Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachele Brooke Smith.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Rachele. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I feel so grateful every day that I get to live my childhood dream. That through a crazy road of many challenging twists and turns, that I get to wake up every day and continually create and fight for a life that I really love living. Below is the story of how I went from being an all too stressed out, not very happy, and not very healthy young girl in Phoenix, Arizona to being the lead actress in several hit films and TV shows.
In fact, my first lead in a film, Center Stage Turn It Up, was literally my childhood dream come true! Coincidence… I think not, but more on that later. This road has come with many struggles, tears, and seemingly impossible to overcome challenges, and it is far from over. I have learned so many amazing life lessons along the way that have helped me always get back up again after extreme struggle, create a happy and healthy lifestyle for myself, and learn how to always #BeDisruptive – To Disrupt Doubt and Be The Hero Of My Own Life’s Story… and help others around the world do the same.
What really happened?
Before discovering my love and obsession with storytelling, acting, and performing, I was a very competitive gymnast (and as I said before a very stressed out little girl). Yes, being a young competitive gymnast was incredibly demanding, but it wasn’t necessarily the stress or demand I received from others that made me live in this awful and pretty constant place of worry, fear, and anxiety… it was the personal stress and artificial pressure I put on myself. I was anything but my best friend and biggest supporter. I felt this extreme pressure to be the best at whatever I was doing, so much so that the concept of just hanging out with my friends was a pretty foreign one to me.
This overwhelming stress ended up taking a pretty severe toll on my physical health and is something I still deal with today. It was so bad that I stayed home sick half the school year and would throw up on a weekly basis, not because of an eating disorder but because of how nervous I felt all the time.. and mind you this was from the ages of about 8-12 years old… crazy right? While most other young girls were playing with babies I was just hoping I wouldn’t be getting hurt or yelled at practice that night. I really feel like I learned the power of my thoughts and my mind in a negative way and I used this power to my benefit so I didn’t have to deal with life. I knew if I was sick, (and not just faking sick but really sick,) I could stay home with my mom (and my best friend) in my safe warm bed… and what kid doesn’t want to feel safe?
And on that same note, what kid wishes they were sick all of the time so they don’t have to go to gymnastic practice? After breaking my hand during one of the best competitions of my life, and having to have surgery, I began to realize how truly unhappy I was and even though it was ridiculously hard, seemingly almost impossible at the time to quit…I eventually did find the strength to do so. It was all I knew, it was my life, my friend’s lives, and my mom’s life. For the first time, I had felt incredibly lost. I went from being extremely dedicated to something for a long time, to feeling like I had nothing. I went from having a goal, dreams, purpose, passion, and a schedule to nothing and on top of all that, I felt like I had lost my best friend, my mom, myself, and my close friends (my team). I spent countless days crying alone in my room feeling so alone, so scared, so helpless… I don’t think I will ever forget how sad and lost I was back then.
Around that same time, I went with my family to see the movie “Center Stage” by Nicholas Hytner. This particular film was so powerful for me (especially since the only reason I really even liked gymnasts was the dance and performance element of it). Throughout the film had crazy goosebumps, chills, and was filled with a ridiculous amount of inspiration, I literally never wanted to get up from my seat. I wanted to stay right there in that magical moment and that magical theatre forever and I did for quite a while just there feeling so overwhelmed with this new drive and passion for life again…
Sitting alone in a dark theater and I started visualizing and seeing myself up on that screen playing characters like I just saw (I actually still do this practice after every impactful movie I see) I probably would have stayed there all night but by this point, my family was looking all over for me and worried about where I was. I walked out of that theater a changed girl, I knew right then and there… that is what I want with my life. I want to act, to tell stories of overcoming struggle and challenge, to make people laugh, to dance, to perform, to inspire, to change lives just like those actors in that movie did for me. That film and that moment really did change my life and have not and will never forget it.
I had always loved movies but, wow, this was a whole new level of obsession. Could movies really be that powerful? I went from feeling so sad, lost, and alone, to feeling more alive, full of joy and wonderment, than ever before. I wanted to act, dance, and perform more than anything and I wanted to do it for the rest of my life. After that moment there really was no looking back, I just knew that performing and storytelling was what I was born to do.
