Today we’d like to introduce you to Bernadett Belinda York.
Hi Bernadett Belinda, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Like many of my fellow multi-hyphenated artists, I’m what you’d call a “WASP” in my industry (Writer, Actor, Singer, Producer). I’m the oldest of four children and was raised primarily by my mother in the suburbs of Chicago. My parents named me after a singer (Bernadette Peters), a saint (Bernadette of Lourdes), and that amazingly upbeat Motown song by the Four Tops (Bernadette). But, for some odd reason, I don’t have the traditional “e” at the end of my name. My father said that they did it on purpose, but I think they ultimately just forgot to spell it correctly on my birth certificate… I’ll blame the hospital for distributing champagne to new parents back in the ’80s!
So, as you could imagine, my childhood was deeply rooted in entertainment, family, and faith. Because creativity was so welcomed in our household, my siblings and I were always singing, dancing, and using our imaginations to re-enact random stories… we had the most fun doing sketches from “SNL” and “Mad TV.” However, at some point, I felt called to do more with my natural talents and started to take my passion for the arts rather seriously. I kid you not, like, I became one serious little kid! I signed up for talent shows, sang at church and for a few of my teacher’s weddings; I performed in show choir, stage productions and recorded my first demo when I was twelve years old.
After high school, I was blessed with a scholarship to attend Millikin University and pursued a major in Music Business and a minor in Cultural Religion. Having big goals for my career, I made the ambitious decision that my undergraduate thesis/internship would be to follow the band Fleetwood Mac on their “Say You Will” album tour. When I approached my advisor about this, he laughed and said, “Well, first of all, you’re only a freshman, and second…. there’s a local radio station you could apply to when the time comes. How about that instead?” Obviously, I was crushed by how quickly my idea was dismissed. But, more than that, I was becoming confused by the overall ambivalence of everyone who’d encourage my dreams, and then in the same beat, tell me that I needed to be more realistic. Meanwhile, I was falling more in love with tv and film. Inspired by watching endless hours of “Xena: Warrior Princess,” “The X-Files,” and behind-the-scenes footage of films by M. Night Shyamalan, I quickly joined the Film Association of Millikin, where I soon became the president and produced my first short.
After earning my bachelor’s degree, I wanted to spend some time with family and build my resume before leaving Chicago for good. While promoting my original album, “Daylight Savings Time,” I took acting and improv classes at Second City and started booking local theatre and tv gigs. When I finally moved to New York to further my career, it’s weird to say, but I just had this gut instinct that it wasn’t the place for me. It wasn’t going to be my “home.” I was beside myself. I could hear my inner child challenging me, saying, “Wait! What’s happening… weren’t we always set on living in New York?!” I didn’t want to go backward, so I needed to explore other options.
A year later, I booked a flight to Los Angeles to celebrate the movie premiere of “The X-Files: I Want to Believe.” Gosh, I’m such a nerd! I even slept across the street from the Chinese Grauman Theatre to be one of the first few people in line. As a result, and I was absolutely shocked by this, they gave me a wristband and ushered me in to watch the movie with the cast and crew! I remember sitting in the theatre in tears, thinking, “This is the place. Dreams come true here.” During that trip, I met some fellow “Philes” who invited me to join their newly established charity organization called “IBG, Inc.,” aka “Inspired by Gillian (Anderson).” Within a week, I had recorded an official tribute song for the organization called “X-Marks the Spot.” I started flying back and forth to L.A. to work with the group alongside Gillian Anderson, David Duchovney, Mitch Pileggi, Frank Spotnitz, and many others who contributed to the series. So, I said goodbye to my family again, and my dog Emma and I drove across the country to our new home.
This August will be my eleventh anniversary here, and so much has happened in the interim. I’m a proud member of SAG-AFTRA, AEA, ISA and have several projects registered with the WGA. I’m a produced screenwriter, certified script reader, self-published author, animal lover, blissful bride, and still a very ardent fan of Stevie Nicks.
Alright, 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?
I wish I could say it’s been a smooth road, but the struggle is real! The first four years in Los Angeles were a roller coaster ride. Certain events will be covered more thoroughly in my memoir, but to be succinct, I dealt with many unexpected obstacles. The biggest surprise was discovering relatively late in life that I was not as straight as I thought I was! The decision to come out was a personal and professional risk, but there are so many artists now who are brave enough to own their truth and lead with authenticity, like Sarah Paulson. I am grateful to people like her for showing me that you can still have a career and not have to hide such an important part of yourself. My newfound identity also made it difficult to still feel welcome in the Catholic Church, a place that always brought me great peace. However, as long as I believe that Jesus loves me no matter what my sexual orientation is, that’s all that really matters!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Representation is important, and I’m proud to be a queer-identified female artist. My dedicated passion for creating diverse content for complex female narratives and the LGBTQ+ community across multiple genres and mediums makes me unique and relevant in my industry. Although I mostly write solo, I’m a team player and love collaborating with like-minded individuals such as comedian Kim Lupe-Smith. We created/produced/starred in a dark comedy mini-series titled “Parannoyance” which we filmed right before the pandemic. The pilot is currently being submitted to several festivals and is packaged to sell.
Another project of mine, “Wild Datura,” is a female-driven western drama. This year it has made Coverfly’s “The Red List” Top 20 Feature screenplays and is generating accolades and requests. I’ve always been a self-starter, but I feel more empowered and in charge of my career than ever before. I hope to build a tribe of fellow artists and continue to employ local women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ filmmakers.
There are exciting plans on the horizon beyond the entertainment industry as well! My wife and I have always had entrepreneurial spirits. Later this year, we are launching an online product-based company, and the first invention in our portfolio is patent pending. We can’t wait to give back to our community and introduce “Emma’s Fund”- a cause that assists animals in need of life-saving services. There’s a lot to be grateful for.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
In my opinion, mentors and networking opportunities are everywhere you turn. “What you seek is also seeking you.” The best way to find them is by simply living your life. Put yourself out there, follow your desire to learn more about yourself and your craft, and you’ll find what you need.
If you are struggling in any way, invest in therapy. Go to psychology today and search for Nancy Downey, Bill Benson, Megan House, and Laurie Delmont… any of them are wonderful to work with!
The LGBTQ+ center is a wonderful place for community, resources, and support.
If you are struggling to maintain healthy adult relationships, go to CoDA.org
If you are SAG-AFTRA, join the LA Conservatory at AFI for unlimited resources, experiences, and education.
If you are a writer, subscribe to The ISA Network, Save the Cat Newsletter, and Jessica Brody Writing Mastery.
If you are a singer, contact Bob Garrett- he’s located in the Valley and is a real hidden gem!
If you need accountability with your career, I’m a certified life coach! Feel free to reach out.
If you need help with social media and marketing, check out Heidi Dean.
If you are into podcasts, check out Audrey Helps Actors, The BGB Acting Podcast, or listen to inspiring audibles while you’re stuck in traffic!
If you are into books, read “The Artist’s Way.” Everyone has told you to read it, but really, read it!
If you want to feed your soul, practice meditation, positive affirmations, prayer, daily intentions, healthy habits, mindfulness, and be around high-vibration people who make you feel like your best-self!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.networkisa.org/profile/bernadettbelindayork
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernadettbyork/?hl=en
- Other: http://www.imdb.me/bernadettbelindayork
Image Credits:
Steven Sears. Kristen Booth.
