Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Reid.
Hi Jasmine, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was raised in Memphis, TN the majority of my life by my mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and godmother mostly. My mother worked as a flight attendant when I was younger so she traveled quite a bit hence the combination upbringing by other family members. Sometimes it sucked having my mother travel, but the upside was great because it allowed me the chance to travel and experience throughout my childhood. Being around many people also gave me the chance to really learn and observe different personalities and I would find myself doing impressions and voices of friends and family members, typically to myself. I was an introverted extrovert. I had my moments where I enjoyed being around people laughing and making jokes, but also really loved my alone time getting lost in movies, books, and tv shows as a kid and teen. I was watching anything from the Power Rangers to That’s so Raven to Liar Liar to The Usual Suspects. I absorbed it all and would find myself practicing lines from shows not really realizing I was “acting.” I just knew I was happy and having fun. It wasn’t until I was about thirteen or so I was like, “it would be cool to be on a tv show,” but I wasn’t really sure what to do with that feeling so for the longest I just kept it to myself. When high school rolled around, I was focused on doing what I believed was the “right” path. The path that society tells us we are supposed to have — go to school, get good grades, go to college, get a job, marriage, kids, etc. I wholeheartedly believed that was what I had to do so I would have a good life and not disappoint my mother who sacrificed a lot of her life for her kids. So, I got good grades, tried to befriend everyone, joined different clubs, played sports, got elected prom queen by the junior class (my high school had a rule where the junior class elected the senior class prom king and queen), and forgot about the feeling I had about acting. Little did I know, my desire for acting would manifest in other ways. In the moments where I wasn’t being the serious kid, I would find myself randomly rapping, cracking jokes, and just trying to make my close friends laugh. I was kind of shy around other people I didn’t know and my confidence wasn’t great. I always felt like people were judging me. I had a lot of body image and colorism issues. I was always on the thicker side and would hear comments like Amazon, Stallion, and Little Buff which obviously were about my body. I remember going on jogs and coming back to my room and doing push-ups and crunches until I couldn’t as a teen not losing weight and being like what am I not doing right, why won’t my stomach flatten and legs shrink. Why can’t I just be better. For the longest time, I was almost ashamed of who I was and what I looked like because I had this idea of what “beautiful” was supposed to be. I was ashamed to have a darker complexion and wished I was lighter, so people would think I was pretty, and it definitely didn’t help when a white kid who was supposed to be my friend would make “jokes” like calling me Predator and getting laughs at my expense because of my skin and how I wore my hair. As I grew up I embraced who I was and now I’m like hell yes I’m a chocolate Amazon with thighs that save lives, what’s up and I love the way my body is shaped and how when the sun hits my skin I shimmer!
Now, my acting bug was nibbling away at my soul for the longest, and I remember going to see a play my senior year to support a friend of mine from Spanish class and I just recall having this spark and happiness come over me. I was like, I want to do that, but I was embarrassed to admit I wanted to perform, plus I hadn’t done it outside of being at home in front of my mirror. I felt like that’s not what you are supposed to do with your life and I ended up talking myself out of it in a matter of minutes, suppressing that urge. Fast forward, I ended up getting into the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and declaring my major in Exercise Science with the ultimate goal of becoming a Physical Therapist or Athletic Trainer. I was focused and was ready to have the college experience and be an adult away from home. My first two years, I took all the basic classes and some of my major-related courses and I actually really enjoyed my Biomechanics and Physiology classes, but then my junior year of college came, I finally enrolled in my mandatory fine arts course, Intro to Performance and I was blown away. I learned about the various acting techniques, breathing exercises , scene study, stage, and so much! I ended up really latching on to method acting and Meisner simultaneously. Somewhere during that class I went to go see “Picnic” by William Inge and remember laughing and feeling this joy and didn’t care who knew or saw or what they thought. You know that scene from X-Men First Class between James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender when he taps into his happy memory about his mother and he just surrenders and let’s go and is able to turn that huge satellite, I felt that happy surrender while I was in that class and made the choice to finish with my degree as I was halfway done, but pursue acting. The first time I got to actually perform in front of anyone was in that class and there was this huge rush and then I did it again performing my first ever monologue from Jack Nicholson character in “A Few Good Men.” From there I continued to attend plays and enroll in local acting classes while in school and started to research what I needed to really pursue a career in film and tv.
After graduating, I moved back to Memphis and enrolled at Indie Acting Studio which was taught by Forrest Pruett. I loved that place and felt like things were starting to click and feel right. I was finally on the path I was supposed to be on you know. I would perform scenes and feel this adrenaline come over me and I loved that feeling. I auditioned for my first short film in a library and ended up booking the role with three of my classmates from the acting school and then later got another role in a short film where I got to flex my comedy chops. I continued to find monologues from movies and perform them at home and try to record myself on my iPad. Even though I was excited, I still had this bit of shyness and feeling of not wanting to be judged so I would put monologues up on YouTube and then delete them and then do it again. There was a doubt, but the more and more I practiced, the more I got over the doubt which I believed stemmed from abandoning a career in PT. Around September or October of 2014 an opportunity presented itself. My mother ended up getting a job in Southern California earlier that year and had been living out in California. It was like the universe said here’s a sign, don’t mess it up! I packed up and hopped on a plane and when I got off, there was a wheelchair that had SAG printed on it. If that wasn’t a sign, I don’t know what is. So I ended up living in OC for a bit working a 9 to 5 job using my degree to work and make a living, but when I got off work, I would hop in my car and drive 2.5 hours in LA traffic to go to acting classes twice a week.
