Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kate McIntyre. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kate , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Earning a living is the most difficult part of being an actor. At the beginning of my career, it was a crazy balancing act: how can I get away from the office for auditions? Do I have enough sick time to take a day off to shoot something? How do I deal with getting fired multiple times?

I started my acting career full time after I got fired from a job that was eight hours of absolute torture every day. I hated it. I was bored out of my mind – and I was grateful when they finally fired me. I shed as many expenses as I could – I got rid of all my credit cards, found a roommate, and signed on with every temp agency in town. During that time, I managed to join AFTRA and the Screen Actors Guild. I got an agent and had some success – several co-stars on network shows and some nice commercials.

Then, the actors’ strike. Everything in LA screeched to a halt. My agent dropped me, It was a tough time. I also lost my rent-controlled apartment, so I had to hustle and get a full-time job. When I had to move out of my apartment, my rent nearly doubled, so I felt that it was too much risk to my job to go to auditions. I kept my hand in wherever I could – audiobooks, voiceovers, theatre, etc.

Then the day came when I couldn’t stand my “half-life” anymore, and I jumped back into acting. I was concerned that there wouldn’t be roles for me – because I was now a woman “of a certain age” (that is, old!). I was pleasantly surprised when I found that there ended up actually being more roles for me at my age – and less competition – than there was when I was in my 40’s.

So I picked back up and started the process again: new headshots, some new clips for my reel, find an agent. I was able to find good representation quickly, – and when I started auditioning and filming again, I realized that all those years that I had had to give up acting, I was only half alive. As an actor, I felt complete again.

Of course, there was still the issue of being fired. I worked at my last corporate job for nearly 5 years before I got fired. It’s part of the risk you take being an actor. So, in May, 2018, when I got fired from my last corporate job, I had some very difficult decisions to make. I was 63 years old. I tried to find another full-time job, but after a fruitless search, I realized that nobody wanted to hire someone my age. So I took a huge risk – I decided to bet on myself and my talent. I had a fairly substantial 401K, so I made the decision that I was going t0 bet that I could find a way to support myself as an actor – before my 401K ran out. Big gamble, for sure.

It paid off. My plan got me through to age 65, when I was able to get Social Security; not a lot, but enough to pay my rent, car payment and utilities. I was earning enough as an actor to buy groceries and indulge my love of Native American turquoise jewelry. I was always hustling for money, and I found a part time job that I love as an acting teacher. I give private lessons to students of all ages, all over the country — and I love it. A few lessons a week, flexible scheduling and I can earn enough to get me through the dry spells. It also keeps my skills sharp – I teach my students, and they teach me.

Now? Things are going well. I have an agent I love, and a manager who sends me terrific auditions. I’m stepping up to the next level and I’m on the verge of a breakthrough. Of course, me and my tribe are a bunch of cock-eyed optimists, running on that treadmill to the next job, the bigger role, the TV show and on.

Fortunately for me, I’m truly enjoying the journey. I wake up each morning with a sense of anticipation and gratitude – because, well, today could be THE day. ;

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

I was a band geek who watched people having fun on stage – and was inspired to make an acting class my first college class. I was hopelessly hooked. I did 20 years of theatre, over 250 plays and musicals, when someone said, “You’re so talented! You should do this for a living.”

And so I did.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I worked in the corporate world for 35 years. I never fit in with the corporate types; the accountants, the attorneys, the VP’s, managers – even the other admins. I was always different, and I felt like I was always trying to cram myself into a skin suit that didn’t fit. I was constantly grabbing it here and there, where my “differentness” came pushing out.

I learned that it wasn’t safe for me to tell others that I was an actor. At one company I worked at, I was one of the first people laid off – my boss told me that because I was an actor, I “didn’t need the job.” (Note: if I didn’t need the job, I wouldn’t be there…)

When I left the corporate world in 2018, it was such a relief. I didn’t have to twist myself into a pretzel to fit in anymore. I didn’t have to hide who I was anymore, and when I was asked what I did for a living, I said, “I’m an actor.”

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

That’s easy: I want to win an Oscar.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @kate.mcintyre.actor
• Twitter: @IAmKateMc1
• Other: IMDb” https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm0570776?s=98c40b41-c3ab-9d3e-dcbb-43ba7371cb80&site_preference=normal

Image Credits
I took all the pics.