- What inspired you to pursue acting, and can you tell us about your journey from Kingsport, Tennessee, to New York City?
I’ve known I wanted to be an actor since I was in my first play at eight years old. I felt so at home on stage, and performing gave me a sense of self and freedom of expression unlike anything I had experienced before. I grew up doing community theater, speech and debate, and high school productions, and I knew pretty early on that this was the only thing I wanted to pursue professionally.
After high school, I went on to earn my BFA in Theatre Performance. For a long time, New York felt like this big, impossible dream. I hadn’t even visited the city until I was in college, and the idea of moving there felt incredibly overwhelming. During my senior year, I interned at a casting office in NYC to get a real sense of what life there was like and to see the industry from the other side of the table. That experience taught me so much, not just about the business, but about myself and what I wanted my life to look like. By the end of that internship, I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else after graduation.
- You transitioned from interning at a casting office to pursuing acting professionally. How did that experience influence your understanding of the industry and your approach as an actress?
My internship absoltuelty changed the way I approach auditions and the mindset I bring into the room. I was lucky enough to work as a reader for TV auditions, which gave me a firsthand look at what makes one audition stand out to casting. Before that, I often got caught up in trying to play a character “the right way.” Being in the room, I realized what really sets a performance apart is authenticity, what each actor uniquely brings to the role. Of course, tone and mood matter, but the most important thing is to stop worrying about what’s “right” or “wrong” and just fully embody the character in the way only you can. That authenticity is what makes a performance truly successful.
- Do you see your journey—moving from Tennessee to New York, interning, and acting—as a series of stepping stones that have prepared you for future opportunities?
Absolutely. Moving from Tennessee to New York, interning, training, and auditioning, all of it really does feel like a series of stepping stones that have built on each other. It’s funny, at the time, some of those experiences just felt like the next thing I needed to do. Looking back, each one taught me something different. Interning taught me how the industry works behind the scenes. Moving to New York forced me to grow up really quickly and trust myself. And auditioning through all of it has taught me resilience more than anything. In a career where you may have periods of stagnancy, it’s really important to learn how to believe in yourself and keep going when times are tough. It’s made me feel prepared for whatever comes next, because I know what I’m capable of and I trust myself to handle whatever comes my way. I also think that all of my different experiences have helped me to become a better actor, as I’ve seen life through so many points of view and I’m able to bring those with me as I take on different roles.
- You received the Outstanding Achievement in Performance Award at Belmont University. What was your favorite role or project during your time there?
That’s so tough. I was really lucky to have the opportunity to play a number of interesting characters in my time at Belmont, and they all mean a lot to me in different ways. I would say that my favorite project overall was The Amish Projectby Jessica Dickey, as it was an ensemble piece that we all worked really closely on together, and the story is a really moving piece about grief and humanity. I would say my favorite role was Natasha in Anton Chekov’s Three Sisters. Chekov can feel like a really intimidating beast to tackle, and I felt really challenged by that role. It can be really difficult to bring a “villain” to life and make them feel three dimensional. And with Chekov, you’re dealing with a tone that can be hard to bring vibrancy to. I felt like I ended up fleshing her out to be a funny, interesting character, and I just had the best time playing her. I learned a lot about myself as an actor in that show and I feel like it really stretched me as a performer, so it will always be special to me for that reason.
- Can you share what it was like working as a recurring guest star on Netflix’s “His & Hers”, and tell us a bit about the show and who you play
It was such a dream, I felt so lucky to be a part of it. Everyone on set was so incredible to work with and I learned so much from watching our insane cast do their thing every day. His & Hers is a mystery thriller set in a small town in Georgia after a murder starts pulling old secrets to the surface. The story follows the reporter investigating the case (Anna Andrews, played by Tessa Thompson) and her estranged husband (Jack Harper, played by John Bernthal), who happens to be the lead detective. I play Catherine Kelly, a shy outcast who is tied to Anna’s mysterious past. She’s very vulnerable on the outside, but there’s more to her than meets the eye. The set itself was such a supportive, joyful place to work. The show has a lot of heavy moments, so it was lovely to get to come up for air with everyone between takes.
- Have you had the chance to explore Atlanta with your cast members and visit filming sites of popular shows shot nearby? If so, what was that experience like?
Yes, it was so lovely! The other girls and I spent a lot of our days off exploring the city together. We ate amazing food, did some shopping, and really got to know the area we were working in, especially knowing our show takes place there. I think that helped us better understand the culture and the world of the story.
