Today we’d like to introduce you to Makena Taylor.
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?
At the heart of my journey is a calling to help people heal—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. That calling has led me down many paths: acting, personal training, and working in addiction recovery. I currently train clients at Revision Fitness and Wellness in Woodland Hills, a sacred space for transformation. Their holistic approach—red light therapy, cold plunges, infrared sauna, meditation pods—has been instrumental in my own healing. These modalities have helped me regulate, restore, and reconnect with myself, and I feel deeply passionate about sharing them with others.
I also work alongside my mother and father at Harmony Place, a drug and alcohol treatment center in Woodland Hills, where I support clients as both a residential advisor and personal trainer. Holding space for others in their darkest moments has shaped my perspective on healing, and how deeply we all crave connection and understanding.
But acting remains the soul of who I am—it’s where I feel most alive, most honest, and most connected to the human experience. It’s not just a career for me, it’s a calling. I recently wrote a TV pilot based on my father’s life and our shared work in recovery. It’s a story about addiction, family, forgiveness, and the spiritual journey of becoming whole—stories I believe the world needs now more than ever.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has been anything but smooth. I’ve faced depression, burnout, and moments where I wanted to give up. For the past few years, I’ve been working 10–14 hours a day—from early morning personal training sessions to late nights at Harmony Place, holding space for those in recovery, all while auditioning, filming, and writing.
Acting has always been my greatest passion—but at times, it’s also been the source of my deepest pain. I’ve struggled with the feeling that I should be further along. Watching others succeed while I felt stuck brought on a deep sense of doubt and disappointment. There were moments when I questioned everything—my worth, my talent, my path. That gap between where I am and where I thought I’d be became a space where depression crept in.
But even in those low moments, I never let go of the belief that I’m meant to do this. That this calling—to step into characters, to tell stories that heal—was placed in me for a reason. The journey has humbled me, cracked me open, and forced me to trust in divine timing. I’ve come to understand that it’s not just about “making it,” it’s about becoming the kind of artist—and human—who can hold space for others through their own stories.
With my recent supporting role in Bride Hard, I feel the universe is opening a new door. My greatest hope is to use acting to reflect back the truths we all carry: the ache of being human, the desire to be seen, the beauty of transformation.
We’re all addicted to something—fear, perfection, validation, distraction. My father’s journey through addiction and recovery has been my greatest teacher, and his story inspired me to write the pilot. Through it, I want to show that healing is messy, beautiful, and deeply universal. We’re not here to be perfect. We’re here to grow, break open, and rise again. And even on the days I feel like giving up, I remember my purpose: to be a light, a mirror, and a reminder that healing is possible.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I work at my father’s treatment center, Harmony Place, and as a trainer at Revision Fitness and Wellness. I’m also an actress and writer, called to tell his story—a sacred journey through addiction, healing, and redemption. I believe in the power of empathy and understanding to awaken truth—and my mission is to help others feel seen, cracked open, and brought back to themselves.
I’m known for films such as Last the Night (on Amazon and Apple) and Bride Hard, in theaters June 20. What I’m most proud of is not giving up on my dreams—and helping others heal as I continue to heal myself.
What sets me apart is the heart of my family’s work in recovery. Growing up around this mission shaped my purpose—and continues to guide everything I do.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I just want to say that healing is never linear—and everyone’s journey looks different. Whether it’s through recovery, movement, or storytelling, I’m here to remind people they’re not alone. If my work can help even one person feel less pain or more connected to themselves, then I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/maktaylorr
Image Credits
Ben Cope
