Jackie Dallas was born in upstate NY, but raised in Central Florida. Ever since she was a little girl, she was a performer. Maybe not always for an audience, but for her stuffed animals, her grandma, and her reflection in the mirror. She was always singing and dancing. She recalls saying to my mom “I’m gonna be an actress when I grow up” and she’d smile and pat Jackie Dallas on my head as she tried not to trip on her.
Haha! Jackie Dallas‘ first time on stage was for an elementary school Thanksgiving play, and she wanted to be a little Indian princess, but was cast as a Blueberry. she remembers being incredibly disappointed, thinking, “Who even EATS blueberries at Thanksgiving?!?” But she was already hooked.
As Jackie Dallas grew older, she did school plays, local theater productions and even worked as a counselor for a children’s summer theater camp, but she also found herself drawn to science and medicine. I went to the University of Florida and majored in Microbiology and ultimately went to medical school. Due to the demands of the profession, she had less and less time to pursue acting, but a year after her graduation, she was invited to film a mini-documentary for herher medical school about life in residency.
When she was filming, it was the first time that she ’d been back in front of a camera and an audience in years and something in her woke up. So, she started auditioning again on the weekends and whenever she had a spare moment. she was working over a hundred hours a week between the two jobs and with a little encouragement and a LOT of deliberation, she made the decision to pursue acting full time. Jackie Dallas moved to California three years ago and have been working steadily as an actor since!
Duuudes!! Check out this sneak peek set photo from my latest feature film Diverted Eden! So excited for it to come out! #PIBproductions #bts pic.twitter.com/E1ChacX0oy
— Jackie Dallas (@JaxDallas) December 30, 2016
Did you study acting
Every day. I didn’t formally train at a theater program or university, but I started learning and honing my craft from the first day that I set foot on set. Since then, I’ve read countless books, watched hours of YouTube, and listened to the experienced wisdom and advice of the actors, casting directors, agents and managers I’ve met along the way. Every class or workshop that I take, I’m able to push myself a little more. I’m constantly filming myself to critique my auditions, reading scripts to analyze characters, pushing my boundaries with stunt courses, fighting classes, vocal classes, etc. And the more I learn, the more I realize there is to learn… Even if it’s watching shows and films to see how the A-listers do it!
What acting technique do you use
I think that while it is helpful to explore different techniques, there is no single correct choice for everyone. Everyone has a different style and it’s important to find the one that works best for you. What works for me is a whole lot of preparation ahead of time so that I can be confident on the day of work. I like to know the script and the character forward and backward, inside and out, so that when the camera starts to roll, I can just slip into character. And my technique can vary from film to film, some roles that require a lot of emotion, energy, or is very different from who I naturally am, I find I need to employ more method acting for consistency. But at the end of the day, when I wash the makeup off and take the wardrobe off… it’s important for me to be able to be me again.
Do you take courses to improve your craft
I do. I’ve taken classes and workshops of all different types throughout the years and my favorites are workshops taught by casting directors of the shows that I watch to learn from. They not only give you valuable feedback on your acting and performance, but it’s always interesting to see what casting directors look for and notice in auditions from actors. In addition to acting and auditioning classes, I’ve also taken courses for stunt work and on how to handle different firearms on film. I’ve always wanted to break into action films and in order to do so (or any specific genre), I believe you need to learn about more than just ‘acting’.
What acting books do you read
One of the most helpful books I’ve read was for the business side of acting called “Self-Management for Actors” by Bonnie Gillespie. I feel that the skill of acting is a craft where you have to find a way to learn those skills in a way that works for you, but nobody really teaches you the business side of acting. And acting is a business. The entertainment industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and if you want to give yourself the best chance to make it, you need to learn how the industry works and how to market yourself as an actor that the production wants to hire and take their chances on.
How do you keep fit as an actor
I try and go to the gym a few times a week, but even if I don’t have time to go, I at least try and squeeze in a half hour of floor stretching and exercises from home. I have a pretty healthy diet already, but watching my portions is the hardest part… and pizza. That’s my weakness. Haha! Mentally, I try not to stress so much because at the end of the day, I love what I do. But to keep from burning out, I treat each day like a typical work day. On film days, I have limited control over my hours, but on non-filming days, I limit my work day from 9 to 5. After 5pm, I step away from the computer, take a stretch, walk outside, go out for dinner, watch TV, whatever it is to be a part of normal everyday reality. Granted, last minute phone calls and emails happen, which I need to address, but I make it a priority to relax after working all day.
How do you prepare for a role when you get it
I read each script about a hundred times. It’s important for me to not only analyze my character but also how they contribute to the story. Why their words and actions are written the way they are. Another thing I do while learning my lines is rehearse the scenes as many times as I can, in as many different ways as possible… different actions, different emotions, different attitudes… many times, when you get on set. There are last minute changes and the director may have a different vision that the one you saw. I find that if you prepare for as many different scenarios as possible, not only are you better prepared to do your work, but you may find that you like one that works better than the one you tried before.
