Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Hughes.
Hi Jamie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I fell in love with stories, adventures, and storytelling at a very young age. I was born in the suburbs of Sacramento, CA and had a wonderful childhood. Picture LadyBird, minus the Catholic school. From the moment I could hold a Barbie doll, I started creating my own stories. I was never much of a reader but I loved watching movies with my family. I am the daughter of two very hard-working and loving parents and I have a brother who is 14 months younger than me. A source of much of my whimsy and fantasy from an early age was my mom. She would host the best Halloween parties, buy me and my friends thrifted prom dresses so we could play princesses, and she introduce me to all the movies that shaped me into who I am today. Everything from The Princess Bride to The Mummy to Pirates of the Caribbean; she instilled a confidence and wonder in me that I thank her for that.
I always remember loving the water. My Dad taught me to swim when I was just ten months old. Not to mention my sun sign is Cancer, and my moon and rising signs are both Scorpio (which makes me a triple water sign, haha). When my outgoing personality was “too much” for the classroom, my second-grade teacher recommended that I join the local swim team, the Sunrise Sharks. Joining the Sharks began a decade-long pursuit of competitive swimming and playing water polo. I thrived in the pool. I was one of the fastest girls and won a lot of races – set some records, too! I was even scouted to join the Junior Olympics team. When my dad asked if I wanted to join, I said, “I love swimming, Dad. But it’s not something I can see myself pursuing as a career.” I was only ten years old at the time.
My “big break” was playing the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz in my elementary school’s production. And by that, I mean I knew that theatre would be in my life forever…I had no idea it would someday become my career. At one point, I even co-directed AND played Captain Hook in my eighth-grade production of Peter Pan. This is when I discovered the world of *drum roll, please*… musical theatre! Several shows later, I realized that I was a damn good actor (and dancer) but couldn’t compete with the girls who started singing lessons when they were three. I quit doing musicals altogether and I switched my focus to acting in straight plays. Thankfully, this was around the same time I met my high school drama teacher and mentor, Mr. Winters. At the time, all I wanted to do was complain about not doing Angel in America or Shakespeare. He encouraged us to write our own work, do our own scenes, and tell our life stories. He taught me everything from the vocal warm-ups to sense-memory work that I still use in my artistic process today. Even though I watched the Academy Awards annually, I had never considered pursuing an acting career until I met him. And once Mr. Winters suggested it, I couldn’t picture myself doing anything else. Things really became a reality during the start of my junior year, when I spent two miserable weeks in AP Calculus. I stomped into my guidance counselor’s office and said, “I’m going to be an actor, I don’t need f*cking calculus.” I was moved to Advanced Drama the next class day.
On top of the drama club, being my high school’s student news anchor, and the newly named the Captain of the girl’s water polo team, I also had a heavy course load of AP classes. I called myself The Three A’s: an artist, athlete, and academic. And I still try to stay true to that even today. On top of all of this, I got my first job making sandwiches and scooping ice cream at a Togo’s and Baskin Robbins (even though I went vegan after a year of working there).
I never half-ass anything which is a trait that I feel that has gotten me to where I am. I dedicated my time preparing for college theatre school auditions. Mr. Winters made me perform my two monologues in front of the class every day until the auditions. I shot for the moon, only auditioning for Julliard, RADA, NYU, USC and UCLA. All of my preperation paid off; I was lucky to be accepted as a Bruin and left my hometown for Los Angeles in 2015. I am the first in my family to attend and graduate with a college degree.
Attending UCLA and pursuing my B.A. in Theatre was the most insane and beautiful four years of my life. Trying to balance classwork, evening rehearsals, an on-campus job and a social life was a great crash course for the fast-paced nature of LA. My time there made me a better actor. I acted in Shakespeare (which I always have had an affinity for), did my first on-camera projects, and acted in world premiere plays. Most notably, I braved going topless on stage as Emma Arkadina in the contemporary adaptation of The Seagull called Stupid F**king Bird. My favorite performance was playing Ilsa and Mrs. Bergmann in the original Spring Awakening (play) by Frank Wedekind. My entire family came out to LA to support.
UCLA was where I met a great network of creatives who I admire deeply. I was so in awe of watching my peers work. They taught me to trust my gut instincts while simultaneously throwing every obstacle at me to help me grow. I also met and fell in love with my current partner while living in his fraternity for the summer. We were forced to put in a lot of effort at the beginning of our relationship when I left to study abroad in London just after a month of knowing each other. The distance challenged us to get to know each other without relying on physical closeness. I also love that his work as a genetic counselor has nothing to do with the entertainment industry!
When I am not immersed in the entertainment industry, I found a second family in the world of concerts, musical festivals, and raves (oh my!). Music has always played an important role in my life and while I love many genres from alternative rock to musicals. My current love is with EDM. The world of raves is as accepting, loving and colorful as the entertainment business but doesn’t require emotional turmoil.
I have been very fortunate to travel to different countries and experience so many walks of life. From Egypt to Bali, to Greece, Mexico, Singapore, Belgium, France, London, Italy and Spain…I caught the wanderlust bug and I’ll probably have it forever. Seeking out and allowing other cultures to challenge my worldview educated me on the vastness of how wonderfully diverse our planet and its people are.
LA was the missing piece that I most likely wouldn’t have found in Sacramento. I love the people here. I love the plethora of vegan restaurants. I started going to concerts monthly rather than yearly. I have friends who want to travel and experience life just as much as I do. Everyone and everything thus far has shaped me in one way or another.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I had a generally wonderful childhood. My parents taught me an incredible work ethic; they both worked 9 to 5’s to provide the best life for my brother and I. However, my parents separated when I was nine years old; it was my first lesson in growing up and realizing not everything goes to plan. They ended up co-parenting so well for my brother and mine’s sake but the life lesson I learned was that I would rather have my parents be happier separate than miserable together.
