Meet Tori Danner

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tori Danner.

Tori, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
If I was to tell my 12 year old self, I would grow up to become an actress; I know that little girl would have a hard time wrapping her head around the idea. I come from a family of Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, etc. I didn’t grow up around Professional Artists. I didn’t know being an Artist was a viable professional career. I’d never seen it. I remember sitting on my living room floor, at the age of 10, and being so struck by the beautiful black lady on my television screen. I didn’t know who she was or what movie was playing but what I did know, in that moment, was that I could see myself. In her thick black hair. In her vivid black skin. In her inviting dark brown eyes.

In that moment, something shifted inside of me. A space was carved out in my heart. A room was made and laid out for me to dream. My first performance was to my 7th-grade classmates. On my our first day of Drama Class we were told to perform an original monologue. I was petrified. I started mapping out multiple escape plans in my head. Through the tangle of thoughts, I heard my name called. It was my time to perform. I remember firmly planting my feet, center stage. “Breathe”, I told myself. Then, I spoke. I told my story. It felt like, for the first time, every cell in my body was awakened. I was free. There was no turning back now. As the course of my life has unfolded, I know with certainty that I’m meant to be an Actress. Today, a year out of my graduate program (from the California Institute of the Arts); I’ve had the pleasure of being featured in TV shows, movies and voiced characters for video games, podcasts, regional and international commercials. The journey has been nothing short of exhilarating.

Has it been a smooth road?
My journey has centered around purpose. When I say purpose, I believe everyone has been blessed with talents and spheres of influence they’re called to. The struggles I’ve faced along the way are always rooted in me losing sight of purpose. One such struggle, early on, was feeling inadequate whenever I walked into an audition room. Now, when I’m in a rut, I remind myself of my purpose and ask myself how I’m aligning with it.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
Over the last few years, I’ve had the privilege of performing in Films, TV Shows and a great deal of Theatre productions. One of my theatre highlights has to be playing the role of Mark Antony in Julius Caesar at the Hudson Theatre.

Right now, I’m focused on Voiceover work. During the quarantine, I built my own home studio- allowing me to record remotely. I recently wrapped a regional VO commercial and Audio Drama, both of which will be released in the next few weeks.

To those reading this; never lose sight of your purpose, and always remember, only you can tell your story.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toridanner/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tori.danner
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/toriodanner?lang=en

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