How do you create a character from a script into a person
No matter the size of the role, each character is written into the story for a reason, and it’s your responsibility as an actor to bring that character to life and make them a believable person in that reality. I come up with a backstory for my character based on the clues and context within the script. Then I fill in the untold details with myself. That way, I feel that my performance can be as authentic as it can be since I’m ultimately drawing from myself and my own memories and experiences.
How do you stay fresh on set
The most important thing for me is to find my space. Production sets can be hectic and loud and it’s important to be able to have a room or corner to retreat to and take a breather, drink some water, read lines for the next scene or whatever else I need to do. I make sure to drink lots of water, cause I find that when I get caught up with work, I tend to forget that I’m hungry or thirsty. I also like to take moments to check in on social media to share my experiences with my fans and I get energized by reading all the encouraging comments. When I get back on set, I feel that I’ve had time to recharge, rehydrate and review my lines so that I can give the best performance I can.
Describe a memorable character you played
In feature film Hunting Season, that came out last summer starring Tom Sizemore and Eric Roberts, I played a kidnapped character, Maggie. This was by far the most challenging character I’ve ever had to play, not only emotionally, but physically. I was literally bound with ropes on the floor of an abandoned barn for several days of the shoot, and running through the dry hills of Northern California that were only accessible by an ATV vehicle. My character was beaten, strangled and I really had to utilize all of my training from the combat and stunt classes I’d taken to pull it all off in a safe and believable way. Additionally, this was not glamorous role and I really liked that I got to play a tired, dirty and beaten female character with an inner strength and fighting spirit. Funnily enough, since then I’ve played a kidnapped victim a few times… I guess other directors and casting directors saw the film and liked my performance.
Explain one creative choice you took on set
In a recent web series I did, Good Enough, there is a scene where my character, Emily, had been kinda sorta dumped by a guy that she was seeing, and she is at this house party which subsequently leads to a confrontation. The director DB Cheng was pretty great about letting us make our own choices, and he simply led us into the scene with “… and it’s a fun party and everyone is having a great time!” Rather than having a good time at the party to forget about being dumped, I decided that it would have been funnier if Emily was NOT having a good time, and the only reason she was even at this party was to “bump” into the guy. I played the scenes being slightly antisocial, but obnoxious… glaring at other party goers, loudly deflating balloons, being drunk and bored… some of the outtakes were really hilarious and it made the scene that much more funny!
What do you want most from a director
I think the best directors know how to get what they need from their actors. And all actor director relationships are different, but I really thrive when I can see that the director has a specific vision and is able to communicate that with me. I appreciate autonomy to make my own character choices, but I equally enjoy the challenge of bringing the director’s character to life.
The amazing Melange Team: Patrisha Bailey ,Kylie and all the amazing models you rocked my day.
What actors do you long to work with
I am a big fan of Bradley Cooper.
Why
He first caught my eye as the smooth talking, charismatic, devil may care Phil in the Hangover, but he’s since proved himself to be more than a pretty face. He’s an incredibly talented actor who’s demonstrated his skill and versatility in American Sniper, Silver Linings Playbook, and a run on Broadway for Elephant Man. Furthermore, I really respect him as a person who has rallied for his female counterparts, advocates for equality, and donates thousands to various charities. But most importantly, he just seems like a really cool guy and I want to share jokes with him and Jennifer Lawrence at the Oscars one day. Lol!
What advice would you give to actors
Do it because you love acting. Not for the pursuit of fame. Acting is long hours, unpredictable environmental conditions, extended trips away from home, personal sacrifice, public scrutiny, unexplained rejections, and hundreds of auditions that go unaddressed. Many people decide to pursue acting because they see it as a way to achieve Stardom, but being an actor and being a celebrity are not the same thing, and you will never feel more unknown and insignificant that you will when you first put yourself out there in front of hundreds of casting directors and peers and not get the part. If you love acting, you’ll learn and grow and persevere through it, upwards and onwards to fulfilling that passion. If you are searching for public approval and validation, it’ll be the most discouraging thing you’ll experience.
Briefly write about your career
What started out as student films and backyard productions, I’ve been able to be a part of blockbuster films and see myself on the theater screens! My work has taken me from coast to coast and it’s been kind of an incredible journey. I never could have imagined that I would be where I am today five years ago. These days, I’m getting the opportunity to audition for some great television shows and am best known for my role as Jen in Stranger Things, Mr. Clarke’s girlfriend. As awesome as being on a hit show is, I still really love doing indie films when I have time also. I am blessed to have a wonderful circle of talented friends and filmmakers and it’ll be really exciting to see where we all go from here!
Website | IMDB | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Tumblr
