We were lucky to catch up with Conroy Smith recently and have shared our conversation below.

Conroy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

If I could go back, I definitely would have started sooner.

I always wanted to be an actor. Back in middle school, I did plays and absolutely loved it. At first, I loved the attention, but I also discovered that I was actually good at it and enjoyed learning the craft. The challenge was that I was also heavily involved in sports, and growing up it felt like I had to choose one path or the other.

I chose athletics. My goal was to become a professional athlete and then transition into acting later. I eventually accomplished part of that dream and played professional rugby, but rugby isn’t a sport that comes with a lot of mainstream recognition or opportunities outside of the game itself.

When I retired from rugby, I found myself going through an identity crisis. For so long, being an athlete was who I was. Around that time, I was seeing a therapist who asked me a simple question: “What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to do?” I immediately said, “Acting.” Then he asked, “What’s stopping you?”

The truth was, I didn’t have an answer.

That conversation changed everything. The very next week, I started researching classes, audition opportunities, and projects. I stopped waiting for the perfect time and just started.

Looking back, I wish I had pursued acting alongside athletics instead of treating them as separate paths. I think I could have done both. While I’m grateful for everything sports taught me like discipline, resilience, teamwork, I would have loved to give myself a head start in the craft. Every class, audition, and project has taught me something valuable, and I often wonder how much further along I’d be if I had started years earlier.

That said, I don’t regret the journey. My experiences as an athlete shaped who I am as an actor today. I just wish I had realized sooner that I didn’t have to choose one dream over the other.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m originally from a small town in Pennsylvania called Chambersburg. Growing up, I always loved sports and storytelling. I attended Liberty University for track and field and eventually moved to California to pursue professional rugby.

Looking back, sports taught me far more than just how to compete. It taught me discipline, showing up and doing the work even when you don’t feel like it. It taught me professionalism, communication, leadership, and how to work with all kinds of personalities. It taught me how to be part of a team, how to handle pressure, and how to navigate situations where not everyone is pulling their weight. Those lessons have translated directly into my work as an actor.

After my rugby career, I found myself looking for a creative outlet that allowed me to tell stories and connect with people. Acting became that outlet. In many ways, I feel like my journey to acting was being prepared long before I ever stepped onto a set.

Throughout my life, I’ve spent a lot of time in leadership and communication roles. I’ve been a team captain, worked in church ministry, led worship, worked with youth and young adults, performed music, and now work as a fitness coach. I’m constantly communicating, observing people, listening to stories, and helping others grow. All of those experiences have given me a deep well to pull from as an actor.

When I finally started acting, it just fit. I realized I had spent years building experiences that would help me understand people, relationships, conflict, leadership, failure, success, and personal growth. Those are the same things that make great characters and great stories.

Today, I work on commercials, short films, independent projects, and digital content throughout Southern California. I’m also expanding into writing and directing. Most recently, I completed my directorial debut, a short film called The Other Side of Us, which I wrote, directed, and acted in.

What I’m most proud of is continuing to create opportunities instead of waiting for them. Whether I’m acting, directing, coaching, or leading, my goal is always the same: connect with people, tell meaningful stories, and leave a positive impact. I want audiences to see authentic, relatable characters on screen, and I want collaborators to know they’ll be working with someone who is professional, prepared, and committed to the craft.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think one thing non-creatives often struggle to understand is that creativity is a career, not just a talent.

From the outside, acting and other creative pursuits can look exciting and glamorous. People see the finished product, the red carpets, the performances, the social media posts, or the highlight reel. What they don’t always see is the uncertainty that comes with it.

As an actor, you’re constantly working, even when you’re not on set. You’re training, networking, auditioning, creating content, improving your materials, building relationships, and searching for the next opportunity. There isn’t always a clear ladder to climb or a guaranteed promotion waiting at the end of the year. You’re building the plane while flying it.

One thing that can be challenging is that many of the questions non-actors ask are the same questions actors ask themselves every day. What’s the next project? What have you been in? Have you worked with anyone famous? What do you have coming up? Why don’t you just call this producer or that director? Those questions usually come from a place of support and curiosity, but they can be difficult because they’re tied to the uncertainty of the profession.

I think what people often miss is that success in the creative world isn’t always measured by what the public sees. Sometimes success is taking another class, landing an audition, creating your own project, building a new skill, or simply staying committed to the journey when results aren’t immediate.

I’ve been a creative in one form or another my whole life. Through sports, music, church leadership, coaching, and now acting, I’ve always been drawn to creating, communicating, and connecting with people. What I’ve learned is that the creative path requires a lot of faith, resilience, and patience. You have to believe in the work long before the results show up.

That’s probably the biggest thing I’d want non-creatives to understand. Most creatives aren’t chasing fame. They’re chasing the opportunity to do meaningful work that they love, and they’re willing to endure a lot of uncertainty to make that happen.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

One of the biggest pivots in my life happened when I realized I was burning the candle at both ends.

At the time, I was working as a fitness coach, serving at a church, and DJing events. All three were rewarding, but they also required me to be physically present to make money. If I wanted to earn more, I simply had to work more hours. Eventually, I realized that wasn’t sustainable.

I started looking for ways to create additional income streams and became interested in Airbnb, specifically rental arbitrage. It felt like an opportunity to build something that could generate income without requiring me to trade every hour of my time for a dollar.

I dove in headfirst. I learned about business structure, formed an LLC, studied operations, managed finances, and developed systems. In many ways, it was my first real experience as an entrepreneur.

The business started off well, and I genuinely enjoyed the challenge. Unfortunately, things took a turn when I was scammed by someone I trusted and considered a friend. The situation forced me to shut the business down much sooner than I had planned.

At the time, it felt like a major setback. Looking back, though, it was one of the most valuable learning experiences I’ve ever had. I learned how to manage money more effectively, how to build and operate a business, how to lead people, and how important it is to protect yourself and do your due diligence in business relationships.

Most importantly, I learned that sometimes a pivot isn’t about giving up. It’s about taking what you’ve learned, adjusting course, and moving forward wiser than before.

While Airbnb and rental arbitrage are not part of my life right now, I absolutely see myself revisiting entrepreneurship in the future. The business may have ended, but the lessons and skills I gained from that experience continue to impact everything I do today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/2242609-6265157
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conroysmith_/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@conroy348