Daily Inspiration: Meet Erica Mae McNeal

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Mae McNeal.

Hi Erica, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself. 
I guess I always knew I wanted to be a performer; thinking back, I’ve done many things that make me be like, “Oh geez, she’s gonna be a theatre kid!” Haha! As many kids, I was put in dance classes- which was so much fun! But it wasn’t until my mom took me to see the Lion King at the Denver Centre for the Performing Arts where I was truly bitten by the “theatre bug.” Being in the Buell Theatre (one of my dreams is to perform in this theatre!), seeing the stage, and seeing their performances just made me want to be up there so badly. Performing has always made me feel at home, natural. It has always felt like that is where I belong, on the stage, in front of the camera- filming and shooting. 

I always have this one memory of first grade where we had a project for the careers we wanted to have in the future. I was put into the group that was the “entertainers.” It was like fate! At the end of this project, we got to perform for the teachers and parents. I always remember the two scenes I did about an invisible bench and a sheep herder. Don’t remember any of the lines, but I definitely remember the feeling of how performing those scenes felt. How the audience’s reaction to my performance made me feel. I always get this feeling when I perform, a warm and light, comfortable, familiar feeling. Like I was meant to perform, meant to be on the stage. 

I was always a shy kid, so when High School came around, I felt like I had no one to hang out with and that I was going to be alone for the rest of High School, but my mom and sister suggested I sign up for the drama class. It was my first class that made me be like, “Yeah, this is what I want to do.” From then on, I was in almost everything the theatre and choir did. Either backstage or front and center. Being a part of it and being on stage, it truly felt like home. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like for many performers, it’s never really a smooth road- and that’s what makes it kind of fun! You never know what audition you’re going to get, what audition can jump start your career and make your dreams come true you know? It can be really hard and discouraging sometimes when you feel like you haven’t seen any progress, but it is always good to have your support group who can take you out of that mindset. I would consider those times as struggles for sure. I mean sometimes I get too in my head and second guess everything I do, and it can be really hard, but you just have to remember why you wanted to do this, what drove you to be an actor or writer or musician. 

Long story short, I think my biggest struggle that I might always have to deal with, is getting in my head and doubting myself. I know what I am capable of and what cards I bring to the table, but sometimes it’s hard to remember those. It holds me back on my performances at times, but you just have to say “whatever,” push those thoughts to the side, and try to give it your all! That’s why I love that I have such a kind and loving support group; they always keep me moving forward and out of my head. They remind me to say “whatever” and give it my all, haha! It is also always helpful to have something, like a hobby, outside of your work. That’s part of the reason why I got back into baking; it’s a nice break from all the go-go-go that this industry calls for. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an actress and model! I’ve been acting for about 8-10 years and modelling for about 3 years. Something I am very proud of is graduating with a BFA at 20 years old! It was a lot of hard work, but I will always be proud of that. Since graduating, I have been lucky enough to be consistently booking and to have an amazing team! I have met so many cool people because of my career, it really is a dream come true! Sometimes, I’ll think about little me at the Buell Theatre and how badly I wanted to be up on the stage and perform, and I finally get to say that I have. Though I haven’t performed at the Buell just yet, it is such a great feeling knowing that I get to do what I dreamed of doing since I was little. That’s definitely an accomplishment I won’t ignore! 

I’ve worked with people who I’ve looked up to, who have helped me get out of low spots and shot at iconic locations. It’s so surreal! 

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Hmm, good question haha! I think and hope that in the next five years, we will be seeing more stories about women in history and stories about women who changed the trajectory of the world. There are many shows and movies that are starting to come out about powerful women and I think it’s so cool! Also, because these are the stories I want to tell so; fingers crossed the industry goes in this direction haha! It’s also opening so many doors for women of color to be in the front. I think the stories being told in the next five years will be real and raw, things taken from real life. On the other hand, I also feel like it might lean more towards dystopian worlds. Films like Dune and Furiosa. I feel like they’re going to really take off and inspire others to write similar stories. 

Both genres are amazing and are definitely my favourite! 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_ericaamae_/
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14599313/

Image Credits
Rocky Chang
BlackBox Portraits
Frank Ishman