We recently connected with Deja A. Ross and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Deja , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
The first time I knew I wanted to pursue an artistic path was when I was about 5 years old. I was in our TV room in the basement of our home and I watched the film Crooklyn by Spike Lee. I remember that was the first time I cried watching a movie. Even at such an early age, I felt seen through the lens of the main character Troy and her journey of navigating being the only girl surrounded by older brothers and the overall ups and downs of childhood. I knew there was some type of magic in what I experienced watching that film and it stayed with me all these years. I would also perform solo shows for my family and run around the house doing impressions of characters from the show Mad TV. I think my family knew that a career in the arts is what I was meant to do before I fully realized it haha.
Deja , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I got into the entertainment industry when I took my first acting class at 10 years old. I would do it intermittently throughout High School, doing school and community plays. As a curious person with multiple interests, I originally thought I wanted to study law or journalism but still pursue acting on the side. It wasn’t until my Sophomore year in college that I decided to go all in and major in theater and to pursue it professionally. Then in 2018, I moved to New York for grad school at The Actors Studio Drama School and I’ve been hitting the ground running ever since.
I am most proud of the love and support that I receive from my friends, family, and my mother. I honestly would not have been able to get this far without their commitment to showing up for me and their words of encouragement. This career is challenging and full of obstacles, so having people in your corner lifting you up is a major win.
I want people to know that my work is deeply dedicated to the craft and the portrayal of the human condition. In my work, I don’t seek out what is “good” but what is truthful. Truthful in the state of human emotion and what connects and divides us, and how I can use my vessel to embody that.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I didn’t grow up with much money, but my mom always did the best she could with what she had. Even when I moved to New York, my mother and I stayed at a YMCA in bunk beds to save money. It was an interesting experience to say the least, but I didn’t let that deter me from my determination of moving into the city and starting grad school. I didn’t have a job, friends, or know anything about the industry here. I literally just had a dream, and now looking back on it, I am so glad that I didn’t give up on myself then. Since I’ve been here, I got signed with a few agencies,received my MFA, booked a co-starring role on a show that’s shot here in NYC, worked on an Off-Broadway show, and I have the privilege of auditioning and being in rooms that I used to dream about.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson that I had to unlearn is that there is a traditional route to having a successful acting career. I used to think that once you got a degree in acting, got an agent, and solely focused all your efforts on acting, it would equate to instant TV or Broadway success. Now having done it professionally for almost over 10 years, I see that success is objective and can look many different ways. It’s completely okay if you have to take another job to pay the bills or to explore other opportunities. These detours can actually benefit your career because you don’t have to rely on others to cast you or create roles for you. Luckily, we have examples like Issa Rae and Quinta Brunson that have shown that you can self-fund, write, produce, and act and still make it out on top.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dejaaross.com
- Instagram: dejaaross
- Youtube: dejaaross
