Daily Inspiration: Meet Nia Renée

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nia Renée

Hi Nia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My interest in acting started out when I was really into The Hunger Games series, I was eleven! I love Jennifer Lawrence and her backstory piqued my interest in getting into acting but I didn’t really do anything about it for years because I was a kid with no connections in the industry so I didn’t know what to do haha.
In high school, I took a couple of acting classes. During freshman year, my Drama teacher invited me to a higher level drama class (it was a placement class; she was the only one who could choose the students) but I couldn’t take it because of my schedule at the time.
During my sophomore year, there was an activity where we performed a skit in Health class and once all the students left (I was usually the last one out), the Health teacher commented on my acting which led into a conversation about how I was unsure about get into the industry because of the odds but she lifted my spirits and said that I could make it especially since, with my bright red hair I’d stand out haha.
Cut to when I’m nineteen, my friend was talking about Outer Banks casting background actors. Of course, with me not in the acting industry yet, I got really excited at the thought I could be on one of my favorite shows so I get a Backstage account and uploaded my pictures to submit as a local Charleston, SC actor. By the way, I was living in California… lol. A few months later, while I was traveling all throughout the U.S., I decided I’m finally going to pursue acting professionally since I already had the Backstage membership after all! During the first year, I auditioned around fifty times and booked 15% of those roles. When I was living in Charleston, SC, I took online classes with Sam Stiglitz (auditionprola on social media) which I loved! A couple months after my 1 year acting-anniversary, I had a demo reel, resume, & headshots!
During my second year in the industry, I moved to southern California. I did so many projects I really lost count. I started producing while doing acting gigs as well. I produced a series called The Passion Project: Volume 1 which was six months of filming and it is currently in post production. I was cast in my first guest star role on a TV show called Justice for All. Gary W. Goldstein (Pretty Women, Under Seige, etc.), who I met through Erman Baradi, invited me into his Career Coaching program. His book is wonderful for film industry professionals. By a year and a half into this field, I was working only acting and film industry gigs with no side jobs.
Year two, I started Meisner training at Don Bloomfield’s studio and signed with my first manager at Mattie Management/ later he started his own company called Skyfire Artists. Then, the WGA & SAG strikes happened so my manager had me focus on training, updating my acting profiles, and getting new headshots. I was prepping for when work picked back up again.
Year three, I was cast in a book-adapted series called Itchikan (by Bin Userkaf), on-screen I play Queen Jakura which filming will be picking up soon for the villain scenes. I was working on WeAudition a lot as a reader/ acting coach too! With having solid drama training, I decided to get into Commercial & Comedy acting classes. After auditioning, I was accepted into David DeLuise’s program at AGB Studios; some of my favorite teachers being Blake Michael, Ashley Argota Torres, & David (of course!). Through a referral from a friend I met on WeAudition, I recently signed with Eris Talent Agency for Commercial Representation! I received my first audition from them the other day which was fun! Now, I’m continuing to audition while keeping an eye out for theatrical representation that would be a good fit for my career!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Struggles definitely came up throughout this journey. Mentally, anxiety and imposter syndrome was very prevalent but I definitely continue to work on my confidence and serenity which helps with my craft.
Staying a float in LA is a whole struggle haha I moved back and forth a couple times in order for my lifestyle to be affordable; it’s not easy starting out in this industry while just making ends meet. I lost weight due to how unhealthy I was, lived in unsafe areas or in unsafe conditions, and gave up a social/ dating life for a while.
The acting industry is a lot of hard work, along with struggles and sacrifices. It really is all about your mindset and having grit. No matter what, I’ll always keep going until I reach a point in my life where I feel content and safe while I continue to move forward in my career.

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 an actor wholeheartedly! I specialize in dramatic but have comedic training as well! Acting teachers have “described my acting as very truthful, raw, & genuine: bringing a very realistic human character to every role.”
I’m known as the Quirky, Quick-witted, Rebellious Redhead! I’m usually the only redhead in a room and the one with the biggest smile on my face haha.
I’ve always been an empathic person and acting is a craft where honing in on another actor’s energy comes naturally. At the same time, I’ve worked really hard in order to know how to create a certain emotion in my body in order to have a performance that matches the director’s needs. I used to study psychology which is helpful as I incorporate that knowledge into acting as well.
I fell in love with the acting process; even auditioning! To me, it’s play! I will always love to play pretend just as I did when I was a child. Ever since my first time on set, I knew this profession was what I want to do for the rest of my life.
I’m really proud of my growth throughout the time I’ve been in this industry. It’s so easy to loose yourself in this business, I almost did. Throughout all the hardships, I’ve been grateful to have the quality of staying genuine to myself and building amazing friendships. Creating your support system, your new family, is so incredibly important. I’ve very appreciative of the choosen-family I have in LA, artists who are all in the same boat.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk has driven me to where I am today! I was a nomad for a year and my first destination was across the country from the town I had lived in my entire life. Now, I’ve moved around fifty times during the past four years! I’m settling down now haha but traveling will always be a part of my lifestyle.

I wouldn’t be in the acting industry without believing in major risk taking haha but it’s worth it, at least to me it is. Job security? none. You have to be smart and have the skillset to be determined enough to make it through. As my film teacher once said, “this is not a profession, it’s a lifestyle.” I moved to LA with no savings; I don’t recommend that but you know, risks haha. It’s the struggles in the moment which you can laugh about later. Humor can definitely be a coping mechanism.
You have to push yourself and at least pretend to have the confidence to get you in the rooms you need to be in. Mindset is everything. We have about 60- 80 years on this earth if we’re lucky. I’d only want to spend it living a life I’m proud of.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/niareneeofficial
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niareneeofficial/

Image Credits
Headshots: Diana K Photography
Portraits: Akemi Rico
Getty images: Jon Kopaloff
The Passion Project, Behind the Scenes: Cedrix Lontok