Meet Shellye Broughton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shellye Broughton.

Hi Shellye, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I was a little girl, in my mind I knew I was Shirley Temple–I could sing, I could act, I had charm…no one else could see it through. I grew up in the South where being Black mostly meant that you had a life doing manual labor or being a maid or a nurse. There weren’t too many other options. I decided to keep my secret to myself (who believes a child anyway?) and began reading everything that I could get my hands on, which deemed me weird by children and precocious by adults. Reading allowed me to dream of something more…to see not what was, but what could be. If characters in books could make a life for themselves from poor beginnings, then so could I! I’m a curious person and I really like to be around people with different perspectives than my own. I’ve never met a stranger and I really believe that the older people get, the less curious they become. Being and feeling “young” is a state of mind-it should really be called “being and feeling FORWARD”.

I have many things I want to do, still–sing live with a band, book the lead on a television series, create and write a book, a series…none of that can be accomplished without collaboration, connections. I also take risks. I moved to Germany without knowing the language but also knowing that as an actress, I’ve trained enough in my profession that I could use my skills anywhere. I spent 13 years there, acting on stage, in films and on television. Taking that risk changed my life. I could actually see a wider world through a different lens–so different than how I grew up! I appreciate other people’s experiences now more than ever. I’m a true storyteller. You have to make a life that you’re not born into in order to live the life that you’ve made. I stay helpful to others so that I can stay hopeful to myself. All stories have bumps and detours and sadness in them; I’ve just made my story one of resilience, no matter how devastating the moments can be.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I tried to be the best at whatever I did. I’ve been acting for almost as long as I’ve lived. Without any guidance, I had to rely on other people to sort of lay the flagstones on my path. There were two Black women on television that I remember: Diane Carroll and Lola Falana. When I first saw them, I thought anything was possible for me! I was that kid in school who volunteered for everything, not knowing where it might take me or what it could do for me, and it took me years to realize that I was in service to a higher goal that I could not articulate. I figured that if I believed that I could, then I could achieve anything. The one thing that I knew was that I wanted to be an actress on television and movies–I didn’t have to know how or why, I just had to have unshakable faith that things could happen. I had a hemorrhagic stroke in 2005 and was unable to remember much for about two years.

If a performer doesn’t have their memory, what can they do? Daily, as I struggled with simple tasks like walking, I had to remind myself that it would not be that way forever. I could not live with despair (or my husband, for that matter, lol) and four years later, we separated. He then filed for custody of our daughter and took her back to Germany. I have to say, being separated from her was the longest decade of my life and the most difficult time in my life. She came back to me in 2020. In a year of terrible, tragic situations for so many people, my only child found her way back to her mother. We are getting reacquainted with each other and I am fortunate. In this world, you really have to believe that everything will work out, no matter how horrible it all seems to be.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m proud of my body of work-film, television, theater, commercials, comedies and dramas. I’m most proud of the work I’m doing now, simply because I had a stroke in 2005, and it took me ten years to recognize that I wasn’t done being a creative yet. I missed a lot while my brain was recovering…but my drive and passion remained clear. I firmly believe that without fearlessness, I wouldn’t be here today. I’m also most proud of being a Mother. I didn’t know how much joy a child could be until I had one. I –in some way or another–mother everyone I know. That is the highest form of unconditional love with conditions. I will nurture you and also be honest with you because ain’t nobody got time for that! Indulgence is for children. Honesty and decency is how you nurture relationships. Don’t be afraid to be your true self. It’s okay to be afraid–it’s not ok to give fear any of your precious headspace. Fear does not have a face.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Stay focused. Surround yourself with joyful people. Welcome people into your life so that you will be welcomed into other people’s lives. Have manners and say thank you often. Smile freely. Stay focused. Enjoy the small things and the big milestones. Use your phone to call someone and hear their voice. Be fabulous everyday. Love and forgive yourself! Stay focused. Love other people and don’t waste time on those who do NOT love you back. Tell people you are interested in their humanity, flaws and all. Stay focused. Stay alive and well so that you can become who you are meant to be.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Other: https://vimeo.com/shellyeb