We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Benjamin Roberts. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Benjamin below.

Benjamin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

My name is Benjamin C. Roberts and I am an actor. I am fresh out of college and been working professionally as a stage actor for the last 6 months. The first dollar I earned as an actor was in July 23 2023. I can remember it like was yesterday. From that day, it has set me up to where I am today. I was nominated to be apart of the KCACTF region 4 acting competition. I was selected for my performance is the Pulitzer Prize winning play Fairview by Jackie Siblies Drury. The character I had the honor to portray is called Dayton. He is one of the main characters in the story, who is has a happy family where he is both a father and husband.
In this competition, I had the honor to compete regionally against other nominated actors. While I didn’t win, but I was a finalist in the competition. Here I met a woman named Katherine LeRoy Lawson, who soon became my mentor on my journey to pursue a career in performing arts. She led me apply to another competition at the black theatre network which was a national monologue competition. Here I was competing against other black actors and performers across the nation. Through out the process, the pool of actors were slimmed down to 10, where they provided resources and teachings to help improve our skills and talent as performers. We all worked hard, and soon the chosen 10 will be come a final 5. This final 5 will be sent to Saint Louis Missouri to compete for cash prizes. 1st place would get $500, 2nd place would get $300, and 3rd place would get $200. This trip would be paid in full from travel to stay. I can proudly say that I earned and secured my spot on the final 5 and ended coming in second place taking home the $300 cash prize. And from there I had networked many connections which landed me a job in Sarasota Florida acting in their mainstage shows professionally.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

So as you know I am in the profession of acting. When I was a child, I was always infatuated with the art of acting. Being able to have many different professions without having to have a degree, having to live completely different lives, and essentially being whatever you want to be and do whatever you want to do. This fascinated that little boy, who had dreams to be able to one day walk the path of those men and women who inspired him to pursue a career in this industry. You know then, it didn’t seem too possible. The dream sometimes seemed inaccessible for a little boy growing up in the small city of Augusta Georgia, coming from a family who didn’t believe it was possible to make a living off the arts. But I didn’t let that fear or opinions stop me. After I graduated High school, I decided I was going to get into Theatre to help improve my skills as an actor. Here I had no experience, and all the people I looked up to all started off in Theatre. So I said to myself “let me learn how to act on stage first before getting in front of a camera”. Because on stage nobody says “cut”. There is no stopping, the show must go on. Here I quickly overcame my stage fright and gained confidence to be comfortable in front of large audiences. People’s eyes, opinions, and prescience didn’t bother me how I thought it would. It actually fueled my performances. It feels like a high, being able to feed off people’s energy by making them laugh, cry, and even making them angry.
I accomplished this in my debut play of the Greek tragedy Medea by Euripides. I played the character Aegeus who was a king. I have to say it felt liberating being a king for a moment. I’ve learned so much about myself and the art form. That’s the biggest takeaway I can say when I dive into new characters. You learn new things about yourself you never knew, and you start to understand peoples point of views on life. This art form really improves so many life skills that you need in everyday life. It honestly improves you as a person. I’ve gained so much life experience from all the productions I was apart of. From historical work such as Detroit 67 to fictional pieces such as Robin Hood. These roles are vastly different from my life. You start to actually believe that you are apart of these different universes even if it’s just for a moment. From being apart of the race riots in Detroit 1967 to being enemies and clashing swords with Robin Hood and his Merry Men. That’s what I love about this work and want to continue to strengthen my skills and improve my talent, because I strive to be the best. I want a career comparable to Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Angela Basset, etc. I want to continue to create art that will move people and be able to cause some change in people’s lives. Make people feel something.
What I want people to know about me and my growing brand is that the sky is the limit. It is possible as long as you believe in yourself, and your goals are obtainable if you keep that hunger and fire for it. While I am fresh into my professional career, I have been blessed to be able to step foot into it so soon. I want my story to inspire other young Benjamin’s who are out there chasing their dreams. That the life you want is obtainable as long as you keep faith! Anything is possible. I always say if they can do it I can do it.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goals are more like milestones. The overall goal is to just be a working actor and booking consistent work from year to year. Whether that be stage, film, television, directing, or wiring. I want to be able to master all the art forms across the medium and be remembered for my work ethic and talent. My biggest goal for the future is to have an EGOT. That is the Emmie, Grammy, Oscar, Tony. This is probably my “dream” goal. But as of right now my main goal is to get my MFA in acting at my dream school Julliard. I want to be the best at what I do, so I want to continue to gain training and experience to shape to be the best storyteller I can be.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is seeing how your work can move people in various ways. Everyone will perceive your art differently and have different takeaways from it that can affect them a personal level. I love seeing my work resonate with other people especially people that look like me. Seeing people notice the nuances and little details I put in my art is satisfying to hear. It makes me feel that my work doesn’t go unnoticed. That respect you earn from your family, friends, and strangers. Because it feels good being an inspiration to others.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Btfyr
• Facebook: Benjamin C. Roberts
• Other: TikTok: Btfyr

Image Credits

Tamara Tanksley
Benjamin C. Roberts
Abby Hoekzma
Jaila Peterson