We recently had the chance to connect with Krystina Bailey Brawer and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Krystina , it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Nowadays, I’ve been called to support actors more than ever before. In 2021, I wrote my first book, “Actors! What You Need to Know Before Moving to LA,” which quickly became an Amazon bestseller. After its release, I realized that actors had an even greater appetite for knowledge and guidance. Rather than writing a follow-up book, I chose to make myself more available to answer their specific questions directly.
Now, I regularly consult with actors on the business side of the entertainment industry. I sit down with clients to review their current materials, assess what’s working (and what isn’t), and help them get clear on their next steps; whether they’re seeking representation, PR, building their brand, or refining their strategy. Every client walks away with actionable steps tailored to their goals. It’s up to them to follow through, but I’m here to help them get started on the right path and act as an accountability partner along the way.
I used to worry that I didn’t have all the answers, since I’m still building my own career. But the more I consult, the more I realize just how much I’ve learned and how valuable that knowledge is to others navigating this industry.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Krystina Bailey Brawer and I’m an actress, author, acting consultant, and influencer. What makes my brand unique is that I draw from my own life experiences and tailor them to help my audience, knowing that no one else has my exact journey. Everyone navigates the entertainment industry differently, but I use my knowledge and insights to guide others in finding what works for them.
One of the most rewarding aspects of what I do is that I’m always learning. The entertainment industry is constantly evolving, and I believe that if you’re not keeping up, you’re falling behind. I encourage the actors I work with to always be ready for their opportunities. I emphasize “your” because what’s meant for you won’t miss you and no one else can take it from you.
A little more about me as an actress is that I’ve appeared in TV shows including “The Savant” (Apple TV+), “Beyond the Gates” (CBS), “The L Word: Generation Q” (Showtime), Jordan Peele’s “Weird City” (YouTube Premium), “Blue Bloods” (CBS), and “The Family Business” (BET+).
I’m a graduate of Manhattanville University with a double major in Theater and Education, and I hold a Business of Entertainment Certificate from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. I’ve starred in six independent films and co-produced one that earned multiple honors, including an Award of Recognition from the Accolade Global Film Competition.
My play “Showtime” earned me a Best Playwright nomination in the Midtown International Theater Festival, and my book Actors! What You Need to Know Before Moving to LA reached #1 in Amazon’s Performing Arts Industry new releases.
Most recently, I became a quarterfinalist in the Black Boy Writes/Black Girl Writes Mentorship Program for my pilot Actors! What They Don’t Tell You, and I’m honored to be a 2025 Groundings Theatre & School Diversity Scholarship recipient.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I think the rule-follower in me has served its purpose and now, it’s time to let it go. I’m ready to take more risks in my career, especially in my auditions. That means adding improv, playing with buttons at the end of takes, and sending in multiple versions that show bold, distinct choices.
For many years, I followed the rules by the book, and it’s taken me far. But now I’m curious to see what happens when I let go of playing it safe. I’m ready to try something new to surprise myself and others. I have a feeling it’s going to be great!
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There wasn’t a moment when I seriously considered giving up, but there was a time I came close to being content with how far I’d come in my career. Last year, I was offered a well-paying full-time position at a well-known production company, and I thought, “If this works out, maybe I’m okay with where I’ve landed.”
But wouldn’t you know it, right after I completed the training and officially started the job, I booked a network television show and had to fly out of town to shoot it. That experience was a clear reminder to keep going in my acting career. Since then, that momentum has also led me to start consulting actors in their careers, which has brought me an even deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would tell you that helping others truly matters to me. It’s the reason I wrote my book and started my consulting business. As I continue to grow in my career, I want to see others grow alongside me. If there’s any way I can help someone by sharing my own experiences, offering advice, being a accountability companion or just an open ear for listening, I’m more than happy to do so.
I want to see actors win and achieve their deepest desires and that is part of what draws me to this industry. I understand the validation actors feel when they are performing on stage, in film, or on TV and are able to move an audience in some way. The audience’s emotional response moves performers just as much as it moves the audience.
I’m grateful that I’ve always known what I was meant to do with my life and I am excited to continue with my services.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’m absolutely doing what I was born to do. People often ask me why I’m so happy every day, and I tell them it’s because I get to do what I love. Being an actor isn’t an easy pursuit, it demands patience, tenacity, endurance, and the ability to navigate both failure and success. It takes encouragement, strategy, resilience, perseverance, durability, gratitude, and joy. I wouldn’t continue to pursue this career if I weren’t capable of meeting those demands. And as I reach new milestones, I find myself appreciating the journey even more.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.actorswhatyouneed.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krystinabaileybrawer/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystina-bailey-brawer-35b2b067
- Twitter: https://x.com/KrystinaShanel
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KrystinaBaileytheActress/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@krystinabailey9190
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5102835/
Image Credits
Idalmiz Lopez, Doree Seay, Trang Vo and Todd Williamson
