We recently had the chance to connect with Miranda Kathleen and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Miranda, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Until recently, I considered myself a comedic actress who wrote sketches for fun. In the last two years, though, I’ve felt called to create my own television series, which have revealed themselves to be dramas. These are big writing projects that take months – sometimes years – to write and refine. I’ve developed and am currently pitching two one-hour drama pilots and have a long list of ideas for more. Although it’s been challenging, frustrating work, I’ve also never felt prouder to share my stories with the world.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Growing up in Knoxville, Tennessee as the daughter of two radio disc jockeys, I learned to compete for airtime early. I studied theater at Southern Methodist University and The Groundlings School, where I staged bold sketches like “The Exorcism of Tucker Carlson.” Shortly after moving to LA to pursue acting full-time, I broke my face in a near-death skiing accident and rebuilt my confidence through writing. My original pilots include ON AIR (one-hour historical drama about Nashville’s first female DJ on FM radio) and AIMEE (one-hour sci-fi thriller about a hell-bent helpbot). Across my work, I explore the intersections of power, gender, and technology- territory I know firsthand from my time at Netflix and an AI startup. For me, writing is like volleyball or donkeys: I can’t help what I love.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Many of my family members and friends encouraged my writing over the years, which started when I was a kid putting on plays in my basement. My uncle even kept one of my original manuscripts from that time and asked me to sign it all these years later because he “knows” I’m a star. I hope that autograph is worth a lot of money someday!
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Of course! Just a few months after moving to LA to pursue acting, I hit a tree face-first and broke my nose, jaw and orbital lobe in a near-death skiing accident. I also lost a front tooth! All of this made me question whether I could have a future on-camera, and I debated leaving LA altogether. Instead, I took an improv class at The Groundlings and started writing and producing behind the camera. When my face healed, I got back into acting and held on to my writer-producer experience. No regrets!
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
Dolly Parton! Although she’s an incredibly successful and powerful woman, what I admire most about Dolly is her generosity. She helps people around the world, especially in our home state of Tennessee.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people tell stories about how I helped them, whether through acts of generosity or just inspiring some kind of positive change in their lives.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/mirandasnotfunny
Image Credits
Frederick Bowen
