Don’t ever stop learning and developing your talent, don’t ever stop trying to achieve success.
I have been drawn to acting my entire life. I used to watch the Oscars as a child and envision myself there. I would grab a hairbrush and practice my acceptance speech in the mirror. I first started acting in middle school for school plays, and this continued into high school but I branched out into show choir and developed a passion for singing along with acting.
Did you study acting
I still study acting! It’s an ongoing process. I try to study at least 10 hours a week on my acting, and that doesn’t include auditions and booked gigs. I have taken acting courses in college but I have really been able to hone in on my acting skills by taking classes at Acting Out Studio with Shawn Carter and more recently with Linda Ann Watt.
What acting technique do you use
I use two forms of acting when I’m on set. I have been studying sense memory acting and I find it easier to get into character when I revisit a memory that draws up the emotion the character is feeling. I think that once I’m in character I use method acting to stay in character and see my surroundings as the character would see them.
What wrong impressions do actors hold about acting
Meryl Streep has a great quote about this, ‘Acting is not about being someone different. It’s finding the similarity in what is apparently different, then finding myself in there.’ Acting isn’t easy, and it’s truly a developed talent!
Do you take courses to improve your craft
I’m always trying to improve my skills as an actress! I believe that if you’re not learning then you are wasting time. I am usually enrolled in a local class to gain strength as an actress, and I love taking classes with other actors because I can feed off their energy and gain more insight to the craft.
What acting books do you read
I just finished reading ‘Respect for acting’ by Uta Hagen. The book offers questions every actor should ask when they are on set, and I found it very useful. I also recommend “Audition” by Michael Shurtleff.
How do you keep fit as an actor
Staying fit is so important to me. I work out at least 4 days a week and I live on a healthy diet with lots and lots of water. Staying fit physically helps me mentally tackle any task I come across as an actress. I experience less fatigue and I am able to stay sharp when my body is working at it’s best.
When you’re offered a role, what do you do next
I do my research! A well-educated actor is an actor that will get booked again. If the role is a period piece I want to know how they spoke, what they wore, and what customs were used. This helps me to better envision myself in the role.
How do you take a character in a script to a honest, believable and breathing person
I try to relate to the character and what they are going through. I get a sense of who they are, how they talk, walk, and the kind of mannerisms they might use. I can usually draw on personal experience to make the character come to life and once I have their personality pin pointed the rest just kind of flows from there.
How do you stay fresh on set
It can be hard if you’re working a long day to stay fresh and in character but I have found that reading my script and going over the scenes in my head help to keep me in character. I try not to fool around and goof off because then I need to completely start over.
Describe a memorable character you played
I really enjoyed playing Gina from Vince Stitts production ‘Nobody Famous’ in August of 2014. She was a high strung lady with lots of energy with a scary kind of happy to her.
Explain one creative choice you took on set
In a recent short the director told me to be evil. I didn’t want to copy any one villain so I thought of a mix of villains that would fit my characters situation. I used Maleficent laugh but brought in Pams attitude from True Blood. It was wonderful!
What do you want most from a director
I love a director who doesn’t feel the need to micro manage and allows actors freely act while keeping the vision of the project.
What actors do you long to work with
I would love to work with Jessica Chastain
Why
She is a chameleon! She is truly believable in every role she is cast in, and I feel like I could learn so much from her.
What advice would you give actors
Don’t ever stop! Don’t ever stop learning and developing your talent, don’t ever stop trying to achieve success in your dream, and don’t ever give up!
Briefly write about your career
My favorite production was a music video I did in Virginia with director Derrick Borte. While I didn’t have any speaking lines it was truly a great experience getting to know that team and working with some of the finest.
