The Reel Women

Category: Interview

  • @kyagarwood

    @kyagarwood

    “Own who you are. Never let a negative reason drag you down.”

    What pulled you into film and TV in the first place?

    I was always creative even as a child. I’d watch American soaps and dramas and just wanted to be on the screen. They were my main inspiration. Dallas and the comedy Three’s a Crowd were my faves.

    What do you think the industry gets most wrong about women like you?

    My passion for working behind the scenes enables me to learn much more, and therefore I am not taken seriously, and my age is a barrier, or so they say! With prosthetics, wigs etc… there is a role for everyone.

    What does success mean to you?

    Being recognised by mainstream channels and professionals as an actress. To show the UK that, after 32 years in the industry, I am passionate and worthy of castings. Once that is acknowledged, then I have been successful in achieving that goal.

    What are you most proud of that most people don’t know about?

    A proud stand-in/double for 20 years. I have worked directly with Hollywood A-listers and have been directed by some award-winning directors. As an actor, mastering my craft and learning the technical side of it is so rewarding. I have read off lines and acted alongside major talent as a picture double. That I would never have got to do if I had worked outside of the industry. Why should that make me any less of an actress than the person working elsewhere?

    What keeps you going when the industry makes it hard?

    Passion and determination. Rejection for me just makes me fight more.Casting Directors and Agents, dismiss me because I work as a stand-in/double. They seem to think that our job is that of a supporting artist and it is not and I am not. I have reputable credits, a strong resume and awards under my belt, but I still hit a  brick wall. I hope I can try and change the perception of what we do and prove we are respected performers and this is my day job.

  • @caroline_renard

    @caroline_renard

    “Direct earlier and don’t wait for anyone to give yourself permission.”

    What pulled you into film and TV in the first place?

    Buffy the Vampire Slayer and pretty much the WB. Watching that growing up and seeing a strong woman kick ass was when I knew I wanted to make TV. Oh and Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, I wanted to be a third sister.

    What do you think the industry gets most wrong about women like you?

    That we need to constantly prove that we can do this, most of us are past the stages of fellowships. We need financing and opportunities. We can do this, we don’t need to jump through the constant hoops to prove it. Just hire us.

    What does success mean to you?

    Success to me means being able to freely make art with my creative family without the bureaucracy of Hollywood.

    What are you most proud of that most people don’t know about?

    I am most proud of myself for sticking to it. This is a hard business and I am proud that I am trying.

    What keeps you going when the industry makes it hard?

    What keeps me going is knowing that I am setting out to tell stories that future generations will be able to see themselves, their families and their stories onscreen.

  • @fernandabecheroficial

    @fernandabecheroficial

    “When you know who you are, you’re much more open to opportunities and much less afraid of rejection.”

    What pulled you into film and TV in the first place?

    I have been addicted to TV series since I was a teenager. The kind of addiction where you start something and the rest of the world disappears. Stranger Things. Grey’s Anatomy. Anne with an E. Friends. I watched all of them the same way: completely convinced I was living inside that world.

    What I felt watching those shows was the same thing I felt the first time I saw Wicked, when I was eleven years old. A sense that I could be anything. That feeling is what pulled me into performing.

    Something I have never said publicly: even though I studied English for years, what actually made me fluent was watching my favorite series and movies. I lived inside those episodes. The language came from there.

    Now I am on the other side. I graduated from AMDA, performed in two professional musicals in New York, and took my first steps in front of a camera. I was part of the short film Are You Happy? directed by MJ Romero Coy, and a poetic short film by ES Productions NYC. Every time I am on set I think about those teenage nights watching someone on screen and feeling like that kind of life was possible.

    I want to be that for someone else.

    What do you think the industry gets most wrong about women like you?

    I think the industry sometimes underestimates how multifaceted women can be. We don’t fit into just one category, and I love seeing more stories that allow women to be funny, vulnerable, ambitious, and strong all at once.

    What does success mean to you?

    To me, success means waking up every day knowing I’m doing what I love. But beyond that, it means inspiring others the way I was inspired growing up. If my journey encourages someone to believe in themselves or to take the first step toward their own dream, then I know I’m making a difference, and that’s success to me.