Right after seeing “Center Stage” I pretty much lived and breathed dance and acting. For the first time in a very long time, I felt so free, so happy, and so driven. Yes, I was still a perfectionist to a fault, and yes I still put a ton of artificial pressure on myself to be the best at everything, but I wasn’t living in fear anymore. I was living for my absolute love of music, movement, creativity, and storytelling.
I was constantly fighting against ingrained stiffness that comes along with previous years of gymnastics training. For some reason, I just believed I was really good however it took a very very long time before anyone really gave me a shot. I wanted to be good so bad, it hurt, and got very little sleep all through high school in pursuit of that goal. I even got the “Rat” award at my studio because I would stay and practice well after my daily 5-10 pm classes where over.
The plan was to go to my dream college that had one of the best performing arts programs, then go to LA to follow my dream of being a lead actress. Fun fact: That plan failed big time and I didn’t get into my dream college! (even though everyone thought I would be a shew in).
After a few weeks of complete devastation, and for some reason not feeling right or happy about going to ASU (which I did get into with a scholarship and all my friends were going there) I saw an opportunity to audition for a super intense performing arts scholarship program in LA. I flew last minute to LA with my mom, auditioned alongside hundreds of kids from all over the world, got in (oh my gosh, kinda freaking out… yay!!!!), and then found out I had two weeks to move to LA and be all set up and ready to go. Nervous excited energy flooded my body, this was epic, this was amazing, this was freaking scary… especially since I just got out of high school, I didn’t know LA at all, and I didn’t really know anyone there or have a clue where or who I would live with.
That program was one of the most difficult and best experiences of my life. Looking back on it, I really don’t know how I did it. There were no excuses, no vacation days, no sick days… you had to be there six days a week all day long and if you had to miss you had to make it up somehow. From about 9 am to about 7 pm was jam-packed full of the best (and emotionally and physically challenging) class Hollywood, maybe even the world had to offer. As challenging as it was, ahhhaahh I just loved it so much, in fact, they’re a lot of days when I wish I could go back to that time where all I had to worry about was showing up for class.
During this program, you were not allowed to audition, have an agent, or work at all in the entertainment industry because if you did it would take you out of training and you were not allowed to miss class. As soon as I finished the program, I got signed to an amazing dance agency (yay!) but got turned down from acting agents because I didn’t have an acting reel (how could I have, I had been in a perform arts program where you couldn’t work or do anything else ever since I moved to LA). To say the least, I was extremely discouraged and very confused on what to do next.
A couple weeks later I saw a sign on the wall for auditions for the lead girl in “Center Stage: Turn It Up”, the sequel to the very film that changed me as a little girl (which by the way, I don’t think I had ever seen a sign on the wall like this posting about auditions, let alone an audition for my literal childhood dream) My heart dropped. I couldn’t believe it. My initial reaction was there was no way this could be happening. Is this some sort of joke? I am a being punked? Where’s Ashton? It seemed so surreal, almost not even possible.
Center Stage was my movie, it was the whole reason I started acting and dancing. How was it even possible that they would be casting the sequel to this movie at the exact moment in my life when I for the first time actually could audition for it, was prepared and ready for it, and just happened to be in the right place at the right time to even be able to be aware of it? (most auditions you never even hear about, hence why you have to have an agent to know about them)
Crazy enough I almost didn’t even go. I went home trying to justify all the reasons why I shouldn’t go… how I would make a fool of myself, how all those acting agents turned me down, how I wasn’t ready, how I really hadn’t even done an acting audition before. I almost convinced myself but then, something happened, this overwhelming feeling and voice came over me that said “you have to go” and I swear it pushed me out the door.
I ended up having to go in and audition six different times and what felt like a roller coaster ride of crazy emotions that comes along with your childhood dream seeming so close but yet so far away… lots of tears, prayers, and sleepless nights…. then finally about a month of this whole process got the call that Sony Pictures wanted to book me to play the lead character in their new film and the sequel to Center Stage. I would be playing Kate Parker and I would be leaving to film in Vancouver for a couple of months, and I would be leaving in a couple of days.
