Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Genevieve Ngosa Daniels . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Genevieve Ngosa, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
There’s this maxim by Jim Rohn who was an author, entrepreneur and motivational speaker before his passing, yet his words and teachings continues to live and impacts the lives of so many individuals the world over. The first time I heard one of his motivational speeches this nugget of wisdom leapt out at me and has been etched in my mind ever since – “all of life is a risk; in fact we’re not going to get out alive.” I remember listening to him say those words so casually but it was such a profound truth and it changed my life in a number of ways because it always put the grand scheme of things into perspective for me. There are times when that which I desire appears as this insurmountable mountain and fear begins to creep in and I have only doubts or all I see are the reasons why it won’t work so I’m never willing to try, but wouldn’t it be better to take a risk and fail and learn from that experience than to risk wondering what could’ve happened? That is and continues to be the story of my life to take a chance on myself, even if it’s just to believe in who I am. I was born and raised in Georgetown, Guyana and I migrated to Bridgetown, Barbados in my late teens. I fell in love with the island and the people and the work that I was doing. I had spent some time as an actor in the island’s theatre industry but I mostly spent time teaching and working with kids as that was one of my many passions. I had completed an associate’s degree in Applied Arts but I continued studies in Psychology and Early Childhood Education with my focus being in Special Education. However, during the pandemic, because so much had changed I started to tell stories online, mostly our Caribbean Fables. I’d write, produce, act, direct -ha! I would do it all and more and then share them to YouTube. I kept at it for a while but eventually I stopped because I could sense I wanted to do more and that was to pursue my love for acting which had unfortunately taken the backburner for quite some time. I wanted to truly commit the essence of my being to understanding the history of the craft and telling stories using my voice. I was scared because I had no idea how or if any of this would even be possible. I love telling this story because I’m reminded even on my darkest days that anything is possible, you just have to believe and boldly go after that which you desire. How did I take the risk? So, one of my favourite movies is Moonlight which was directed Barry Jenkins and one of my absolute favourite things to do is watch actors on actors or their cast interviews and I was watching one of Moonlight where Mahershala Ali was talking about his acting journey and I just remembered weeping I felt like it hit a part of my soul, part of me that was hidden for so long where I just knew that’s what I needed to pursue with all of me, unapologetically. I no longer wanted to play it small and I didn’t want to be ashamed of the fact that I knew I wanted to be an actor. In that moment, I swore God heard me and an old application I had began for The American Academy of Dramatic Arts popped up and encouraged me to complete it. I was nervous because I hadn’t a clue what to expect, I mean I didn’t even know if I would’ve been accepted but I was and I got a scholarship offer as well and that was the first step of taking a risk.
Genevieve Ngosa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a recent graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and a current member of The Academy’s New York Company 2023-2024. The Company is such a beautiful experience as it allows me and many of the other creatives I am privileged to play and work with to explore our artistry in such a deeply provoking and truthful-loving manner as we are also revealing parts of our being. We perform a wide range of plays from classical to contemporary and recently we wrapped a film series before the holiday break which was truly exciting. I had the honor of working with a fellow actor and we created a story we both wanted to share with the world and that’s the beauty of collaboration. The work that we do as creatives cannot exist without collaborative efforts, it is one of the fundamental pillars, in my opinion, of creation because we all have eyes and ideas and ways in which we want to tell the story we are called to, how do we share that experience in an open, creatively explorative and collaborative way? The simple answer is through loving-kindness and by creating a space where creatives feel free and safe to share their ideas. We have our upcoming shows which is the last of the 2023-2024 series and I would love to encourage everyone to check out The Company’s website and stay tuned for what is to come in the new year – https://www.aada.edu/new-york-company/
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Okay, so honestly, I believe everyone is an artist or a creative. We are all beings capable of wielding creative power because you have to be a creative in order to live, that’s just my belief. The most rewarding aspect for me thus far, has just been allowing myself to be human – unapologetically, uncompromisingly and authentically and honestly it is THE most uncomfortable but necessary growth I have experienced within myself and in my life, to just be. I am often reminded of the humanity in me which honors the humanity in you because of the stories I tell but mostly because we exist in the same time, space and reality. The first thing I was taught as an actor after being given a script was do not judge your character, instead find the heart of your character that you may share their truth. That is the most rewarding aspect of being an artist – remembering to operate from a place of love. I have built a lot of walls around my heart and the essence of my being but I had to break them down and allow myself to be seen, to be perceived, to let go of my need for control (I’m still working on this one) to allow my heart to be open. I had to learn to what it’s like to be human all over again – how to breathe and not hold my breath when I feel nervous, how to release tension and allow ease into my body, how to listen – it’s so important to listen and often the most underrated life skill, how to resist comparison and judgement. Being an artist allows me to take inventory of my life as a human on a daily basis. I do my best to approach life, the people around me, even my work from a place of non-judgment and instead compassion and grace because at the end of it all, I want to create and share and give from a place of love and means being able to connect with my heart.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Gosh, there are too many to list! I really love books especially philosophical, historical or biographical works. I’ll start with some books which have changed my life in so many ways and then I’ll include videos that I often watch or re-rewatch, I’m a huge advocate for re-reding or re-watching art at different spans in life, it resonates differently. Okay, so books in no particular order: The Fifth Agreement by Don Miguel Ruiz, Don Jose Ruiz with Janet Mills
All About Love by Bell Hooks
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
The Inner Work by Mat & Ash
Beloved by Toni Morrison
The Source of Self Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches & Meditations by Toni Morrison
The 5am Club by Robin Sharma
I Know Why The Cage Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
How To Relax by Thich Nhat Hanh
I Can Do It by Lousie Hay
Feeling Is The Secret by Neville Goddard
I’ve read a really great biography by James Baldwin but I cannot remember the name of it and truly anything by James Baldwin, I absolutely adore his work.
Actors Roundtable as well as Actors-on-Actors. I’d also like to suggestion Ted Talks, they have been the source of some of my greatest breakthroughs. Avatar: The Last Airbender (the animated series, not the movie – so many life lessons learnt in this one – trust me!) I also like to frequent Trevor Noah and Jay Shetty’s podcasts, I believe they are worth your time and energy – I am often inspired by them and the work they create. There’s actually a podcast on Jay Shetty’s page where he has Trevor Noah on and it’s such a beauty to watch – 10/10 would recommend! I also love listening to Jim Rohn, Les Brown, Dr. Myles Munroe and Denzel Washington I could go on for days to be honest, but I won’t. This is just a little sprinkle of what has significantly impacted me and truly sometimes, feels like home. Take what serves or resonates with you and if nothing does, that’s okay. What is meant for you will always find you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.genevievengosa.info/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genevieve.ngosa/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/genevieve.ngosa
Image Credits
Photo by: Bianca Jenkins Photos by: Unsigned Models