    What are you most proud of that most people don’t know about?

    I’m proud of how much I’ve grown, not just as a performer, but as a person. Moving to New York meant starting from scratch. I had to build a life, find my community, and create opportunities for myself while pursuing my career. Looking back, I’m proud of everything I’ve built, because every friendship, every opportunity, and every step forward has been earned. Those are the achievements that mean the most to me.


    What keeps you going when the industry makes it hard?

    I’m still figuring that out, to be honest. This industry isn’t easy, and I think that’s true for everyone. What I’ve learned so far is that taking care of my mental health and remembering my own worth have to come first. When you feel grounded and confident in who you are, you can show up, do your best work, and not let every opinion or setback define you. I’ve learned to focus my energy on the people and opportunities that truly matter, and that keeps me moving forward.

  • @_royalmisfit_

    @_royalmisfit_

    “Don’t take everyone’s advice for gold.”

    What pulled you into film and TV in the first place?

    The movies! I was frequently sick as a kid, from seventh grade till 11th on and off again with an autoimmune disease that spurred other sicknesses. When I missed the day at school I’d watch the movies, the behind-the-scenes on dvd’s and on breaks or snowy days we’d go to the movies. I sometimes would go to the 99 cent theater to re-watch films two or three times. I was also an avid Nick at Night watcher, I didn’t go a summer without watching the entirety of I Love Lucy and Bewitched. And through all my curiosity I wondered why women’s story lines were so repetitive, how only few broke the mold. I was a huge history buff and frequently read historical fiction and non-fiction as well on my days from school and grew fascinated by all the remarkable women I encountered. It was then I realized through all my watching and reading I wanted to be a storyteller.

    What do you think the industry gets most wrong about women like you?

    What a great question. I think the industry perhaps fears the root of women’s stories and the places they can go, what they talk about, can mean if shown to a broad audience. I haven’t been one to shy away from the women’s perspective especially when it comes to our psychology and body.

    What does success mean to you?

    Having your voice be heard and understood.

    What are you most proud of that most people don’t know about?

    That I’m still here. From age 12 to 24, something went wrong with my body every three years, the last two being a car accident and surviving sexual assault. At 15, doctors thought I had a brain tumor and told me I might not make it. Those experiences, spaced out like clockwork, gave me a strange kind of perspective. My survival really started as a mindset before it became anything physical.

    What keeps you going when the industry makes it hard?

    Community, knowing I’m not the only one experiencing this hardship. And the stories, gosh, story keeps me motivated. They fuel me.

  • @LisaStockFilm

    @LisaStockFilm

    What pulled you into film and TV in the first place?

    The power of stories and storytelling through a magic visual medium. Like many others, The Wizard of Oz was my earliest influence. It scared me, enchanted me and gave me hope. As I grew up, I understood the purpose of metaphors all the more, and how beautifully they could be brought to life in films. I started telling people when I was 5 years old, I was going to direct movies. My parents encouraged it and I’ve never looked back. To this day, you can still see the influence of Oz in my work through color palettes, subtext through windows and in backgrounds, magic realism and a character’s singular journey toward truth.

    What do you think the industry gets most wrong about women like you?

    That we’re a novelty. Women filmmakers are still caught in the gerbil wheel of “proving ourselves”. I get questions like, did you do that yourself? YOU edited the film? Why are you doing it like this? As if it’s a surprise that I’m capable of wearing many hats on a film. Or I have to explain myself over and over before being trusted, regardless of my previous successful works. I’m grateful for women pushing through and making films like they want to, redefining the landscape and producing remarkable stories that make a lasting impression.

    What does success mean to you?

    Knowing that the audience carries my film out of the theater or off the screen with them. If one audience member sees themselves in one of my characters and finds themselves thinking about it later on, in relation to their own life, then I feel no greater success than being able to connect with them.

    What are you most proud of that most people don’t know about?

