Today we’d like to introduce you to Shandra Graham.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
So picture this, a young girl from Mississippi, the M – I Crooked letter for those that know. Growing up on a farm, with my mom and grandparents, and just going about life. But looking back on those times, I always felt like I wanted something more out of this life like there was something missing. I mean I had a wonderful family and upbringing, but I always wanted my world to be bigger. In school I gravitated towards the arts, whether it was dance or the campus television station, I wanted to speak to the world through art.
So it’s no surprise to ME at least that the acting bug bit me in life, It felt like I was ready for it all along. So I packed up in 2008 and moved to LA, getting fully immersed in this journey took time. I didn’t start fully training for acting until around 2016 when I enrolled in IDSA Los Angeles, and shortly after was able to land a great manager and agent. I’ve been auditioning and working on my craft ever since.
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?
There have been SO many struggles, I probably couldn’t even list them all here, I’ve been homeless, and had a few months where things were so out of sorts, that I found myself living in my car. That was definitely a low point, and besides all of the circumstances that caused that, I vowed to never let that happen again and to be more prepared for anything that can happen out here.
Definitely dealt with a host of rejections, people sometimes don’t realize that as actors no matter how much you train, there’s still a whole other JOB you have to conquer and that’s auditioning and relationship building and that can take just as much time as you have spent in all of your many years of training, but it has to be done. I’ve had my trust shaken by how rough this road can be. But when I’m in my moment and giving my all in my art, none of that matters. What matters is that I get to wake up every day and do what I love, and this is just the beginning of my journey.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an Actress, I would say my focus is drama, but I do consider myself quite comedic at times even tho I haven’t had work that focused much in that realm. I’d love to explore it more. I am most proud of my determination to not quit, in this industry it can feel hopeless at times because you do have to focus and not pay attention to those around you that are excelling or those that are fast-tracked to success. The focus has to be on your own race and on your own brand. I think that what makes the greats truly successful, is they aren’t trying to be like anyone else, they are content just being themselves and what they bring to the table. In the early stages of acting that can be hard because many of us just want to find WHAT WORKS, and if that means emulating someone else that has it figured out, then so be it.
I’ve prided myself in not taking that route, I make my own lane, and I’ve always been myself and not tried to be someone else. I focus on the skills that build me. This industry at times can be so demoralizing and make you feel like individuality is not the way. But I’m here to tell you that IT DEFINITELY IS, and sticking to what I want and how I want to shape my career has been life-affirming. My bit of advice is don’t let anyone else tell you what your journey should be or how it should look, you get in the driver’s seat and DRIVE.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
Gosh, my favorite childhood memory has to be growing up on the farm with my grandparents and my mom.
I can remember my grandad taking me out to feed the baby cows with this huge bottle and I just remember just how cool that was, and just how simple of a time in life that was.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shandra_graham/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IAmShandraGraham
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Shandra__Graham
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFXI0nco4sHwzW4ULlvOO6A
Image Credits
Blood At the Root and Wes Klain
