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

Karlie , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

The first time I made money off of my artistry was when I was 15 years old. I had auditioned for a play at Peoria Theater Works called “The King and I” in the next town over (Peoria, Arizona) from my home town. I had been cast as one of the kings many wives, a.k.a. “ensemble”.
Getting paid for a theatrical performance is an occurrence that is few and far between in Arizona, so to say that I was stoked well… yeah you could say that!
Weekends, and late night rehearsals followed in the weeks ahead. The friendships and experiences I made along the way will forever be one of my favorite highlights in life. Everyday I went to the theater proud to be a part of that production. And finally it was SHOWTIME!
After the last production we all received our checks. A whopping $50 stipend. I couldn’t believe it. The instant gratification. I can’t remember what I spent the money on… probably new shoes or Taco Bell.

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 come from a family of non actors so I’m not entirely sure where my love of acting originated. I always liked the idea of being someone else for a period of time.
Growing up my life started off a little rough. When I was five years old I was diagnosed with Leukemia. Being stuck in a hospital bed all day led my imagination to soar and I suppose pretending to be anyone but myself seemed better than my current situation.
I aspire to be in biopics. I’m a big people watcher so incorporating different characteristics of people I see daily into the characters I portray on screen is probably my biggest form of discipline when it comes to honing in on the craft itself. I’d love the opportunity to play a person who actually existed and maybe even get to meet them, if possible.

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 non-creatives have a hard time understanding the actual struggle. The struggle of a person putting themselves on a path with no real certainty of where they’ll end up.
As an artist, we are aware we are choosing to pursue an unpredictable life. We are aware there is no point A to point B. That uncertainty can be very unsettling for some, maybe most. But oddly enough, although we are aware we may come across as unaware in the “traditional” sense, more than anything I think we want non-creatives to know that we feel we’ve chosen a life that is worth living and that our lively ambitions don’t have to resonate with them but they are our ambitions nonetheless.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For myself, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is being able to have a continuous outlet to freely express yourself. The emotional intelligence, self discipline, and constant personal growth this job requires is a beautiful thing. Being an artist forces you to not only be confident in your ability, but to be able to learn to trust yourself in knowing that you know what’s best for you.
The unpredictability of it all can also be rewarding. There’s no telling where this journey will lead. The places you’ll go, the people you’ll meet along the way; it’s a vibe. It’s one thing to accomplish a dream but it’s a whole other to look back at all of the ups, downs, and sacrifices you’ve made to get to that point. I crave the unattainable which I think is seemingly what has kept my fire fueled, thus far.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karlietheking?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Other: Tik tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@karlie_the_king?_t=8oqfeFl3hSp&_r=1