”

But when the show aired, there were so many people who reached out and said thank you for doing this. And that is the greatest gift I think I have received: someone saying, “I saw myself in your work or I felt seen by your work, and it brought me joy.”

That is what really does it for me.

What typically brings a smile to your face?

Myha’la: Cats (laughs)!

I have two cats at home and I really love cat videos. My mom and I are like cat people and we would send cat videos to each other, and that really makes me smile.

Cats and dogs!?

Myha’la: Oh yeah, animals. All animals. I love animals. They are the purest, most special things on this earth.

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Expanding on the “The Beauty of Gaps” campaign, which aims to raise awareness among Gen-Z about the uniqueness of their smiles, could you share a personal lesson you’ve embraced that you wish to pass on to your younger self?

Myha’la: I would want my younger self to know that your individuality, the thing that makes you different, is going to be the thing that people love about you the most. Because I think when you are young, or at any age, there is a real need to fit in and be accepted – and of course, who would not want to be accepted and to fit in? But the thing that I have discovered is the thing that makes me different or special has ended up being the most relatable.

Human beings are genetically different. Twins are special case but there is still something that makes them different. So, really, your uniqueness is the thing that makes you a part of a whole, which is kind of a weird thing to think about.

But I would want my younger self to know that the thing that makes you different, your little teeth in the front, that is the thing that is gonna make people love you.

Finally, do you have any messages you’d like to convey to your fans and viewers regarding the importance of maintaining a positive outlook and embracing the power of smiling in life?

Myha’la: I would say, smiles are infectious, and the unique ones are the most exciting. So I would say, however you can, whenever you can, find a way to smile or share a smile, and don’t be afraid to share your own. Because someone else might feel inspired by it. 

A smile is very powerful, so use yours.