Today we’d like to introduce you to DeEnna Holohan.
Hi DeEnna, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in the Midwest, in an environment that taught me strength and independence early on, but also left me searching for a deeper sense of belonging. I learned how to adapt, how to push through, and how to find my own voice in spaces where it didn’t always fit. Those early experiences shape the way I see the world and ultimately fueled my desire to tell honest stories, the kind that help people heal and feel seen.
For nearly three decades, I built a career as a college counselor, helping students find their own paths forward. It was deeply meaningful work, and in 2021 I was honored to be named one of the “Counselors That Change Lives” by the Colleges that Change Lives Organization. During that time, I also got married, raised my two incredible daughters, and eventually made my way to the Bay Area. It was a full, successful life but somewhere inside, I knew I was meant for something different.
At 50, I made the decision to completely start over. I got divorced, left my job, and eventually moved to Los Angeles to rebuild my life around purpose, healing, and creativity. That’s when I began writing my book, Act As If: Live Your Truth, Heal Your Life, Change the World. What began as a personal reflection turn into a guide for transformation, exploring how we break generational patterns, reclaim our voice, and live in alignment with our truth. The book is nearly finished now, and it feels like both a culmination of my own journey and an offering to anyone ready to change theirs.
Acting became the other half of that new chapter. Storytelling has always been a part of who I am, but after performing in high school and college on stage, for years it sat quietly in the background. Once I got to LA, I started training again at Real Voice LA, with Margie Haber, and Edward Gelhaus. I worked background on movies like The Accountant 2, and on TV in Forever on Netflix, and others. Recently, I signed with ERIS Talent Agency for commercial work and Infinity Talent for Theatrical representation. Every time I step on set, I’m reminded why I am here; to tell stories that connect, heal, and move people.
If there is one thing that my journey has taught me it’s that reinvention is always possible. You don’t need permission to start over. You just have to listen to that inner pull toward something more, work to live your truth, and trust that by acting “as if” the life you dream of already exists, you’ll eventually find yourself living it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. My path has been full of detours, lessons, and a lot of unlearning. I grew up in an environment where you pushed through the pain instead of healing it. That shaped me for a long time. I became someone who achieved, who held it all together, even when I was breaking inside.
There were years when I lost myself in being a wife, a mother, a counselor, each role meaningful in its own way but sometimes at the expense of my own identity. I stayed too long in situations that didn’t align with my truth because I was afraid of what it would mean to start over. That fear of disappointing others or disrupting the life I had built was one of my biggest challenges.
When I finally chose to listen to my inner voice, it meant walking away from almost everything familiar; a long marriage, a successful career and a version of myself I had outgrown. The process was painful, but it cracked me open in the best way. Healing from that required facing generational patterns, setting boundaries, and learning self-trust all over again.
So no, it hasn’t. been smooth. But every struggle pushed me closer to the life I’m living now; one build on truth, creativity, and courage instead of survival.
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?
At the heart of everything I do, whether it is writing, acting, singing, or speaking, is healing. I have learned that the more I heal, the more I live my truth, the more creative and connected I become. My work is centered around transformation and helping people see that it is never too late to rewrite their story. I believe that living authentically is the most powerful form of art there is.
I actually started college as a musical theatre major, because I wanted to be on Broadway. Unfortunately, because I was paying my own way through college, I eventually had to switch my major so that I could work full time and go to school full time leaving no time for performing. It was the practical choice at the time, but the creative spark never left me. More than thirty years later, I have come full circle, back to. storytelling, performance, and the truest version of myself.
As an actor, I am drawn to roles that explore the human condition; those moments of quiet strength, vulnerability, and growth. As a writer, my focus is on helping others move through their own transformation with compassion and self-awareness. My upcoming book, Act As If: Live Your Truth, Heal Your Life, Change the World, weaves together personal experience and spiritual insight to guide readers through that same process of renewal.
What sets me apart is. that everything I create comes from lived experience. I have not only studied healing, I have lived it. I have rebuilt my life from the ground up, and I bring that authenticity, resilience, and heart to every role I play and every word I write.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
The best way to connect with me right now is through my social platforms. I share updates, creative projects, and reflections on healing, purpose, and transformation on both Instagram (@deenna_holohan) and TikTok (@collectivewisdomcc). Following along there is the easiest way to stay connected and see whats next.
My book, Act As If: Live Your Truth, Heal Your Life, Change the World, will be released soon, and I am incredibly excited to share it with the world. I am currently in talks with publishers but have not settled on one yet, so any interested publishers please reach out. Supporting the book-whether through reading it, sharing it, or joining the conversation online-is one of the most meaningful ways people can be a part of this journey.
I also plan to take Act As If on the road through a speaking tour focused on creativity, healing, and reinvention. My hope is to meet people face-to-face and create spaces where real conversations about change and courage can happen.
And, of course, keep an eye out for my upcoming on-screen work. Acting continues to be one of my favorite ways to connect with people and tell stories that inspire. Any producers or directors reading this can reach out to my agents ERIS Talent (commercial) and Infinity Talent (theatrical) for booking conversations.
I truly appreciate everyone who supports this new chapter of my life. Every follow, share, and word of encouragement matters more than I can say.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @deenna_holohan
- Other: TikTok: @collectivewisdomcc IMDb: DeEnna Holohan
Image Credits
Dana Patrick Photography (all images)