We also visited one of the filming locations from The Vampire Diaries, which was so cool. A lot of the local businesses still had Vampire Diaries merchandise, and you could see signatures from cast and crew on the walls of some of the shops. It felt like such a special outing for us because we got to see firsthand the lasting impact television can have on a community.
- You’re passionate about encouraging young people to pursue acting. What advice would you give to aspiring actors from communities with limited resources?
I’d say no experience is too small. Any opportunity you have to work on your craft will help you in the long run. Look for what’s available around you, community theater, school productions, or local arts programs. And if those aren’t available, create your own opportunities. Don’t let your idea of what training is supposed to look like hold you back. Read plays with friends, make videos, write and perform skits together. Anything that exercises your creativity is worthwhile and will help you start discovering your voice as an artist, and that’s what’s most important getting off the ground.
- Watching Carlos Alcaraz compete at the US Open after moving to New York must have been exciting (I’m a huge tennis fan myself actually). How did that experience impact you, both as a sports fan and as someone adjusting to life in the city?
It was so exciting! I actually didn’t know much about tennis at the time, my experience was pretty much limited to playing it on Wii Sports. But I really enjoyed watching the match, even though I wasn’t familiar with Alcaraz at the time. Now that I know a bit more about tennis, I can’t believe I was lucky enough to get to see him. No matter the medium, it’s always insanely inspiring to me to watch someone do what they love with such focus and fearlessness, so watching him play was very impactful. Beyond that, the sense of community while watching the match was amazing, it reminded me of what I love most about NYC. There are so many incredible experiences available to you right in your own backyard, and being surrounded by everyone’s energy made it even more thrilling.
- As someone who appreciates television as an art form, what do you think makes a TV performance truly memorable
For me, what makes a really memorable TV performance is when a character feels so real that you forget you’re watching an actor. It’s someone who’s willing to be gritty and raw without worrying about how they come across. I’m always drawn to characters you root for who are also deeply flawed. Emmy Rossum as Fiona Gallagher in Shamelessis a performance that’s always stuck with me. You loved her and wanted her to succeed, but she made a lot of mistakes and had to keep picking herself back up. It would’ve been easy to play her in a way that made her hard to forgive, but somehow you were always still on her side, hoping she’d pull through. Honestly, that entire cast made that world feel really lived in, and it’s the kind of storytelling that makes you feel like you know those characters personally.
- You’re an advocate for women’s rights and LGBTQIA+ rights. How do you see your platform as an actress contributing to social change?
I see my platform as an actress as a way to amplify voices and stories that may not always be heard. Representation matters. We may say it often, but it really, truly does. I hope that by choosing projects thoughtfully and speaking openly about issues I care about, I can contribute to a culture of empathy, understanding, and inclusivity. For me, it’s about inspiring others and supporting communities through visibility and authentic storytelling.
I also think that when you have a public-facing career, there’s a responsibility that comes with that. People are listening to what you say and watching what you do, and I believe it’s important to use that visibility to stand up for what’s right and for what you believe in. Even in small ways, I think that kind of honesty and advocacy can help create meaningful change.
- What are some of your favorite ways to unwind in your free time, and how do these activities influence your creativity?
I’ve always been a big Nintendo girl, so in my free time I love playing my Switch. I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a “gamer,” but I love games like Breath of the Wild and Animal Crossing. I also really enjoy adult coloring books. Both let me turn my brain off for a while and just be present, which actually puts me in a much better headspace to be creative afterward.
I’m also a huge fan of television as a medium and love starting a new show. As an actor, I think it’s important to stay aware of what’s being made at the current moment and what’s resonating with people. I love talking with other people about what everyone’s watching. My favorite thing about television is how it brings people together culturally and creates shared points of connection. I find a lot of inspiration in watching great performances, seeing an actor who is fully immersed in what they love and giving it their all reminds me of the kind of feelings I hope to evoke in audiences and pushes me to keep growing in my craft.
- What’s next for you in your acting career, and are there any dream roles or projects you hope to pursue in the future?
Right now, I’m focused on continuing to audition and just doing the work, staying curious and saying yes to things that challenge me.
A true dream role of mine would be playing Mary in Oh, Mary!. My roots are in theater so that’s something I would love to return to one day, and that show is so incredible. There’s nothing I love more than a loud, complicated, dramatic woman who knows what she wants. I would love to get my hands on Mary and see what she and I could do together. I’m also really excited about the idea of taking on more complex roles in women-led television projects. I’d love to do more comedy as well, I haven’t really had the chance to dip my toe into that yet, and it’s something I’m really eager to explore. I’m a huge fan of Jen Statsky and would love to be in something she wrote someday.
- Email: neill@outloudculture.com
- Socials: @frazer.live
- @neill.outloud
