Today we’d like to introduce you to Hayley Marie Norman.
Hayley Marie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Agoura Hills, CA. Although we were on the “other side of the hill” from Hollywood, I was bitten by the acting bug at an early age. In fact, I got my start at just a few years old when my dad and I were approached by Cindy Crawford at Gladstones in Malibu. She suggested he get me into modeling and who were we to not take Ms. Crawford up on her advice?! Soon after, I got my first agency which led to me being “the face” of the black Barbie. Once I was in high school, I knew that I wanted to switch my focus to solely acting- as that is where my greatest passion lie. I attended an art magnet school and when I graduated I enrolled in The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, a theater conservatory. Since graduating, I’ve appeared in numerous film and television roles and have parlayed that into writing, creating and producing my own projects.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road and I learn something new every day. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to stand in my own power. Because I started as a kid in commercials, there was this overall attitude of “go in there and answer YES to every question with a smile”. I remember being taught to show them that you love this job so much- you’d do it for free if you could. It was essentially teaching me to be a thirsty people pleaser and make the gig more valuable than myself and what I brought to the table. Once I identified this, I was able to undo these particular facets of what I had learned.
This industry will try to take you for all you have, so remembering that you are inherently valuable and that you have power just being YOU, is essential. Don’t be afraid to leave your team when it’s time, choose people who are real with you and support you, realize that nobody is going to have your back like you will have your own, and yet- be willing to put yourself out there day after day.
I’ve worked with people that I idolized and looked up to and learned that they were also very flawed and very human. Don’t be afraid to “question authority”. It’s also a business where a lot of people “fail up”. Am I being too real now?! Haha.
Also, do not let your happiness and self-worth be tied up with your “success”. Life is too short and there is, in fact, an entire world outside of Tinsletown.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I’m an actor, writer, and creator.
One of the things I’m most proud of is that I’ve worn my hair natural my entire career. When I was cast as a co-host/briefcase presenter on Deal or No Deal, I was one of the only, if not the only, person on primetime television during this period who wore their afro. The natural hair movement wasn’t as popular back then as it is now, but I wanted other women of color to know that they didn’t have to change to be seen as beautiful. Deal or No Deal even did an episode inspired by my hair called, The Fro Show. I got letters from women all around the world who were inspired to go natural after seeing me on the show and some who even said that they had been teased for their hair and had felt so alone. The fact that I helped these women embrace their natural beauty and confidence will always mean so much to me.
Now, as a creator, I’m excited to tell new and risky stories. I have a very irreverent sense of humor and that is reflected in all my work. It’s important to me to see women, especially women of color, being given opportunities/making their own opportunities to play characters that are multi-faceted.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
We always think of ego in the way that is synonymous with being pompous, full of oneself, and unlikable. But what we forgot is that ego is also the hideous little voice inside our head that says, “you’ll fail! You can’t do THAT. Everyone is going to judge you!” I got really scared when I started having success in the comedy world- especially as a creator. I had been a “good little actor” who was trained to treat the writer’s words as if they appeared on scrolls from Heaven. I hung on each syllable and punctuation and dutifully recited them like my sides were sheet music. I was brimming with ideas of my own but I was afraid to write and develop my own projects. After all, I was a classically trained actor who knew my lane. Eventually, at the suggestion of an old manager, I finally faced my fear and began writing and telling the stories I wanted to tell. I’ve since set up my first two projects with major studios and production companies. I produced and starred in a web series called Hello Cupid that was a semi-scripted series based on my improv and comedy that was accepted into the Tribeca Film Festival and later sold to BET.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @hayleymarienorman
- Twitter: @xohayleymarie
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