In June 2019, I graduated from UCLA. I was the first in my family to do so. But just two weeks after one of the best days of my life came the worst day of my life.
I was working at a restaurant in Brentwood when a homicide detective called and asked, “Are you the daughter of Larry Hughes?”
“Yes?”
“I’m so sorry but your father’s been murdered.”
My father’s murder has completely changed my life and it will continue to shape it forever. My dad’s killer was a juvenile and got just 5 ½ years for his murder, and was recently released early to go to college due to “good behavior”. There have already been so many moments I wish I could tell my dad about…like my LA stage debut, my first feature film and my network television debut.
This has obviously created a deep empathy in my heart as an artist and as a person. My father was a generous man who gave so much to his community. He supported my swimming and attended every play I did. The last day we spent together, ironically, was Father’s Day.
I can remember asking him, “What’s the most important thing you’ve learned about being a dad?”
He said, “You have to trust you did your best while raising your kids, and when they grow up, let them go so that they can live their best lives.”
And while this has been devastating to me and my family, I choose to spend my days making him proud by working my hardest, being a source of comfort and support to my friends and family, and never quitting my pursuit of being an actor.
Acting has always been a creative space for me to work through things in a therapeutic way; and while my art is therapeutic, it does not replace therapy. As emotionally draining as our work can be, it’s important for artists to seek professional therapy.
The pandemic was difficult for so many. For me, it was the exact break that I needed to grieve my father. I genuinely don’t think I would be in such a good place now were it not for us all collectively taking a break to chill the f*ck out. I spent quarantine at home in Sacramento, caring for my dad’s property and slowly selling off his furniture. I also got a cat. Cats really boost your serotonin. Reconnecting with my hometown friends was what I needed to heal and I am forever grateful to them. Look, you can take the girl out of the suburbs but you can’t take the suburbs out of the girl.
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?
I am a stage and screen actress and have worked at the professional level for four years. What sets me apart from others is my enthusiasm and empathy that always bleeds into every job I work. While I enjoy comedy, I tend to lean towards dramas specifically in the action, dark comedy, and mystery categories. I also have an affinity for fantasy and sci-fi. I was so excited to return to LA and build back the momentum I had when I graduated from UCLA. Since returning, I’ve worked on a handful of projects in front of and behind the camera. I live in my dream apartment that takes up the bulk of my paycheck but wouldn’t change it for anything. At the moment, I pay my bills by serving in a restaurant and, recently, began working as a Wandkeeper at the Harry Potter World at Universal Studios Hollywood! So yes, I am thrilled to say that I now have an acting “day” job.
Some of my recent works are playing Vi in Arcane: the Immersive Live Experience (based on an award-winning Netflix show). While it was one of the most exhausting shows I’ve ever worked on, the cast, crew, and fans of Arcane made it the best and most memorable piece I’ve done to date. My first feature film with director Anton Kudrov and co-starred with Hollywood veteran Tim Griffin is currently in post-production. The most recent short I starred in, Wrapped Up in You, directed by powerhouse Christine Zivic, premiered at the Studio City Film Festival last November. I have also worked on the Youtube web series SuperMission for the last two years. Training in stunt work has been another recent pursuit. Not to mention I’ve been dabbling in producing short films and podcasts. On June 1st, I had my TV debut on Eli Roth Presents: The Legion of Exorcists, which is streaming on Max and Discovery Plus.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I love taking risks. The whole reason I got into this business was because I thought I would kill myself doing the same job every single day. I get bored of monotony. Look, my whole philosophy is “I’ll try anything once”. I think we grow the most when we are put in uncomfortable situations and there is nothing I like more than taking on a new challenge.
Pursuing a career in entertainment without any family, friends or connections in the industry is like starting at square one. The “Nepo Baby” phenomenon has made a lot of actor friends of mine angry and jaded – rightfully so. However, I also see this is an opportunity to build a career, my career, from the ground up. To know that the work that I do wasn’t just handed to me because my mom was a director or my dad a producer makes each win that much sweeter.
Recently, I came out as bisexual. Throughout my life, I was cast as many queer characters. I crossed-dressed as Captain Hook (Peter Pan) and Petruchio (The Taming of the Shrew). I was also cast as queer women in four different projects before I was “out”. This was all before having reflections on my own sexuality. Being able to explore sexuality through the characters I’ve played allowed me the space to be fully honest with myself.
Where does that leave us now? If you’ve made it this far, thank you. I am so grateful I’ve been able to share my story. Please, stay tuned. They say it takes ten years of work to catch your break in Hollywood. It’s only year four and I’ve experienced an international pandemic, global shutdown, and now an industry-wide strike? Don’t worry, LA; we’re just getting started.
And if you ever see a casting call for a vegan-swimmer-bisexual-raver-with-a-cat-obsession…have your people call my people.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thejamiehughes.com/
- Instagram: @jamiehughes_hey
- Twitter: @jamiehughes_hey
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6262470/
Image Credits
1. Jamie Hughes in “Abysse”, directed by Leo Sfeir 2. Photograph by Sean Kara 3. Jamie Hughes as Emma Arkadina in “Stupid F**king Bird” 4. Jamie Hughes as Ilsa in “Spring Awakening” 5. Hughes as Vi in Secret Cinema’s “Arcane: An Immersive Experience” 6. Hughes as Kris in the premiere episode of “Eli Roth Presents: The Legion of Exorcists”, streaming on Max and Discovery Plus 7. as Donna in “Lybeck”, directed by Anton Kudrov
