Conversations with Leslie Henry

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Henry.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Well, I am a new actress here in Los Angeles. I moved here seven years ago from Mississippi. Initially, I didn’t move here for acting. I moved to LA because I simply wanted to see what it was like living in another state. I modeled in college and I was very successful with it so I figured, “Hey, I’m in LA! Why not give it a shot” but I gave up on it very quickly because I am 5’3 and very curvy and I was not confident going up against taller and leaner girls. I also was oblivious to the different categories of modeling. I got the opportunity to be a part of a Fashion Show for The Model Experience and I got my chance to be on the runway again. After being in LA for a couple of years, I always heard people telling me that I should pursue acting or that I looked like someone on TV. Growing up I acted in plays at church and at school which made me interested in acting but I never thought to pursue it because being from MS it did not seem attainable to me. The pandemic happened and I got the chance to Live stream on a platform called LIVIT which granted me the opportunity to meet so many creatives virtually that were doing what it was that I was interested in. I ended up meeting a lady who was originally from my exact hometown and she lived in LA working as a location scout for the industry. She has her own production company and after having a great conversation, she asked me to audition for a short film that she was producing. I thought about it but didn’t move forward. Fast forward a couple of months, I decided to go home and visit for a month since I wasn’t working and I had the free time. I arrived in Mississippi and the lady reached out to me to let me know that they were hosting auditions soon. I wasn’t going to audition because I’ve never auditioned nor have I attended any acting classes before. Deep down I felt like I had what it took because I had been called dramatic my entire life so once again I thought “why not!”. So I took the time to YouTube how to audition and how to slate and what different emotions were. I saw an interview that Will Smith did and he stated that when he was on Fresh Prince of Bel Air he learned everyone’s lines which helped him remember his lines and I did the exact same thing. So I learned my lines and auditioned and surprisingly, I got the part. Filming that short film made me realize that I was right where I belonged. It was a feeling that I can’t explain but I knew that I loved being in front of that camera. Since then I have been in acting classes and I have been auditioning consistently.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
So far it has been a smooth road the only struggle that I had/have was me standing in my own way. Once I decided to stop second-guessing and trust myself it has been blissful and I don’t even feel like I’ve actually started yet. I often remind myself that a No means that it is not for me. So every opportunity that I get, I make sure that I show gratitude no matter what.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an Actress, Model, and YouTuber. I am most proud of my Perseverance. I’ve had plenty of obstacles thrown my way but I still try to see and remember the bigger picture. Although, it can be hard to do so because I can beat myself up about starting late but I have to fight past that and remember that better late than not trying at all. I think that staying true to myself no matter what is what sets me apart from others. One of the things that I was insecure about was my thick southern accent and my curviness But that is a part of who I am and I know that there is a lane out there for me. One thing that you have to remember is there is something out there for everyone. You just have to make sure they align with you and your purpose.

What makes you happy?
Knowing that I get to wake up every day and pursue my dream while having my daughter watch me do so is what makes me happy. I feel like every day I get to show my daughter to never give up on something that you really want. Acting and creating YouTube videos are a big part of me because it is a way for me to show my big personality.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_lesliemoniq/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-henry-1aa08199/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1wVYoNqHc8C4jgPqHSPaYA 

Image Credits
My images were shot by https://www.instagram.com/photosbyjamaal/