We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Danielle Carter a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Danielle, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I was very young. I was always fascinated with the arts from watching movies and televisions shows growing up.. I always told my mom “I want to be on TV” I wanted to entertain and make people laugh.

I started off dancing and then my mother and grandmother put me into an acting class. After the first class I was like “this is it, this is my lane, this is what I want to do”

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I feel like I’m still “getting into the industry” it’s a very tough business. You have to really really want this because the lows are low.

I went to a performing arts high school and from there I attended AMDA in NY and LA for conservatory. It’s there where I really was able to find myself as an artist. I was acting, singing, dancing, writing everyday and was able to develop certain skill sets and a discipline for the craft. That’s where I felt I was able to fine tune my instrument. I’m still learning of course, still taking classes and the more life experiences I experience the more I’m able to bring to characters I go out for.

I think what I’m most proud of is not giving up haha. I haven’t had my “big break” yet but I’m still here, everyday in some way doing what I love. I’m currently working on a show I’m writing and looking to release soon. I’d say writing, directing, producing and acting in my own work is what I’m most proud of.

I think this will be the first time that people will be able to see what I’m really capable of. I could wait around for the perfect script to showcase that but why? When I can write it myself. I really love comedy and I don’t think I’ve gotten a chance to showcase that side.

When you’re not booked, book yourself.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I think the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the behind the scenes work you do. Not only on the character but on yourself personally. I find the more self work I do on myself, the more I get to know myself the better my work comes out.

There are characters I’ve gone out for or played that really made me reflect on my personal life.

Through different characters I always find out more about myself also. It’s challenging to drop into the life of someone you’re nothing like but I always seem to find a commonality with myself and the character. Although we are all different, we are all humans and there are just certain things that we all go through. We all feel pain, we all have experienced some sort of joy, we all have loved.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I have made many pivots. Acting doesn’t pay my bills solely so I’ve also pursued other industries. I try to align my work outside of my craft to be things that I feel can help me down the line.

Finance for instance, knowing how to manage large sums of money when that time comes.

Marketing for a large company- as an artist developing certain skills to market myself better and the projects I’ll be putting out.

Working with a production company and seeing all of the work that goes behind the scenes. The camera work, the logistics, the casting.

Contact Info:

• Website: Daniellejcarter.com
• Instagram: DanielleJoelle
• Facebook: Danielle Joelle Carter
• Twitter: Officialjoelle