Today we’d like to introduce you to Yvonne Senat Jones.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I dropped out of college after my freshman year to become a model. My mom made me promise to go back to school if modeling didn’t work out after a year. It definitely did not work, lol. A year and a half later, I enrolled at El Camino College and took an acting class with Professor Ron Scarlata. He assigned an improv scene. I just remember the scene feeling so real as if I were actually the character and not myself. When it was over, I decided I had to feel that way again so I declared myself a Theatre major. I ended up getting my BA and Masters in Acting. As of now, I’ve been repped for about five years. Although these five years have definitely been challenging, I know I’ve been blessed with the amount of projects that I’ve booked in a relatively short amount of time.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The hardest part of my journey has been trusting that I didn’t make a mistake by pursuing acting. You hear so many people talk about how impossible it is to “make it” and you constantly go to auditions that you don’t book. The endurance is the hardest part. Thankfully, I have a great support group in my friends and family. They have definitely kept me going when I was ready to give up. Also, going to class and improving my acting skills has allowed me to feel confident in the audition room. Lastly, my faith in God has been a crucial part of keeping me on this journey. It seems like every time I’ve reached a point where I can’t go any further on my own, a friend will call and encourage me, or I’ll book a project, or I’ll just watch something that helps me to keep moving forward. I feel like those are all signs to reassure me that I’m on the right path and it’s just a matter of time before my next breakthrough happens.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
The best acting advice I’ve ever received is “no one can do you like you.” That’s helped me so much in the room! I make my acting choices and then execute them confidently… on a good day. LoL. But I KNOW that no one who comes in before or after me can do what I do. And when I’m done, they’ll either decide that I’m exactly what they’re looking for or I’m not. Either way, I can be confident that I embodied that character in a way that no one else did and that is a win. Then I remind myself that what is for me is for me. Then I go get some ice cream, lol.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
For me, success is getting called into the same casting office multiple times or having former directors reach out to ask me to be in their upcoming project. When people want to work with you again, that means you’re talented and also easy to work with. I’ve listened to so many famous actors talk about how important it is to maintain those positive relationships because all you need is a few people on your team to win.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.yvonnesenatjones.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @yvonnesenat
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YvonneSenat/
- Twitter: @yvonnesenat
Image Credit:
All images are from photographer Chuck Jones with MFB Entertainment www.mfbentertainment.com
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