Today we’d like to introduce you to ANoelle Jackson.
Hi ANoelle, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My love for entertainment started when I was young. However, the journey into acting started out differently for me. When I was in elementary school, I was cast in my first production. To say I was excited would be an understatement. I practiced my lines over and over again until showtime. As soon as I got on stage, I forgot every single line. Fear came over me so strongly that I froze in the middle of the stage. White lights blinded me, my mind could not remember any of the lines, and I ruined the show. Next thing I know, I ran off the stage and vowed to never act again. Although I thought acting would be the death of me, I always loved watching movies and stage plays. Something inside of me would not let the dream completely die. Years later, I attended Curtis Senior High School in University Place, Washington.
I vividly remember standing in the hallway, looking at the sign-up sheet for electives. I saw the Intro to Theatre class and, of course, I hesitated to sign up. That is, until the theatre teacher, Mrs. Halpin, noticed me. She said, “You should sign up for my class.” Quickly, I replied, “No, I’m sorry, I can’t. I ruined this play in 5th grade and there is no way I can act.” She smiled and said, “That happened a long time ago, I think you should give it a try”. So I did. That class soon changed my life. I went from taking the class to auditioning for the spring musical, Guys and Dolls, and the rest is history. Mrs. Halpin changed my life. When I didn’t believe in myself, she believed in me. She ignited a passion inside of me that eradicated any fear that I had. To see where my life has taken me so far, I can say that I am so blessed to have had a teacher like Mrs. Halpin. Without her, I would still be that scared child that wouldn’t be fully living her dream. Yes, I am so grateful to have been on TV shows, commercials, and the like. The biggest thing I am grateful for is having someone believe in me when I didn’t believe in myself. Now, I speak to kids and young adults about the importance of living your dreams because that is what Mrs. Halpin did for me.
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?
Obstacles are part of the journey. I definitely have had struggles to get to where I am. One thing I know for certain is that obstacles can be painful. If we don’t reframe our minds to think of obstacles as necessary for growth, then we can be overtaken by them. When I decided to transfer from a 2-year college to a 4-year college, I decided to go to a small school in North Carolina. At the time, the school was known for its strong theatre program. So I went. What I thought was going to be the best time of my life turned into the toughest and most enlightening experience of my life. I remember vividly a time when I decided to direct “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf” by Ntozake Shange. The professors, who were unaware of her work, called me sexist and racist.
I was also told that “creating opportunities for black students in the program is a big mistake because they are not as dedicated to the craft as white students.” Instead of allowing their words to stop me, I pushed myself and continued to do my work. Despite their efforts to stop me, I directed the show and, to my pleasant surprise, the show sold out almost every night. That is just one experience out of many. Fast forward to my time in Los Angeles, there were many times when I thought my journey was over. I drove 16 hours from my hometown to LA with less than $1200.00 in my bank account. But my dream was greater than my sacrifice. I’ve even had family members lose faith in me and talk about me behind my back. But none of that noise is greater than the dream I have.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I consider myself a multi-hyphenate. My first love is acting and always will be. I also speak to young people about living out their dreams and being fearless. As far as my accomplishments, I am very proud of my recent one! I was a contestant on The Weakest Link and made it to the final round. I’ve also appeared in the television show “The Librarians”, formerly on the TNT network. I was also featured in a couple of commercials. I was in a commercial for the credit monitoring website, Credit Sesame, which aired regionally during the Superbowl in 2018. Also, I was featured in the commercial “Kings Of Style”, the AT&T campaign that highlighted Dapper Dan’s life and career. What sets me apart from others is my openness to the journey. I love sharing my story with the next generation so they can learn what to do and what not to do. There is more to come from me. From acting to writing to speaking, I have dreams that I am still striving to achieve. Next up, my production company.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
In honor of my eldest sister, Leslie, I am writing a book based on the advice she’s given me throughout the years. Due to Covid-19, I had to push the date back for its release. However, my goal is to release the book “Love, Sister” on her birthday, April 27th, 2021. Another surprise, before Covid-19 I was invited to speak at the Girls Empowerment Conference in Austin and in Houston, Texas. Lastly, I’ve been screenwriting and been working on my own production company. More details are coming soon!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: bethefearlessactress.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fearlessactress/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFearlessActress
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TFActress
Image Credits
Girls Empowerment Conference-Houston Girls Empowerment Conference-Austin Golden Globes Photographers- Cyrus Soto; Ricky German; Kenya Shakoor Make-Up- Ricky German; Cyrus Soto Designers- Ricky German; Dmitry Mihkeyev
