I am an actress, filmmaker, foodie, mommy, and wife. I was raised in a military family so I feel like anywhere can be home but I’m from Texas. My memories from falling in love with art go back to my childhood. There are so many pieces to my puzzle that when they all began falling into place I realized I wanted to be an actor. One of those pieces was school plays. Since I moved a lot with my father’s military career, I imagined I was on a Broadway Tour and with each new school came a new city for my performance. I felt a connection to acting, it moved with me.
A little #theatre #TBT when I played Irma Kronkite in Picnic. #ActorsLife #TheatreLife pic.twitter.com/bnqeXL617v
— Jacqueline Wright (@TheJacquelineW) September 3, 2015
Did you study acting
Yes. I still study acting through traditional and nontraditional methods. I studied the Meisner Technique with James Brill at The Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City for a short time and it was one of the best experiences I had studying acting. I learned so much about myself, my abilities, my craft and I was able to trust the decisions I made with characters and came out being a better performer and person. I have also studied by simply practicing. You learn from experiences and for me a “nontraditional” method can be reading characters through with other actors, acting in student films and watching other actors perform. I am always looking for ways to express my creativity, my thoughts, and my art in a way I may not have possibly thought of before. I find I am able to do this best when I learn from and collaborate with other actors, filmmakers, teachers and anyone who trusts their art. This way, I can tell a story and highlight a character the best way I can.
A Bootlegged Store, on set – NYC
What acting technique do you use
I have studied Meisner so that is the first approach I turn to. However, there are many techniques an actor can use and I believe the first step to telling a story is knowing your character, trusting your performance and living in that moment. If something isn’t working for you at that moment, switch it up and feed off the energy in the room.
What wrong impressions do actors hold about acting
This is tough because every actor has their own process and I think it is unfair to say something is wrong if it works for them at that moment. Acting is a journey and some “mistakes” have to be made in order to improve. I used to think if I was not perfect in every moment and did not follow the script down to the punctuation mark on the page, I was wrong. I left no room for my character to be truthful. At the time, I didn’t realize I was literally reading from a page I memorized. My performance was a map, to get from point A to point B, you have to take this road and never deviate. I never took into account the stops along the way.
Do you take courses to improve your craft
Absolutely! If you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got. You should never stop learning. Workshop, classes, private coaching and anything I feel I could learn from I research it and go from there. I don’t just apply that to acting, I apply that to life.
Friday Night Lights
What acting books do you read
Off the top, my go to acting book would be Sanford Meisner on Acting. However, do not limit yourself only to acting books. They are absolutely an excellent resource but you can also learn about growth, people and characters through books in general.
How do you keep fit as an actor
I try to find a healthy balance – mentally, physically, and spiritually. I do this by having positive outlets. Mentally, music is a great outlet for me. Physically, the outdoors with my family and home cooked meals (always eat your fruits and veggies). Spiritually, I put out positive energy and I pray. I have an excellent support system and that makes all the difference to keep me at my best.
When you’re offered a role, what do you do next
Imagine a kid who cannot contain their excitement, which is how I look and I’m always thankful. Once I settle, my mind and body dive right into the character. I read the entire script until I understand the story, I make notes for myself and even though I have the role, I reinforce the positive thinking that I had going into the audition so I can be at my best. I love meeting the cast and crew to create that positive vibe from the beginning but sometimes schedules and locations make it hard.
How do you take a character in a script to an honest, believable and breathing person
I break down that character so I truly understand who this character is. Easier said than done but that is when your process comes into play. I remove myself but leave the tools I have so I can get into the mind of my character and begin to think, feel, move, and breathe as that person.
How do you stay fresh on set
I have used different approaches and have learned from other actors on set. Personally, a great way for me is through music. There are times I relate my characters to music, it may be a song or the overall musical vibes but it helps put me in the place I need to be. I don’t necessarily need to hear the song or instrumentals at that moment because I can recall from memory how it helped me reach that character.
Today’s setup. Long shoot but worth it. #filmmaking pic.twitter.com/cIRhcNocAw
— Jacqueline Wright (@TheJacquelineW) December 13, 2015
Describe a memorable character you played
Irma Kronkite in Picnic. I was part of the Alamo City Actors Guild at The University of Texas at San Antonio. It was the first time on a professional level I stood before a live audience to reveal my character and there was no going back. It was a learning experience.
Explain one creative choice you took on set
Sometimes my creative choices are hidden but reflect in my character. For A Bootlegged Story, the director gave his thoughts beforehand so I was able to prepare and brought shoes to set that were a size smaller so when I was in scenes with my character’s boss, my body movement could reflect my frustrations.
What do you want most from a director
A clear vision. If the director communicates their vision to me, I feel my decisions will be trusted and I can go where I need to go with my character.
What actors do you long to work with
Phylicia Rashad, Halle Berry, Meryl Streep, Will Smith, Denzel Washington…I could give you a list!
Why
They were able to make me want to be in a moment with them, their character. Watching them, I could not look away, their brilliance captured me. They are legends in their craft.
United Colors of Benetton – Winter
What advice would you give to actors
Every artist has their own path. You will get there. Trust yourself enough to pass your fears. Too often we are told no and you may start to believe it, DON’T. Support your fellow actors. Study your craft, trust your art and inspire with your art. Put positive vibes out so positive vibes come in. Don’t equate your success to the amount of money you make or the number of high-profile roles you book. You can do everything “right”, check every box and still not book the role. You have to trust yourself, if not you will stop challenging yourself. Dream. Believe. Achieve.
Briefly write about your career
My career began in modeling and my first major campaign was for United Colors of Benneton, which landed me in Cosmopolitan and Seventeen. I continued modeling and went to New York City for a meeting with Ford Models. I didn’t get signed with the agency but I wanted to continue. Those experiences along with countless film auditions gave me a drive to pursue my passion of acting as a professional career. I wanted to experience theatre and gain more understanding, so if I didn’t land a role, I asked to help on set. This allowed me to see behind the scenes, network and gain knowledge. I moved to New York City as soon as I graduated college and continued to study acting. I acted in student films and auditioned like a mad woman. Soon, I was adding theatre, television and film credits to my resume to include: Picnic, A Bootlegged Story, Bump and Grill for the New York Television Festival, The Unidentified, Friday Night Lights, Without a Trace and commercials. I felt free with my art in New York City so I began writing, experiencing behind the camera, and pushed forward with acting . I love art, all expressions of it and I want my work to leave a positive impact. Right now, I’m filming with The Incident, a comedy variety web series filmed predominantly in Austin and San Antonio.
