Daily Inspiration: Meet Katherine O’day

Today we’re excited to be connecting with Katherine O’day again. If you haven’t already, we suggest you check out our prior conversation with them here.

Katherine, always such a pleasure connecting with you and thank you for sharing your stories, insights and inspiring messages with our community. We’re looking forward to getting the download and what you have been up to since our last interview, but first can you briefly introduce yourself to folks who might have missed the prior conversation.
I’m Katherine O’Day, I’m an Actor, Vocalist and VO Artist based out of Los Angeles. I’m known for being the strong yet innocent young woman who will scoff at the Rom-Com you take her to, but once she gets home, she cries in secret about how the dog died. I am a trained Meisner actor from one of the only schools backed by the Meisner estate, the Taylor Acting Studio, as well as many years of vocalist training in multiple styles. I am also a woman who lives with Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), which are dynamic disabilities. This means that I can look completely able-bodied sometimes, however use different mobility aids depending on my needs as also a cane user and an ambulatory wheelchair user. My career so far has been nothing short of a rollercoaster, and gosh does it feel like it’s changed so much!

Great, so let’s jump into an update on what you have been up to since we last spoke. What can you share with us?
What a few years it has been since we’ve last talked! So much has happened that it took me a second to figure out where to start!

I’ve been going after playing a role for many years now that I’ve been now keeping more under wraps (if you read old articles you might be able to find it there…. wink wink), and have through that process learned new skills such as drumming which is my fifth instrument that I started learning about 4 years ago now! I am also finding that I am auditioning for bigger and bigger things every single year, which is pretty incredible. I went from seeing movies in theatres that I pitched for, to seeing movies in big theatres I auditioned for, to now watching movies I auditioned for getting nominations at the Academy Awards. I know for a fact that I’m on the right track.

I recently finished playing the lead role of Jackie in a play Mauritius by Theresa Rebeck. The show was such an interesting foray into playing a role with some stunts involved, which was an incredible learning experience. The show has topics that are so near and dear to my heart in them, and playing Jackie also brought new perspectives in my life that I know will follow me for the rest of my life. I learned so much doing that show, and definitely look forward to playing characters like Jackie again.

I also recently filmed an ad for Disneyland, which was INCREDIBLY full circle for me. I was a Cast Member at Disneyland during my first few years on my own, and to say that I became the person I am today there would be an understatement. I essentially learned how to be an adult there. From learning how to do my laundry there (when in doubt, ALWAYS wash cold), to learning how to stand up for myself, I’ve always considered Disneyland one of my first homes. So to be able to come back as an actor to the place that shaped me was incredibly surreal.

You might also hear my voice in an episode of Time Traveling Tonya, where you can learn about an important disability activist Judy Gentile. Hearing Judy’s story for the first time as a disabled woman had me crying in the booth at the words that she said that had I had access to growing up, would have meant EVERYTHING to me. I am so incredibly honored to be able to be a part of a project that teaches our children about disability history, something that I desperately needed growing up.

I am also getting deeper into narrating audiobooks, which is actually where I got my start in Voiceover 7 years ago. Audiobooks are such an important medium that is accessible to many, and being a part of this world is so important to me in so many ways.

We also want to give folks a chance to get to know you a bit better so we’ve prepared a fun lightning round of questions. Ready?

• Favorite Movie: Everything Everywhere All At Once
• Favorite Book: The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
• Favorite TV Show: WandaVision/Twin Peaks
• Favorite Band or Artist: Nat King Cole
• Sweet or Savory: Both!
• Mountains or Beach: Mountains
• As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up: one of many was to be a Gemologist!
• French Fries or Onion Rings: French Fries
• Favorite Cartoon growing up: Fairly OddParents!
• Favorite Childhood movie: The Little Mermaid
• Favorite Breakfast Food: Waffles?

What do you want people to remember about you and your brand? What are some of things that you feel are most important, unique, special, etc?
I am an actor who has dynamic disabilities as mentioned earlier. And there are times where if I go into an audition as a wheelchair user (something that I am), they will only see me as a wheelchair user even if I tell them over and over that I can use other aids, and look completely able-bodied to the naked eye other times. Violet Sorrengail from Fourth Wing has EDS as well, and notice how able-bodied she can present. But she still has a disability, you just can’t see it. I feel oftentimes when I audition for projects instead of being asked what I can and can’t do and believing me, I am either deemed “too disabled” or “not disabled enough” without any discussion. It makes me feel like I straddle between two worlds; my disabled world, and my invisibly disabled world where everyone thinks I’m able-bodied. I’ve done intense stunts before, done intense work physically, and believe it or not, my specific disability profile means I have to work out very consistently and I am stronger than you’d think. If you are ever in doubt, just ask! I’ll be happy to tell you my limits, and adjustments I can make to make something work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.katherineoday.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katherineoday
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katherineodayofficial?mibextid=wwXIfr
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-o-day-0b85191ba/

Image Credits
Headshot:Tom Martin
Photos in pink: Photos by Cosette Hatch
Film Noir Photo: Andrew Chinault