We’re looking forward to introducing you to Anne Stedman. Check out our conversation below.
Anne, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
As soon as I wake up, I take my two pugs out and make some coffee. Then I journal, setting my intensions for the day. I look at my to-do list and answer emails. Then if everyone is still sleeping (I try to be the first one up in my family), I get some early morning writing done. I also love to go on walks to my favorite songs or get a workout in to set the tone for day. If you start your day with good vibes, calmness, and some good intentions, things tend to work out better.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I wear a lot of hats in my career, but they do all seem to connect. I’m an actress, writer, producer and content creator. As an actress I just shot a BMW commercial, have been in shows like Loot and Modern Family. I’ve also created digital shows like Chic Mama Drama currently airing on ReelShort and Drunk Mom Reviews on YouTube. I love being able to create my own shows so I am involved in the whole creative process. I’ve also written two movies that I am currently shopping.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
This is a great question because I think we all start to live according to other people’s expectations of us rather than our real truth. As we get older we are told to become more practical. When I was little I was constantly creating. I was always making up stories, putting on little performances in my backyard, and constantly imaging different worlds and characters. It wasn’t something I was trying to do – it was just who I was. Then when I got older, suddenly everyone had opinions about about what a real career should look like. I started to question whether the creative part of myself was still valid in my life. Then I realized that I could still enjoy what I love in life with the career path I have chosen. The only difference now is I have more skills and experience in how to channel my creatively. I still get to be what the little girl in me wanted all along.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I never really ever wanted to give up, but there were periods where I stepped away, especially when my kids were born. I had just finished a TV show when I got pregnant with my first child. There was a lot of pressure going back to try to find a new acting job and to be honest, my drive to “get back out there” wasn’t really my priority. During those years, I decided to learn new skills so I could still be the creative person I wanted to be. When I felt ready to work again I started developing my own projects like Chic Mama Drama in 2018 (which is now in the vertical space on ReelShort) and putting them out on YouTube. The skills I had been working on during my off period like writing, producing and social media was now paying off. Best of all, I could do this all in my own time so I could juggle being a mom and work at the same time. This also gave me life experiences that ultimately made me a better writer and actor when I was ready to go back full time. And when I decided to come back, I came back stronger because I had more depth as a person, more confident in who I was and now more prepared to be a better actress. I think sometimes we put pressure on ourselves to never take breaks, to always be hustling, but for me, those pauses were part of the journey.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
That I work very hard to try to stay current and understand all the changes that are happening around me. You have to grow with the industry and where it is headed instead of just giving up. It is important to grow as a person and learn new things.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I had 10 years left, I would immediately stop caring about what other people think of my choices. I’d stop second guessing myself which I am getting so much better at doing as I get older. I’d also stop waiting for permission. Stop asking “What if I fail” and start asking “What if I don’t try?” I don’t ever want to look back at my life and regret not trying to do something I wanted. I’m starting to learn that I am not failing if it doesn’t work out, but learning. And when I try it again, I won’t make the same mistake. All the detours and mistakes are part of my story which help me get stronger and my work be more authentic. Most importantly, I would take the time to be with my family and friends to make the most of the time I had left.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.reelshort.com/movie/chic-mama-drama-687ae74295009430a50893f9
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anne_stedman/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-stedman-38629152/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@anne_stedman
