Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mo Collins. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Mo, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think it takes to be successful?
I think defining “successful” is a very personal thing. I consider myself “successful” as both an actor and an artist in the fact that I am still here doing it today. Perhaps my finances tell a different story, but I have kept a roof over my head, food on plenty of people’s tables, and paint in my studio. The Arts is a brutal business! It’s as fickle as it is competitive. The fact that I have made ANY name for myself is a miracle to me. That tells me that people have enjoyed my work, followed my work, purchased my work, and continue to seek me out. How can I not see that as anything but successful? To be any sort of artist, to me, there is no real pinnacle in which you stop. As if you’ve made it as far as you can go. To be an artist is a journey! You have to evolve, which means taking risks. When I look back at all the ways I have evolved, course changed, redirected myself, back tracked, pushed, birthed and scrapped…I feel successful. I am very proud of myself!! It has involved taking a lot of creative hits, hearing a multitude of “no’s” and deep swims through self-doubt. And YET…I persist. Success!!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am an artist. I did not know the breadth of which my artistry would take me growing up, but here I am with many artistic limbs. I grew up drawing, painting and creating. Believing I would one day be an artist. In my early 20’s a new path showed up! Sketch and improv comedy. The checks started coming in!! And off I went! In. 1997 I mad the big move to Los Angeles from Minnesota, with a 2 year old in tow. Within my first year I landed a show! Series regular on the FOX late night sketch comedy show called Mad TV. I did plenty of other fantastic shows after that! From Parks and Recreation to Fear The Walking Dead. I reinvented myself as a stand-up around 2006, and have done plenty of writing, and developing as well. I did all of it!! Yet, I never quite hit the BIG time (or money!) and after Covid, a strike, and being in my late 50’s (Hi, I’m 59!! LOL), the industry I had committed myself to for 3 decades seems to have retired me! Needing to stay creative, I decided to pivot to Plan B; Art!! (Which, upon further musing, is actually Plan A!! ) Through the years I continued to paint, but it was more for myself and friends/family. NOW, I continue to paint for myself (hello mental health!), but with a purpose. I am looking to make a name for myself in the Art community. I started my online gallery in 2023 (MoCollinsArt.com and @MoCollinsArt on Instagram), and so far so good! All of this to say, I most certainly have NOT given up on my acting. I’ve got skillz! And if Hollywood ever wants to get it right with me, pull me out of retirement like Betty White, I will be in my studio keeping QUITE well, thank you very much!
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
My work has always been my greatest source for healing, no matter what ails. It’s where strength can be found when life hands you zingers. For instance, back in 2011 I was diagnosed with G.I.S.T. cancer. A rare one! My Art became such an escape for me. When painting, I can only see and feel what is happening between me and the canvas. I suppose sub consciously I was working out some fears and demons and “fuck you cancer!!” energy. It worked! I became cancer free!! Then in 2018, it showed up AGAIN, because apparently cancer thinks I am such great company! At the time I was working on a drama called ‘Fear The Walking Dead’ in Austin, TX. I don’t like to play the cancer victim in real life, so I kept it to myself (aside from a handful of advocates). Back on the chemo pill, feeling like crap. I fought of fictional zombies, while fighting a real life internal apocalypse off set. At home. With my husband. Strength and resilience came from using my character, Sarah (a badass), to infuse into my own life metaphorically. When I was feeling dogged and lost, I would go for a walk “as Sarah”. Quite literally carrying myself like her to feel strong. And again, of course, losing myself in a canvas was key too. It’s funny how being an artist in so many ways requires great vulnerability, but ultimately it is my artistry where I found my resilience. I just kept showing up!! And I always will! For me AND for you! That’s who I am. OH! And as of 7/2023 I am cancer free again. Things are never boring over here! LOL
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
One of the bigger lessons I learned over the decades is this: Don’t put yourself in a box. I spent too much time trying to fit into what I thought I should be. Keep in mind, Hollywood LOVES to put actors in a box. The fact of the matter is, I did not fit into one particular thing. I can DO a multitude of things, and characters etc. It’s possible this is why I did not ultimately work as much? The industry is, in so many ways, a very uncreative place. It is a business, after all. I finally realized this was my gift, not some curse. The same went for my painting! I spent too much time thinking I should restrict my style to one particular thing. I CAN’T!! And I shouldn’t. If I am too expand as a painter, I need to just follow my instincts, and see where it lands. Well, it’s landed in several different directions! I like that now. I embrace it. I’ll try anything! That’s the fun of it. I think ultimately there ends up being an “essence” of myself in everything I do. There’s a certain “Mo” style that shines through. I can see it, and what excites me most is when others see it too, and call it out. I recently started joking that “Mo” is short for MORE, and that my brand is “as is”. I am who I am, and I am many things. I’m a mocking bird. I sing back through my characters and paintings what I see and feel in the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.MoCollinsArt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mocollinsart
- Linkedin: https://linktr.ee/mocollinsstudio
- Twitter: @THEMOCOLLINS
Image Credits
Gene Reed