Meet Ugenia Stokes of Los angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ugenia Stokes.

Hi Ugenia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m Ugenia Stokes, an actor, producer, and storyteller originally from Texas and Louisiana. My love for acting began at just four years old, and becoming an actor has always been at the heart of what I wanted to do. Honored to graduate from ARTS MAGENT IN DALLAS TEXAS. I went on to study at Marymount Manhattan College before making my way to Los Angeles to continue pursuing that dream.

Over time, my love for storytelling expanded beyond acting. I’m the Founder of FWIN Productions, a production company rooted in social impact and creating opportunities for underrepresented voices. Producing has taught me to see the entire picture of a story, from the first idea to the moment it comes to life on set, while still allowing me to do what I love most: act.

I genuinely love being on set. The energy, the collaboration, the moving pieces, and watching an idea become something tangible is what fuels me. I’m especially drawn to stories that entertain while also provoking thought, creating conversation, and inspiring social change.

At the core of everything I do is a belief that storytelling can help us understand one another. I want to create and be part of stories that make people feel seen, challenge perspectives, and hopefully leave the world a little more connected than we found it.

I’m excited for this next chapter and for all of the stories still waiting to be told.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth? Smooth is not a word I would use to describe this road.

At times, it has felt like I’ve been hit by a hurricane. Other times, like I’m on the roughest roller coaster you could ever imagine, climbing and climbing, only to be dropped a hundred feet without warning. So no, it hasn’t been smooth at all. It has been really, really, really tough.

And honestly, I wouldn’t wish some of the struggles I’ve experienced on anybody. But I also can’t deny that those struggles have made me who I am. They’ve stretched me, humbled me, challenged me, and forced me to break chains I didn’t even realize I was carrying. My goodness, it has been tough.

One of the biggest things I’ve learned is how important your village is. Your family. Your friends. Your community. Your agent and manager. The producers you work with. The people who believe in you when you’re still trying to believe in yourself. Those relationships are pivotal in this business, and I don’t think we talk enough about that.

Because entertainment is not something you can completely learn in a classroom. You can go to school, you can study your craft, you can train, but then you step into this industry and realize you’ve essentially entered a graduate program that lasts a lifetime. There’s no real syllabus. You’re constantly learning, evolving, failing, trying again, figuring out the business, figuring out yourself, and figuring out what kind of artist you want to be.

There are definitely more tools available now than when I first started this journey, but that doesn’t mean the road has gotten easier. I’ve been doing this for a long time, and in so many ways, I feel like I’m just getting started.

I’ve had agents. I’m looking for the right manager. I’m still building relationships, still learning, still creating, still believing. And I genuinely believe the right people are coming. I believe there is alignment in that. They’re looking for me, I’m looking for them, and when the time is right, we’ll find each other…because we are all in flow and we flow into each others life with ease….

But there are sacrifices that come with this path that we don’t always talk about, especially as a woman. The choices you make. The time you give. The things you put on hold. Thinking about the future, marriage, children, family, and what all of that looks like while also pursuing a creative life and a career that asks so much of you….THE MARRIAGE THE PARNETHSHIP THE CHILDREN I WILL HAVE SOON >>>

I think part of my journey right now is welcoming this next new chapter for me. And the truth is, it looks different for every person.

For me, I guess you could call it my hot pink road.

It has had hills. It has had bumps. It has had unexpected turns, dead ends, beautiful views, and paths I never expected to take, and I’m still going.

Because Dorothy said, “There’s no place like home,” and this journey is really about aligning with self ….I think the hills, peaks, and valleys look very different now. It’s a lot more smooth sailing than it’s ever been, and I’m excited for that. I’m not saying everything is going to be perfect, because life is life, but damn sure it’s a whole lot smoother now…. because i am trusting myself

So I’m going to keep walking down my hot pink road. Whatever hills come, whatever bumps come, whatever turns I have to take, I’m going to keep going.

I’m still here.

