This rising young Texan is nothing like her rebellious 16-year-old screen character.

As a child, Violet Brinson read a lot of books and desperately wanted to be one of the characters in the story she was reading. “I wanted to be living in that book world,” says Brinson, the actress who plays Stella in The CW’s new hit series, Walker. (Fellow Texan Jared Padalecki, of Supernatural fame, plays her father, Cordell.) “The idea of bringing characters to life and exploring people other than myself always excited me,” explains Brinson. “When I was 11 or 12 I dragged my sister to an acting class and just absolutely fell in love with it.”

Brinson was born in Dallas, Texas, but at just a week old she was living in Austin. She’s also lived in Oklahoma and California, yet says Austin is, by far, one of her favorite places in America. Maybe because it’s her hometown? “I feel it is the perfect mixture of country and city. It’s got great music, great food, and I’m close to my family.” This dyed-in-the-wool Texan believes the Lone Star State has its own unique vibe. “It feels strong and independent to me, and the people are some of the warmest people you’ll ever meet.” 

Landing the Role 

And how did Brinson get the gig on Walker? “I’ve heard great things about it, but I’ve never seen the original,” says this youngster. (Not surprising, as the current Walker is a reboot of a 1993–2001 television series.) “Walker is actually more of a re-imagining of Walker, Texas Ranger, so it’ll be quite a bit different while still dealing with some of the main themes from the original.”

Brinson auditioned for Walker at the beginning of 2020 and was “so psyched” to get started on it. However, things didn’t work out that way as precautions were taken because of COVID-19. It’s been a long journey, she says. “I cannot be more grateful or more excited not only to be a part of The CW and the Walker family, but also to be back in Texas!”

About Stella

As for Stella, her character in Walker, Brinson has a lot of love for her rebellious alter ego. “I enjoy playing her because she is so different from me.” Stella’s tough, explains Brinson. She’s a soccer star, and she’s not afraid to push boundaries and authority figures. Strong and complicated, Stella feels everything to the extremes. She is grieving the loss of her mother and the absence of her father. “This concoction of grief and anger is something she struggles with constantly,” says Brinson. The father-daughter dynamic between Stella and Cordell is messy and filled with complicated emotions. “Not to mention they are so much alike, which creates a really interesting relationship.”

Support from Jared

Star of Walker, San Antonio native Jared Padalecki, is proving to be a major support for Brinson. ”Working with him is amazing. He has so much experience, and that Southern friendliness and welcoming attitude.” In fact, the whole cast is warm and accepting. “I’ve never met a group of people who are so supportive and kind and genuinely want to connect and be friends.” 

When it comes to her aspirations, Brinson says, “Honestly, acting has always been my Plan A and my Plan B. It’s always been the only thing I’ve truly wanted to do as a career because it fills me with so much purpose.” She is eager to try movie-making and explore the different processes used. “There are so many aspects of the industry that I’m interested in and want to explore and try. 

In her free time, she loves to play with and train her puppy, Lucrezia, a seven-month old Belgian Malinois. “That’s a breed a lot of military and police use because they are so athletic, loyal, and light on their feet… I may be a little too obsessed with her.”

And the future? “Right now, I’m mainly focused on Walker since it was just renewed for Season 2,” says Brinson. “I’m looking forward to seeing what this year brings!” 

Cover photo courtesy The Bare Magazine

Bob Valleau is a freelance writer living in McKinney, Texas.