    The amount of time and the late nights that I put into each project. That I don’t consider it done until I think I’ve made my cast and crew proud too. That maybe if that 5-year-old girl could look forward and see my films she would say, “That’s exactly what I wanted to do.”

    What keeps you going when the industry makes it hard?

    Keep telling stories, keep making films. Start a script, buy a prop, anything to just keep taking steps forward and doing what I love.

  • @thelesliebecker @organizedactor

    @thelesliebecker @organizedactor

    What pulled you into film and TV in the first place?

    I fell in love with film when my mom introduced me to movie musicals as a kid. She loved them and they opened a world for me that led a 25-year career performing musicals on Broadway, which led to also appearing in various TV and film roles. Now I’m focusing on the writing side. I have two full-length musicals that have been produced (and another on the way) as well as a TV sitcom and dramatic episodic in development.


    What do you think the industry gets most wrong about women like you?

    It’s still shocking to me that when a woman is strong and direct and passionate she is looked at as difficult, but when a man is the same way, he is revered. Also, as much as there is a culture of needing to have multiple creative outlets, there are still some people who don’t believe you can be really excellent at a lot of things. That’s the beauty of being a creative though, using all the gifts God gave you, not just the ones somebody else says you should use. Women in their very nature can do a lot of things well and I like to celebrate that.


    What does success mean to you?

    To me success is a very personal thing. It’s knowing that I’m living out my purpose every day to empower, entertain and educate others, and to be a source of strength and bravery for the human spirit. If I’m doing any form of that, I consider that a successful day. I do that through my brand The Organized Actor® which began with a bestselling book I wrote in 1994. This year I released a digital app, Organized Actor® Online, that helps actors manage the business side of their careers, from tracking auditions, bookings, contacts, income and expenses, goals and more. And my podcast, Unstoppably Creative, helps fellow creatives build their confidence so the highs and lows of a creative life are balanced by a strong belief in themselves. When I empower someone else, I feel successful.

    What are you most proud of that most people don’t know about?

    I suffered from extreme audition anxiety in my early years, particularly singing. So it’s still amazing to me that I overcame that and made a living singing to thousands of people a night. The pinnacle moment was performing a solo concert of my original songs in Times Square back in 2019.

    What keeps you going when the industry makes it hard?

    I always think it’s best to face reality for what it is, not as you wish it would be or as it used to be. So when the industry blocks me, I find a way around it. I feel like I’m a master pivoter.

    For more on Leslie, check out her website: https://organizedactor.com

  • @Omobolaakinde

    @Omobolaakinde

    What pulled you into film & TV in the first place?

    I had always enjoyed acting on stage right from when I was in school. Even though I never knew I would do it professionally until years later after school. I remembered I liked it then so I decided to give it a try. 

    What worries you most about the future of this industry right now?

    Film getting to our audience at an affordable rate and producers making back their money.

    What’s one piece of advice you wish you’d heard earlier?

    Get a normal job while pursuing this dream. Because bills are real.

  • @margauxamie

    @margauxamie

    What pulled you into film & TV in the first place?

    I’ve always been drawn to storytelling and human emotion. Film and television have a unique ability to make people feel seen, start conversations, and create empathy across very different experiences. As an actor, I loved stepping into characters and exploring emotional truth, but over time I realized I also wanted to help shape the stories being told behind the camera. That eventually led me to founding True Self Films, where the goal is to create meaningful, character-driven work that reflects voices and experiences that are often overlooked.

    What worries you most about the future of this industry right now?

    I think one of the biggest concerns is that meaningful storytelling can sometimes get overshadowed by algorithms, trends, and short attention spans. There’s so much pressure to create what’s instantly marketable that unique voices and emotionally honest stories can struggle to break through. I also think access remains a challenge — especially for independent filmmakers, women, and creators from underrepresented backgrounds. At the same time, I’m hopeful because audiences are still hungry for authentic stories that genuinely connect with them.

    What’s one piece of advice you wish you’d heard earlier?

    I wish someone had told me earlier that building a career in this industry is much more of a marathon than a sprint. It’s easy to compare your journey to other people’s highlight reels, especially in entertainment, but longevity, resilience, and relationships matter just as much as talent. I also wish I’d understood sooner that creating your own opportunities can be just as powerful as waiting for permission from the industry.

