Today we’d like to introduce you to Dara Emery.
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?
I’ve known I wanted to be an actor since I was four or five. I was watching Titanic, and back then, there was very little separation for me from what was on a screen and what was real life. I thought it was all real. So, when Leonardo DiCaprio died, I was devastated (I thought he was really cute, even back then!). Months later, we were watching the Oscars, and he walked on stage; my little mind was blown! When I asked my mother how he could be standing there, hale and hearty, she told me he was an actor and had played a character in a story. I was shook, and I decided then and there that I wanted to do that, too. I wanted to create stories that swept people into them and made them feel deeply.
Since then, I’ve pursued acting in every way I could. I attended the High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) in Philadelphia and went on to study Theatre Arts at Brown University. I danced, I dabbled, I learned Japanese, I started writing what will be my very first novel; I deepened my well of beautiful life experiences to draw from. I moved out to Los Angeles as quickly as I could, and I dove right into professional acting. There’s a steep learning curve in this industry, and I suspect I’m still cresting that large upward swing, but I took all of my extra money from acting work or my day jobs and put it into acting classes. I’ve written and starred in my own project, been flown to Tel Aviv to film a commercial, and even been put into a Call of Duty game. Most recently, I attended the red carpet premiere of my first big feature film, Jacob the Baker. I’m so grateful for everything that has happened so far and for all of my accomplishments, and I can’t wait for what’s next!
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?
I’d like to think that becoming an actor is never a smooth road for anyone. Nothing truly worthwhile should be, in my opinion. As far as acting goes, though, there have been so many moments of struggle on my journey. I’ve had to learn a lot regarding the technical and business aspects of my career, from the nuances of filming a self-tape to discovering my brand, marketing myself, and finding an agent who worked WITH me to reach a mutual goal. My first agent made me feel subservient like I should be grateful to be able to work with someone like them. This is already something many actors struggle with: that feeling that someone is “higher” than you, like a casting director, producer, or agent. This leads to that desperate, grubby, obsequious behavior that can be nothing but a turn-off. I had to find my sense of self-worth two times over–once as the person that I am, and then again as the actor, the creative, that I am. I had to find the freedom and presence to stand in my creative power, to ask for what I wanted, and to unapologetically present my work. This, I think, is a lifelong journey, but just looking back at how far I’ve come is heartening.
I’ve also struggled with the craft itself. Acting is extremely difficult–don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! We all struggle with some aspect of the craft. Every time I made progress in a class, I would hit another wall. I can’t stop analyzing myself while I work, or I’m too in my head, or I keep quashing my impulses. What has worked for me–and this is a relatively recent discovery–is the realization that, just maybe, those two ideas of myself, the actor and the person, aren’t so separate after all. I practice self-compassion daily; now I turn that same compassion to my acting, and I stop criticizing myself. I use grounding work like meditation, deep breathing, and yoga to bring myself back into my body when I’m feeling anxious or uncertain; actor Dara needs the very same awareness and care to get out of her head. I hold myself back in daily life because of fears of past traumas that make me worry that my true self will not be accepted; the work I do to heal my inner child will leach into my creative work, bringing self-acceptance and trust into both spaces. Art is intrinsically tied to its artist; that’s the beauty of it. And just like self-work, the work I do on my craft will never end, and there’s something inspiring about that. I can always grow more, and I am limitless.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I feel like my career is at that perfect takeoff point. I have a good chunk of projects under my belt, I know my brand and what roles make me shine, and I’ve made some great professional connections. Add to that the fact that the strike has officially ended–and I worked my butt off to become SAG-Eligible earlier this year–and you’ve got what I see as the perfect storm!
I’ve set my sights on television work for the time being. I love doing comedic roles, especially ones with a lot of physical comedy, and I also thrive in fantasy, science-fiction, or post-apocalyptic projects, so those are the types of projects I’ll be the most jazzed to audition for. That being said, I’d say I’m best known for my dramatic work–lawyer, reporter, detective, that sort of thing. But my career is nascent still, and the possibilities are still unfolding. We’ll see what the next few months bring!
There are two films in particular that I am most proud of. The first, which premiered on November 9th and is in select theaters in Los Angeles now, is Jacob the Baker. I shot it some three years ago, and while I’d say some pretty large changes have happened in terms of my acting, both skill, and confidence, I absolutely loved watching the film the other night! When people came up to me and told me how much the film affected them, how well its message was received, I felt a taste of why this career is such a big part of my life’s purpose. I am in a film that hits deep that even changes minds. Just…wow.
The second film is a comedy, and it’s such a well-written, tongue-in-cheek piece that was just an absolutely ball to be a part of. America’s Next Top Immigrant is exactly what it sounds like. Working on this project just reminded me of how fun acting can be. I can’t help but be grateful when I’m able to do the thing that I love, to laugh and play while doing it, and still have a strong artistic message conveyed through the piece’s themes. The film is running the festival circuit next year, so it’ll be a while before it’s available to watch, but my goodness, I am SO excited to see the finished product!
I mean, listen, I’m a six-foot-tall Black actress with big comedy chops and bigger dreams. If that doesn’t set me apart, then it has to be my goofy sense of humor, that crazy, overly immersive imagination I’ve had since I was a baby, or maybe my heterochromia (my right eye is half-blue). I take my work very seriously, but I’ve never thought that serious had to mean an absence of fun. Joy should infuse everything you do!
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Oh gosh, yes. I read constantly. Fantasy and romance novels keep my imagination in tip-top shape–I spend a large chunk of my time daydreaming, trust me. I also read a lot of books on mindfulness, manifestation, and anxiety management. Some favorites include “Manifesting Made Easy” by Jen Mazer, “The Law of Attraction” and “Ask and It Is Given” by Abraham Hicks, and “The Empath’s Survival Guide” by Judith Orloff, M.D. But some fantastic books on acting that have really given me the guidance I needed to get to where I am today include “A Challenge for the Actor” by Uta Hagen, “The Intent to Live” by Larry Moss, and “Self Management for Actors” by Bonnie Gillespie.
Contact Info:
