Today we’d like to introduce you to Sammy Smedley

Hi Sammy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

I grew up in Ashburn Virginia and moved to New York City in 2014. Living so close to DC and being the homebody that I am, l ended up attending University there graduating with a BA in Theatre from The Catholic University of America.
I always knew that I was built for the performing arts. As a kid I would write and put on my own shows in our family’s basement. I even had a carefully organized prop/costume closet and homemade programs. Forever the storyteller at heart, when we would go away on vacations and wandered into souvenir stores, I always had my eyes peeled for props and wardrobe pieces, constantly searching for inspiration for my next show when back at home.
It was when I was gifted my first handheld camcorder that my passion for filmmaking quickly developed. Never really the party type, I spent most of my teen hood watching movies and then writing my own.
Outside of joining my high school theatre, I attended weekend classes at a small Film/TV school in Maryland, the only school for on camera training available in the ti-state area, where I did develop the basic skills necessary for understanding what it meant to be in front of the camera, which felt so uncomfortable at first. I was so shy then, the school director nicknamed me “mouse”.
Most people maybe wouldn’t know it but I have always been a severely anxious person. And for someone who has been pursuing acting since childhood, I don’t always enjoy the results of being in the spotlight, which personally is what makes my journey feel beautiful to me. I may succumb to anxiety and self doubt quite easily but I continue to put myself out there. I have always listened to my calling as an artist even during its most uncomfortable moments.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

My journey has never really felt smooth and I think that most artists can say the same. It’s a difficult career path to follow because so much of your success is dependent upon others decision making, which is why so much waiting is involved and even more patience is required. There’s this inherent insanity you have to accept when deciding to dedicate your life to this. You can be doing everything in your power to create opportunities for yourself and strengthen your talents but it still feels like it’s not enough when you aren’t getting the results you want.

I led a very traditional childhood not growing up in showbiz and I didn’t attend any big name school. I had spent those four years in University training and working exclusively with outside DC Theatre professionals which was an incredibly beneficial experience. However, I came to NYC with no connections, spending my first handful of years adjusting and learning…a lot. Honestly I had no idea what the heck I was doing! I knew that I had to be in NYC but I didn’t know what to do with it once I got there. The good thing about New York is that it doesn’t waste any time helping you figure it out.

Most actors work one or several other jobs outside of pursing a career in the industry and those actors can tell you…it ain’t easy. I’ve been dog walking in the city for a decade now and many days it’s been difficult to find the extra energy and focus to audition or write after a long day dog walking in a snow storm or heatwave. Oh my goodness, before the pandemic, how many in-person auditions I showed up to in the middle of my work day, completely drenched from rain and smelling like wet dog-work life/creative life balance is so tricky! My key was discovering how to make my “survival job” work with my artist’s career. In 2020 I quit the company I was working for and started my own dog walking business, financially landing me in a position where I could take more ownership of my acting career. As my own boss, I created a schedule that is flexible with acting jobs and as a result of the success of my business I am able to personally fund most of my films. So now my “survival job” doesn’t feel so much of a disadvantage but is instead feeding into my film career, making it even that much more possible.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

I am an actress and filmmaker. I co-founded an independent film production company with my partner called “Blue Plumbago Productions” in 2023 my first short comedy film “X-Mas Anonymous”, which I wrote and directed, has already been screened in countless festivals across the country and has received a large handful of wins, including Winner of Best Christmas Short at The Manhattan Film Festival 2024. We just shot my written short film “How’s That Working For You?”, a romantic comedy, set for festival release in 2025 and I am currently writing my first feature film. My stories tend to be high concept, always comedic and usually a tad dark.

I embrace character driven stories with long monologues and chunks of dialogue…makes sense considering I was heavily influenced by 90’s romcoms and film noir growing up. I think people tend to lack patience these days and everything has to be quick in order to be watched on our phones but don’t be fooled, with the right actors and writing, you can hold an audiences attention and share a captivating moment with your audience, no matter how long. So I am on a crusade to bring the monologue back! Give me a character who loves to talk any day. I love writing for actors and I want to showcase as many of them as possible including myself!

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?

I’d say my ambition is what drives me, I never quit. And for choosing a career that is nothing but uncertainty, I have never once felt uncertain about choosing it. I will never stop working towards building a bigger career for myself but that’s what’s so exciting about this crazy acting thing, there is never just one success to work towards but a lifetime of successes to conquer. As an artist, the journey never ends.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sammysmedleyactress.com
• Instagram: sammy_smeds
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sammysmedleyactress
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@SammySmedley

Image Credits

SubUrban Photography/ Eddy A.