    What does success mean to you and have you ever experienced it?

    Success to me is creating work that resonates with people while also building a sustainable career doing what I love. Of course awards and recognition are wonderful, but I think real success is when a story moves someone, sparks conversation, or makes them feel less alone. I’ve experienced moments of success already through acting, producing, and seeing projects like our award-winning short film Let Go connect with audiences and film festivals. Those moments reminded me that even smaller projects can have real impact.

    What is next in your career?

    Right now I’m focused on growing True Self Films and advancing our psychological drama feature Therein Lies Darkness through financing and development. I’m also developing new film and television projects centered on emotionally impactful storytelling.

    Interested in being interviewed? Submit your name here!

  • Hallease

    Hallease

    Follow on instagram: @hallease.mp4

    Why did you decide to work in the film and TV industry?

    It’s debatable if I work “in the industry” or adjacent to it but I decided to tell stories (mostly online) because I wanted to be the change I wanted to see and I wanted to document my life, so that way if I ever became a hashtag for all of the wrong reasons, there was a primary source account of who I am. An unabridged primary source account of all the ways I existed here.

    What is your biggest concern with the future?

    Surprisingly not Ai (potentially famous last words – but we’ll see). I’m more concerned with the shrinking avenues for creatives to exist at every level of filmmaking. The lack of space for innovation in storytelling, combined with an overemphasis on profits concerns me. So, I find myself leaning more into spaces online where the only gatekeeper is your internet connection and relying on the community at large for support rather than an executive who’s only goal is an ROI.

    What is a successful moment in your career so far?

    I am grateful to say I’ve had a few! Getting fired from my first production job back in 2012 was a success because it led me to an amazing producer who helped shape my producing, interviewing, and directing skills. I later used those skills to produce two grant-funded documentaries combating hate speech and xenophobia on my YouTube channel and producing a web series show for PBS. One of my biggest wins was becoming an Adobe Creative Resident in 2021-22 because that allowed me to invest in myself and create a comedy web series called This Coulda Been An Email.

    What advice do you have for other women in the industry?

    Collaborate across whenever possible. One of the first collabs that helped me grow online was with my friend and fellow creative Evelyn From The Internets. I had just bought the DJI Mavic (their first mini drone model) and told her about it. She had a sponsored video on her channel she wanted to produce and asked me to DP it. That video ended up going viral. I still get referenced from it, and I know she still gets opportunities and eye balls from it too. She had the skills of storytelling and needed a DP. I had the DP knowledge and skills but needed a story to film. To this day, years later, she’s still my writing partner, accountability, and a dear friend. Focus on cultivating genuine relationships with a spirit of giving and the creative magic will come.

    What is next for you in your career?

    Cultivating more community! My goal in life is to help others tell their own stories so I’m shifting my content to focus more on tangible tips and skills to do that. My motto is, “I went to film school so you don’t have to if you don’t want to!” I love being accountability for others, giving them a spark of inspiration, or just helping them logistically with filmmaking and answering their technical questions in a safe space. There are no dumb questions!

    I’m also working on a new travel docu-series with a friend of mine who’s a lawyer, we got some grant funding for it too which is really exciting because funding is 92.7% of the battle.

    Finally, I’m developing a graphic novel based on a short story written by my husband, Chris. I’ve been working on a proof of concept scene with the illustrator I want to work with and am talking to an independent comic editor. Hopefully, I’ll launch a crowdfunding campaign for that soon and have the book done by the fall (or sooner).

    So yeah, I’m outside y’all just making stuff!

    Where can people find out more about you?

    My YouTube channel and Instagram. My name is very Googl-able so go wild – Hallease! If you’re looking for a more buttoned up me, check out my company website — StumbleWell.com

  • “Nicole Kidman calls for action on gender imbalance in film industry”

    “I have to do something. We can all talk about it or I can actually just get out there and do it. And that, at this stage of my life and my career is what I’m trying to do; change the statistics.”