We were lucky to catch up with Katisha Sargeant recently and have shared our conversation below.

Katisha, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

One of the most meaningful projects that I have done was actually a play that I did as a volunteer act for Homeward LA. This program was running to raise awareness about issues surrounding homelessness. Although I received no pay for this project, it still comes in at the top of my list for meaningful projects. We performed only one weekend, two shows, and at the end of the second show, something I would have never expected happened. As I was gathering my things and preparing to leave, a woman from the audience approaches me and asks if she can hug me. Now, this has never happened to me after a performance, not with a stranger at least. The woman goes on to tell me that the monologue in my performance reminded her of her relationship with her father, whom she had lost, and that that it moved her to tears. As the woman hugged me with tears in her eyes, I couldn’t help but get emotional as well. I was just doing this play to give back. My presence felt ‘insignificant’ to me. Any actress could have delivered those lines, but it was me. I helped make a woman that I did not know feel something so strong that she was moved to tears. It was truly the most beautiful moment I have had in my career thus far. I know it sounds cliche, but this is why I wanted to be an artist. I wanted to tell stories that make people feel something — I mean really feel something. That’s just what I did with this quick, charitable play. It reminded me of why I started and for that I am immensely grateful.

Katisha, 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 acting at the age of 12. I started in school plays and quickly found that I had a love for the stage. Once I got to college, I began to transition to film. I moved to LA to get my MFA in Acting for Film and I have been non-stop since then! I absolutely love acting and I’m a fan of all forms of art. Creatives are so important because art helps us find ways to express ourselves even when we may not know how to.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I frequently get the ‘What have you been in?” or “_____ actor moved to Hollywood after you and is in 3 movies right now, why didn’t you do what they did?” from friends and family who are not creatives. I think that this overnight success story is very misunderstood. Most people have been working for years before their name appears in every household. There are some folks who get “lucky” sooner, but that’s just the things — no two paths are the same. Everyone reaches their goal in a different way because we are in an industry that may not always move in a linear fashion.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I think the best way to support creatives that you know is to share their creations. If you like what they’re doing, share it! Post it on your social media, talk about it with your other friends. It costs you absolutely nothing but allows your creative friend to be introduced to a whole new group of people which could mean a whole bunch of new opportunities!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.imdb.me/katishasargeant
• Instagram: @tishareiss
• Other: www.katishasargeant.com