(AHHHHHH HAAAAAA YAHHHHHHHHH!!!!) Yes, that was me screaming in my car!
It was a literal childhood dream come true. I was about to play the lead in the sequel to the movie that changed my life as a little girl, I was going to get to be “that girl” that inspired me so much. This crazy, beautiful, overwhelming, and to me somewhat miraculous experience was what has shaped my entire #BeDisruptive brand and movement.
Great, 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?
After my “Center Stage” experience I thought life would be easy and I would be in blockbuster hit after blockbuster hit, but man was I wrong.
I have got to be in so many different incredible TV shows and films over the years (Nice Guys, Iron Man 2, Burlesque, Bring It On, Screem Queens, Two and A Half Men, Atomic Shark ) to name a few… but I have had probably 100s of no’s along my journey that seems so crushing at the time… but I always look back with gratitude choosing to look for the lesson and for the good in all situations.
Choosing to believe this has been one of the greatest gifts because it makes every situation a situation you can learn, grow, and continue on from. These major emotional ups and downs, has also led me on a path to personal mastery, a path that has brought so much more joy to my life no matter what is going on, as well has allowed me to help so inspire so many out there who are struggling.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am an actress, athlete, producer, and motivational speaker seen frequently on Hollywood screens, modeling for major brands, and motivating fans around the world to #BEDISRUPTIVE. After doing what everyone told me was impossible, playing the lead role in the sequel to the film that changed my life as a little girl (Center Stage), My goal is to create conscious content that results in a massive amount of positive disruption.
Since my lead role in Center Stage Turn It Up, she has been in countless films and TV shows like Bring It On, Nice Guys, Iron Man 2, How I Met Your Mother, Two and A Half Men, Scream Queens, Atomic Shark, and have several that are soon to be released including my new lead role opposite, Danny Trejo, and my series on Amazon Prime that I am a producer as well as lead role in called, Class Act. I will also be the face of a new global movement called, #WE “Women’s Empowerment.”
I am committed to up-level the human consciousness and spread my philosophy of using empowering music, movements, mindsets, and movies as tools to help disrupt doubt, fear or limiting beliefs and help people become the hero of their own life’s story. THE DISRUPTIVE MOVEMENT (DisruptiveApparel.com and DisruptiveDare.com ) is my mission to help disrupt the mental and emotional illness epidemic and help people be healthier, live happier and believe in their personal power to create a body, mind, and lifestyle they feel really proud of. The Disruptive Movement is my passion project to help people disrupt whatever is holding them back and become their own hero.
Disruptive Apparel – is more than just an apparel brand, it’s a visual movement with a message. Fueled by super comfy empowering apparel that helps people disrupt doubt, be ready for anything, and become their own hero. Powered by conscious content that celebrates and empowers those who think differently. Who view life through a creative lens. Who crave being a part of something bigger. Who disrupts for positive change. All apparel encourages “disruptive thinking” and creative, active living to aid in the discovery of inner strength, individual unique awesomeness, and the creation of a creative, meaningful, purpose-driven life.
#BeDisruptive
My team and I are also the most proud of our new online program to help people Transform Their Life in the most incredibly positive and real way. The program is called, “Transform My Life” and you can get it at this link https://www.transformmylifecourse.com/home
Other thinks –
www.Instagram.com/Disruptive_Movement
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Wow… that’s a loaded question. I have probably way too many to talk about here but, one that comes to mind is our family vacations. I am one of five kids and pretty much all of our vacations resembled “The Chevy Chase Vacations.” I can think of one right now where my brother and I got super sick from food poisoning in Italy… but we had to check out of our hotel that day so… I’ll never forget being in the most amazing city, Rome, holding my brother’s hand and us both having to throw up at pretty much every historical monument.
I don’t know why that is one of my favorite memories because it was horrible during the time it was actually happening, but it’s just so hilarious now. I also have been pretty obsessed with performing and creating little movies and skits with my friends and family ever since I was little… thinking of those times always brings me so much joy.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.RacheleBsmith.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/rbrookesmith
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/rachelebrookesmith
- Twitter: www.Twitter.com/RacheleBsmith
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gntq3N0aDIY&t=1s
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