Almost a year and a half later, I officially moved to LA, gave up my cushy income and was going to auditions, taking classes as I could, and trying to survive without working a full-time job which involved a lot of app-based, substitute teaching, and brand ambassador work which ended up taking up more time because I had to search, apply, and work those jobs and it was difficult to balance and stay focused. It was taking time away from what I came to LA to do. So, I really evaluated the important things in my life and had to cut the unnecessary ones and be more responsible which meant keeping my finances in check, finding me time, deciding to not do any more unpaid acting gigs, and finally really saying “I am an actor.” Over the past two and a half years, I have signed with a manager, shot a Pilot Presentation called “Love Not Likes”, appeared on the Crypt TV show “The Look-See,” worked on “Ms. Purple,” currently on Hulu, and had a role in “I’m 13 Yo!” on Amazon Prime along with other short films. Even during this pandemic, I have managed to continue to audition, honed my self-tape game, and work safely and covered on a trailer to be pitched as a feature. When I’m not working on other people’s projects, I am writing, filming, and editing my own sketches and putting them on IG and Tik Tok which has been amazing especially in finding my own voice and sharing my perspective. In the end, trust yourself and follow that voice or feeling.
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?
Heck no! I would say the furthest thing from smooth. Pursuing a career in acting is a long and hard road. It takes determination, thick skin, confidence, and a never quit attitude and then some. For me, it’s been an up and down journey and it has really challenged my mental state and self-confidence. When you get so many no’s, which is the nature of the business, you find yourself questioning. At one point in my career, I was questioning who I was, what I had to offer, my talent, and if I made the right choice. I would play the compare game with others, whether it be someone from an acting class or an established actor and it really put me in a bad mindset where I started to have a lot of anxiety and probably depression. I never really knew or explored it because there was this ongoing stigma for the longest time amongst black people about stress and anxiety and any other emotional state. We don’t do feelings, just and suppress them and pray them away, but never deal with them directly. Saying you felt sad or angry or anxious wasn’t allowed in a sense and perceived as weak or something. You had to be strong no matter what. I got to a point where I said screw that and it seemed like other black people in my generation were saying the same thing. Not dealing with it didn’t help so I talked to a therapist and found outlets for myself getting back into physical activity like boxing and going to the gym, cooking, turning off my phone and trying to connect with people which is hard at times especially in a fast paced city like LA. Having relationships here has been a struggle and not just dating. I feel like I don’t have genuine friends I can just talk to and text on a regular basis. Everyone is focused on themselves and how their career and life is moving. I get it I do, but damn, can we turn off networking mode for a second and just live and connect!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
To date, my favorite performance has been performing with Soul Sistas comedy in February 2019 at the Pack Theater and I got to impersonate Oprah Winfrey. The audience was so receptive with their laughter and comments, I was like I definitely have to stick with comedy. I’m really known in film for being that aloof, no nonsense, matter of fact type playing a lot of serious and dramatic roles. People have said I’m the voice of reason or rebel who can hang with the guys and I see that for sure especially when people first meet me and see my work, but those who really get to know me and peel back the layers know your girl is funny AF! I’m animated, dynamic, love to laugh, empathetic, always curious, and a bit of a Marvel nerd — this was before the cinematic universe. You couldn’t tell me anything as a kid! I had my 90s childhood lineup popping with animated Spiderman, Incredible Hulk, and X-men. I probably have more way more Marvel paraphernalia than one adult should have. At the moment, I would say most people do know me for comedy because I produce my own skits and post them on social media. I’m very proud of my work because it’s original and I followed through. That has been my goal with writing and filming my own content, have the idea and execute it because it’s so easy to second guess and talk yourself out of things you want to do. Once I put it out, I’m like whoever sees it sees it and whoever vibes with it vibes with it. My audience will find me and I’ll find them.
Ultimately, I think what really sets me apart is that I’m so receptive and willing to listen in all aspects of my life. I’m just always curious about other cultures and people’s lives and just anything I may have not experienced or understand. I find myself asking “why” and “how” in the most respectful way I can of course. I have this empathetic and compassionate side to me because as someone who has been judged so much from others and myself I know that there is more than meets the eye. That curiosity and empathy lends itself nicely to creating my own content and acting.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Try to stay positive in whatever you do. I know it’s hard especially with the way the world, hell, the country is right now, but try your best to keep your head up. And if there is something you want to do, go for it! Don’t let other people’s opinions keep you stagnant.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jasminereid.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jasminereid03
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/jasminedreid
- Other: www.tiktok.com/@jasminereid03
Image Credits:
Photo: Jasmine Reid _ Credit Kevin McIntyre DSC6805 – Shot by Kevin McIntyre Photo: Jasmine Reid _ Credit Jynelle Sumera IMB _ 2792 4 – Shot by Jynelle Sumera
What to check out next:
Aleasha Bahr is a sales & marketing strategist known for showing introverts and ambiverts the Secret Art of Subtle Selling. She personally sold millions in revenue while discovering introverts are usually top sales people – as soon as they stop trying to act like extroverts. We’ve partnered with her to produce Introverted Entrepreneur Success Stories. Check out episode 1 below:
