Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Woods
Kimberly, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
When I was at Princeton, I took my first acting class and got bit by the acting bug. I was originally pre-med, and I thought that the rest of my life was going to be planned out for me. I felt trapped by that thought, so of course I chose an unpredictable path. Luckily, my parents were supportive of me following my passion, as long as I got my degree. I ended up studying neuroscience and theatre, and moved out to LA right after college.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s been a journey. I think the hardest thing has been getting out of my own way. As an artist, I’ve had to manage that negative voice in my head that, at times, tells me I’m not good enough. And I’ve had to let go of perfectionism. Art is subjective; nothing is ever going to be perfect, and even if you think it is, someone else will think it’s not. It’s my job to keep telling my truth in the story without judging it. There’s no right, there’s no wrong, there may be more effective ways to approach something, but that’s it.
I’m someone who is used to a certain amount of hard work and effort equating to measurable success. If you study for a test and take it, you know soon after if you’ve passed. If you train for a belt in martial arts, and take a test, you know immediately where you stand. This industry is not that. Many times when you submit auditions, you may not hear anything, you may not know who is listening or watching, or how close you’re getting, and that can be hard. Sometimes it feels like you’re submitting into a void. There’s a lot of time spent planting seeds before you actually get to see them take root. I think for me, after years of studying and auditioning, I’m seeing the fruits of that labor.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a film/tv actor, voiceover artist, and producer. I’ve been on shows like Ted, Barry and Westworld. I’ve voiced characters like Lana and Archer’s daughter AJ in Archer, Shard in X-Men ’97, and Lapis in Fire Emblem Engage. Earlier this month, I won an Emmy for producing a documentary called Leveling Lincoln about a 1960s desegregation case that took place in New Rochelle, NY. The feature is directed by Arden T. Lewis and edited by Andrew Jordan. We won for Outstanding Educational and Informational Program. I’m incredibly grateful for all of these projects and the talented people I’ve collaborated with in telling stories.
One of the accomplishments I’m especially proud of is a fantasy short film that I produced and starred in last year called Mintrix and the Elven Figurine. As a queer Black/Latina/Indigenous woman, I don’t often see myself represented as the lead in fantasy stories, a genre that I love. I want to play a part in changing that. Mintrix is a character that I’ve created. She’s intelligent, complicated, and like a medieval, female James Bond. The story is a sapphic romance/adventure with an elf named Nape, played by Valeria Rodriguez (Monster High, Overwatch). I worked with a talented and diverse crew to bring it to life. The short is artfully directed by Andrew Jordan, with wonderful cinematography by Natalia Moscoso. I was lucky enough to work with my close friends, Jillian Terwedo-Malsbury and Lukas Resheske, as fellow producers. I’m also very grateful to the many friends who believed in and supported us in our crowdfunding effort to get the project made. We’re currently in post-production for it, and are hoping that it’ll be a proof of concept for a feature or a new series.
As a producer I want to create more opportunities that uplift underrepresented stories and voices. If I had to choose something that sets me apart from others, it’s my tenacity. As a quiet person, I like to let my actions do the talking.
What were you like growing up?
I grew up the youngest of three. I was a quiet, nerdy kid who was good at school and good at sports. I loved math and science. I played the trumpet. I never fit in one box. I floated between the jocks, the nerds and the band camp kids. I loved playing video games and watching anime. I still do. My parents put me in a lot of activities like dance, gymnastics, cheerleading and took me to modeling competitions. I’m really thankful to them for all their support, encouragement and the sacrifices they made to provide me with the opportunities I had.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kimberlywoods.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberlywoods/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialkimberlywoods
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/kimberlywoods
- Other: IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1038485/ MINTRIX FILM: https://www.mintrixfilm.com VO WEBSITE: https://www.kimberlyvoices.com TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@kimangelw
Image Credits
Andrew Jordan, Natalia Moscoso