And honestly, I feel like I’m just getting started.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What I love most is that I can laugh and cry at the same time. I can look at something and drop a tear. I can find comedy in something deeply emotional, and I can find humanity in something that makes you laugh. I think one of my specialties as an actor is transformation. I want to be an open vessel for a character to arrive, to receive that character, and to let them take me wherever they need to go.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve also come to understand my craft in a completely different way. It’s not just about the craft that has always been inside of me. It’s about understanding the power that’s inside of me, too.
I’ve done comedy. I’ve done stand-up. I’ve performed. I’ve worked every kind of job you can imagine. Nanny. Personal executive assistant. Director’s assistant. Sandwich shops. Hosting. You name it. And somehow, all of those experiences have become part of the artist I am today. At times, I feel like the Bette Midler character in Beaches.
I love comedy. I don’t always have the time to do stand-up the way I would like to, but I genuinely love it. I can be a little radical sometimes, and people will look at me like, “Wait… you really have been through this?” And I’m like, yes. This is not a story I made up. I’m a storyteller, but this shit is real.
That’s also what separates me. I work my ass off. When I sleep, I sleep. When I work, I work. And everything I do is rooted in community.
That same spirit is at the center of what I’m building with FWIN Productions. FWIN is rooted in social impact at the intersection of education, technology, media, and art. I believe we can create entertainment that doesn’t just tell you a story, but actually gives you something to walk away with.
We’re currently working on a women’s rights project where we shot a proof of concept for a television series. Each episode is designed to have a call to action, and we’re partnering with First Entertainment Credit Union to connect the storytelling with digital resources and financial literacy for people especially those working in the creative industry.
Because when you come into this business, you think, “Okay, this is going to happen. I’ll have a couple of side jobs, things will take off, and eventually I’ll be able to do this full-time.” But that hasn’t necessarily been my reality. I’ve had to figure it out. I’ve had to work. I’ve had to survive. And I’ve had to keep creating at the same time.
And I’m grateful for that.
Because now, when I step into a character, I’m not just bringing an actor. I’m bringing all of those experiences with me.
Ultimately, I want to provide an experience. I want to give people a lens through which they can experience a character and hopefully recognize themselves, recognize somebody they know, or simply have a moment of genuine human connection.
And then I want to ask, why not give them something else, too?
Why not provide resources? Why not create access? Why not use storytelling as a bridge between communities?
I think we’re living in a really interesting time in this country. And I wonder what would happen if we could just take a step back and actually communicate with one another about our differences without immediately judging each other through the lens of everything else happening around us.
Maybe we’d get a lot further.
That’s the kind of artist I want to be. That’s the kind of producer I want to be. And that’s the kind of company I want to build.
I don’t want to be in a box.
I want to build the whole damn house.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Right now, I can’t tell you that I have one very specific mentor, but I genuinely want one. I’ve had different mentors at different stages of my life, and I’ve learned so much from each of them, especially when it comes to filmmaking and the creative process.

Right now, I’m also fortunate to have a lot of wonderful women around me who give me great advice and perspective in different areas of my life. They may not necessarily be mentors who are involved in every aspect of my career, but they’ve each poured something fruitful into me, and I value those relationships deeply.

So, yes, I’m currently looking for a new mentor. And honestly, I think that’s one of the exciting parts of this next chapter for me: the new partnerships, relationships, collaborators, and mentors that are coming into my life. I feel like there are some really meaningful connections ahead, and I’m excited to see who I meet along the way.

What I would also say is, what’s really interesting about this business is that I have a lot of friends in different places, and I honestly do ask them questions. If there’s someone you want to know more from or something you don’t understand, don’t let your ego get in the way. Ask them. Say, “I don’t understand this. Can you explain this part of the business to me?” And you’d be surprised how many doors that can open. So be fearless with that. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, because you never know where that conversation might lead.

Check out Fruitful Fridays Poscast it also gives great advice

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fwinproductions.com/about and https://www.ugeniastokes.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tasteofugeey/, https://www.instagram.com/fwinproductions/, and https://www.instagram.com/autumnsummerfilm/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ugeniastokes