Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Lamor Wilson.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was one of those kids who was super athletic but never stuck with any sport. One day my mom found an acting class at a local theatre, and she said, “Wanna try this?” and I was like, “Yeah, sure,” and the rest is history. I started acting onstage when I was 9 and completely fell in love with connecting to an audience. I’m originally from Atlanta, and when I was 15, I started flying to New York by myself to train in Musical Theatre.
Learning how to navigate the City at such a young age and making those connections was pretty much what started my professional career. At 18 I was signed with an agent in Atlanta and New York and homeschooled my senior year of high school to pursue my career. By the time college came around, I had decided to forego musical theatre school, and I moved to LA for Pilot Season to give the West Coast and the Film/TV industry a shot.
I officially moved here in August of 2016 and have been traveling back and forth between LA, NY, and Atlanta ever since. No one else in my family is in the industry in any way, so navigating this lifestyle has been new to all of us, but thankfully I have incredible parents who have done nothing but support my dreams along the way. I’ve also had a handful of mentors whom without I would not be where I am today.
Has it been a smooth road?
The word “passion” has a Latin root word that means “to suffer or endure,” so passion literally means to suffer. I’ve definitely had my fair share of struggles along the way, I think anyone with any passion does, but these experiences have shaped me into the person I am today.
A lot of people questioned my decisions to leave high school and eventually not go to college. I had an arts educator ostracize me because I was chasing my dreams professionally. I’ve had to turn down jobs because I was being taken advantage of. I’ve struggled with doubt and loneliness, and of course rejection. But I’ve learned not to take anything personally, viewing every struggle as a lesson learned and another progressive step made towards becoming a better artist.
Having this mindset has helped me embrace trials and know that whatever I am enduring right now will be worth it in the end and will teach me so much about who I am as a human being. At the end of the day, nothing in life is ever going to be smooth or easy, but honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My first appearance on the silver screen was as a young Erika Christensen in The Case For Christ (which came out last year and is currently on Netflix), but my breakout role is in Summer ‘03, which was released in theatres nationwide last month. My character, Emily, is the charismatic, sexually experienced best friend to Jamie (Joey King), and redefines the girl-next-door trope.
Our writer/director Becca Gleason is absolutely brilliant and created characters that address the double standards of sexualization among teens, and its such an important topic in our society today. You can also catch me opposite Bella Thorne in Lifetime’s latest movie “Conrad & Michelle: If Words Could Kill,” which is based on a dark true story that touches on mental health and the power of social media. And next year you will see me on HBO’s new comedy “Mrs. Fletcher!”
What sets me apart is that I am in this industry for the human connection. I love working with people and making communities with the cast and crew of each set I am on, but the most rewarding part is telling stories that audiences relate to. I choose projects that deal with subject matters I believe in, or I believe need to be discussed, whether my character is the one addressing the issue or is a vehicle for that message to come across.
So far, I’ve come into this typecast of redefining the girl next door, and that has opened my eyes to not only incredible experiences but also the need for strong female supporting roles. So often you think of the cliches of supporting roles, like the ditz or the mean girl, but I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of projects that show charismatic and nice girls just being girls, living authentically and showing depth to who they are.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
LA is the acting hub of the world, but honestly, I wouldn’t recommend starting a career here. There are other cities like NYC, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Chicago that have major film presences and offer great opportunities to build your resume. Coming out to LA without credits or connections is not impossible, but it’s going to make the journey even that much harder.
The best middle ground, in my opinion, is to visit LA for a couple of months, taking classes and meeting casting directors. That way you can get more training under your belt and keep those connections in your pocket until you’ve built your resume enough to move out here. However, there’s not one recipe for success and all that really matters is that you work hard and follow your heart.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: kellylamorwilson
- Twitter: @kellylamor
Image Credit:
Alix Rae, Summer ’03 Movie
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