Rising Stars: Meet Tamara Goodwin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamara Goodwin.

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?
Since I’ve chosen so many different career paths, it’s hard to know where to start. I guess the best place to begin would be when I was in undergrad. I was in nursing school working towards my BSN at The University of Texas at Arlington when I first started modeling. One day a photographer I was working with suggested that I get into Acting. I didn’t really know anything about acting or how to get into it, but it was something that I was always curious about. Not knowing really what to do, the photographer ended up filming a piece of my SLAM poetry, which I sent to Linda McAlister Talent. I met with Linda later that week and was signed on the spot. I had no idea that meeting would change my life.

From there, I started doing more commercials, print work, and industrials as I learned more about the acting craft. By this time, I had finished college, passed NCLEX and started a Medical-Surgical residency at Texas Health Resources as a full-time RN. It was a new program they started in an attempt to create ” super nurses”. Basically, it was a two years commitment with the first year rotating nursing units every six weeks so the nurse could essentially float anywhere in the hospital. In my mind, a 2-year commitment wasn’t crucial because I had plans on getting my Master’s in Business Administration at Texas Woman’s University. Not only did my master’s take two years to complete anyway, but also Texas Health helped me pay for some of it. Shout out to free education!

Towards the end of my residency and final semester of grad school, I received an audition for Friday Night Lights. It was my first TV audition and somehow, I booked it (If you’re wondering if I got to work with Micheal B. Jordan the answer is yes and I was sweating bullets. Literally. Bullets. It was so embarrassing). That was it for me though. I knew I wanted to pursue acting to the full extent after that. So three days after I graduated with my MBA, I quit my job, panicked because I didn’t have a new job to fall back on, but luckily found a travel assignment that would relocate me to Los Angeles. I moved here in 2012 and never left.

Since then, I have done numerous commercials, TV shows, movies, etc. I have also ventured into Real Estate and became a licensed Realtor (hit me up if you need any help buying or selling a home), I’ve been promoted to an Assistant Director for UCLA Health, and I have just recently published my first children’s book Ruby Green And The First Day Of School available on Amazon.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been a smooth road for me. Seriously, what does that even look like? Since I have chosen multiple career paths, I’ve had to do a lot of learning to be competent in multiple areas. This means a lot of failures but ultimately a lot of success. I can’t tell you how many “NOs” I’ve had from auditions, the countless hours I spent figuring out how to publish a book, the amount of pressure being the only black assistant director in my department, or the numerous hours I have spent drafting offers, contracts and emails for real estate. Last year alone was one of the most difficult periods of my life dealing with COVID from both a civilian and frontline nurse standpoint. All of this has made me strong. There are always lessons to learn in struggles. You just have to be open to receive them.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Helping people is what essentially motivates me to do the things that I do. Whether it’s caring for the sick, helping a couple find a home, or helping a child see a reflection of themselves in a book; contributing to the greater good is my life’s purpose. Out of everything I’ve done thus far, I think that publishing a children’s book is my favorite. Empowering the black community is of great importance to me, and the thought of young black children seeing themselves represented warms my heart.

What does success mean to you?
Success means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. I define success by happiness. We are all given different gifts and different paths to walk. Regardless of what you’ve done and what you’ve got, if you aren’t happy with who you are or the choices you’ve made, does your “success” even really matter?

Pricing:

• Ruby Green And The First Day Of School paperback: $11.99 on Amazon
• Ruby Green And The First Day Of School Kindle eBook: $6.99 on Amazon

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.tamaragoodwin.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1tamaragoodwin
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tamara.goodwin.94
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/1tamaragoodwin
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096TN9S3D

Image Credits:
Jay Matthews James Depietro