Let's take a trip to New York City and meet Kelley Heyer, an inspiring Hawaiian actress!
@kelleyheyer on Instagram
“When I was in high school I already knew that NYC was the place I wanted to be. I always felt I had a faster pace than on the island and knew that the city was where I would flourish. From what I know, there’s more theater in NY than in LA as well, and as much as I’m building my career for film and television, I think that theater and the collaboration that comes with the latter is so important.
In New York, the biggest thing is Broadway. And although it’s absolutely incredible, the tickets are very expensive and not many people can afford them. Broadway has progressed in many ways, one of which is becoming more diverse in terms of casting, playwrights and directors, and yet the people who should be able to enjoy these shows can’t because of economic barriers. This is the reason why I believe in independent theatre, and more importantly, in access to theatre. The experiences that one gets from others performing in front of you is just electric. It’s something that can’t really be recreated in film or movies.
For me, theatre is the foundation of everything and acting in plays is the best training because you are fully focused on the person you are acting with, unlike in movie sets, where there are a lot of people running around and there’s a camera in your face. Unlike film, in theatre you can experiment and express yourself freely and in the moment.
Although I don't believe in puritan view of theatre being better than film, I do believe that what theatre offers over film is a personal connection, not only to the people you’re acting with, but with the audience as well.”
How did you get into acting?
"I started being driven toward theatre when I was in middle school. I loved to move with my whole body, which is why I did a lot of sports during school as well. I couldn’t stand still. I used to do canoe paddling back in Hawaii and still do it here in NYC. I found the nerves and jitters I’d get from being on stage to be very exciting, and I just felt good doing it. My friends were into it as well so we would read plays, watch movies together, etc. I’m so grateful for the local independent theatres back home.
In terms of self-care, my biggest thing is therapy. I know it’s not an option for everyone but if it is, I think people should do it. It’s so important for me to talk to someone with an unbiased opinion; if they’re completely uninvolved in my life or in my career, they can help me see patterns that maybe I can’t see. It helps me feel grounded and secure, so therapy is number one for sure.
My second would be my cats—I have two cats and even though they’re crazy sometimes, I love them very much. I love taking care of my plants too, having a facial routine, and just taking care of all the simple things around me and in my life.
Listening to my body is also a big one for me, because it will tell me when it’s time to slow down or speed up, as well as remind me to be kinder to myself. I think we are all so mean to our bodies, both physically and emotionally, so I think part of my self-care is thanking my body for being here, being amazing, trusting my abilities and appreciating what I can do and what I have learned.”
What advice would you give to prepare an audition well?
"You are going to be cast for a part or picked for a job by being YOU. There’s a lot of talk in the acting industry about what type/stereotype roles you are limited to playing, and frankly, there is some truth to it.
In the end, you’ll be cast based on your specific individual personality. That’s what casting directors, agents, and people working on films want to see. They want to see what you can bring to their project, not necessarily what stereotype you can fill.
When I first moved to NY I would go to my auditions wearing very clean and professional neutral colored tops to not create distraction. My personal style, though, is actually very funky and thrifted, so about a year ago I decided to wear what I like, from floral jumpsuits, striped bodysuits to super funky jeans from the 80’s, and boom! I started getting noticed and I began to express myself in the way that makes me me. I went from wanting to be perceived as this highly polished neutral actress to someone that just wants to show their true colors. BE YOURSELF. It’s more exciting and easy to be yourself. You are f**** hot and you should own it. Know you look great right now , you are perfect right now and enjoy it!
My plans for the future are to keep collaborating. In these last few years I’ve met some amazing writers, filmmakers, producers, and people who I consider game changers and unique in the industry. I want to keep working with them and make art together; I want to help them because I know they’ll help me too. By surrounding myself with collaborators whom I really love and trust, I’ll keep working, learning, and growing."
On Instagram: @kelleyheyer