Conversations with Charlotte McKinley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlotte McKinley.

Hi Charlotte, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m a native of Austin, Texas, and I fell in love with performing at the age of four. From that moment, I knew I wanted to make a career out of dancing and performing. Growing up, I was a competitive dancer and attended McCallum High School’s fine arts program, where I also explored theater and choir as extracurriculars.

Two weeks after graduating high school, I moved to New York City to attend AMDA. After college, I booked my first professional jobs with Disney World and Norwegian Cruise Lines. I returned to NYC to further my training at Broadway Dance Center’s professional semester, and just a month later, I became a Knicks City Dancer.

Since then, I’ve been fortunate to work on incredible projects, including the tour of The Great Gatsby (which I am currently on) The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Met Gala 2021, Met Gala 2024 with Ariana Grande, Jelly’s Last Jam at NY City Center, Big Apple Circus, Personality: The Lloyd Price Musical, the VMAs, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and numerous theater workshops and industrials throughout the city.

Currently, I am focusing on growing as an actor while continuing to perform on tour, while also developing my singing. My goal is to be a versatile, consistently working artist, bringing passion and dedication to every project I join.

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?
It has not been easy. There have been years when I was not sure where my next paycheck would come from and I had to lean on my parents for support. I was even dropped by my talent agency of seven years right before booking The Great Gatsby tour. For a time, I questioned my self-worth, but ironically, those challenges forced me to build a strong sense of self-belief and genuine confidence in who I am and the kind of artist I want to be.

I have been part of workshops for shows where I was not ultimately selected for the stage, and I have been put on hold for a Broadway production right before it closed. Pursuing this career is truly unpredictable and sometimes insane, but I would not want to do anything else. That is why I keep going, no matter what.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a professional dancer, singer, and actress—dancer first. I am known for my versatility, working across commercial, theater, and concert worlds, and bringing not just dance but also singing and acting as bonus. I am most proud of my resilience and the person I continue to become.

I have officially been in the industry for ten years, and I am not jaded. I remain deeply grateful every day for the work I get to do. Beyond my professional accomplishments, I am proud of who I have become as a person. No matter where I am in life and what happens, I know my worth and strive every day to be the best version of myself.

My personality is what sets me apart. I can connect with nearly anyone I meet, which makes every project feel collaborative. I take pride in leaving my mark on every production I am part of, creating meaningful connections while contributing my unique artistry.

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I don’t have a particular memory because there are too many. I had such a FUN and beautiful childhood thanks to my family and friends. Every day was fun. High School was the best!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://charlottemckinley.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charstar13/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@xoxocharlotte13