Today we’d like to introduce you to Chevonne Hughes.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Chevonne. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve wanted to be on television & in film since I was a kid. Sure, as I grew up, I became interested in other possible careers, but my desire to act never went away. I was involved in my hometown county’s yearly musical, my high school’s theatre program, and club, and then eventually enrolled at Boston University (BU). I was accepted into their College of Fine Arts’ Theatre and Acting Program. There I had the opportunity to study abroad at The London Academy of Music and Dramatic arts, LAMDA for short. I had a pretty well-rounded acting and theatre education. Once I graduated, I moved across the country to Los Angeles with the amazing safety net of BU’s post-graduate internship program. I didn’t realize how much hard work went into starting an acting career in LA, but the program gave me a good head start as I got to meet and work with top casting directors, directors & producers. Flash forward I’m a full-time actor for now. I say “for now” because as we all know, there are some pretty crazy highs and lows in this business. Right now, I’m grateful for this crazy high. I have a Sag national commercial airing and I’m finishing up my 4th season recurring on a hit TV show on OWN called “Greenleaf”.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Struggled for years, as “my type” wasn’t marketable at my age. My self-esteem took a huge hit. Some years I was actively as I should have. It was a dark time where I questioned how much more time was I willing to give this dream of acting, the only thing I’ve wanted to do my whole life, to actualize. An older actor of a similar type alleviated my concerns by telling me, “Chevonne, once you turn 30, you’re going to book!.” I shook my head in disbelief, but it also kept me holding on long enough to book my first commercial.
I always knew that as a character actor, my path wouldn’t be a straight shot to TV shows and film like other actors. I knew commercials would be my way in. It would be much easier to sign with a commercial agent than theatrical one, so that’s what I focused on. I knew that if I focused on that, and kept preparing myself with continued study, i.e., commercial classes (Shout out to Killian McHugh), improv classes (Second City Hollywood, UCB, Groundlings) and audition classes, progress was inevitable. Proud to say I wasn’t wrong. My commercial agency agreed to sign me theatrically! Then, I hit a roadblock. I had no theatrical credits, and Casting Directors didn’t know me. My agent couldn’t get me out enough, so I was dropped. I didn’t take it personally, and I totally understood. About a week after I was dropped, I got a phone call from my agent saying that they had one last audition for me. It was for a new Amazon Prime show. IT WAS ON! I called around to find an audition coach. None were available last minute. Luckily an actor friend agreed to coach me via Skype. Thanks again Kenzo! Guess what? I BOOKED IT! And guess what else? My agency asked me back!
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
Right now, I’m acting, but along the way, I’ve picked up aspirations while watching professionals work. I really want to pursue writing for TV and/or eventually direct in addition to my acting, but for now, acting is my priority. Hopefully, a few years down the line, I can come back to Voyage LA and talk about my journey on those new paths.
As for what I’m known for? Hmmm.. I don’t know why this question is hard to answer. I don’t really know. I make people laugh, I suppose. I think perhaps that’s a question I should ask my peers. Is that bad I don’t know?
What sets me apart? I think my honesty and vulnerability on and off the stage/screen do.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I were to have the opportunity to redo college, I would have taken communications classes. Learning how to create your own work in this industry is invaluable now. When I was in college, Facebook had just started, and social media was not yet a thing. No one knew how great a platform it would be for independent artists to showcase their own content. It’s never been more easy to get people to see your work. Now I’m having to play catch up and learn on my own. Self-teaching requires so much discipline.
I would have also been more patient and generous with myself when I was first starting out in my 20s. Everyone’s path is different, and I had a much more cookie cutter vision of what was supposed to happen. The demon of comparison was a constant companion and such a hindrance to my progress and mental health.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ChevonneHughes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chevonnehughes_official/?hl=en
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/chevonne_hughes?lang=en
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3230783/
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