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

Hi Latoya, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

To some who knew me as a little kid, they would have never predicted I would become an actor. I was extremely shy. I was so shy that I would never talk. I often hoped that I was invisible and no one would see me, so I wouldn’t have to talk to anyone. However, I have always been drawn to the arts.
I had such a vivid imagination and loved watching movies. My favorite family activity was going to Blockbuster (may the video store legacy RIP) to pick a movie, order pizza, get Kit Kats and licorice, and gather around the TV to watch what we selected. I will never forget when we watched Forest Gump. That movie had such a prolific impact on me because the movie was emotionally moving. It was the first time I could remember being brought to tears in such an intense way. I asked my mother why. Why did I feel this so deeply? What were they doing? And she said that they were acting and that they were actors. It’s what my dad would do from time to time. He would do commercials and films, and I remember watching my mom helping my dad memorize lines in the living room. A seed was planted from that moment. I became curious. How does one “act,” and how do you become an actor?

Years passed, with the seed still planted, but my shyness continued to press on me in filled classrooms and hallways. I was often hesitant to raise my hand to answer or ask questions, and unfortunately, in middle school, they would push students to be more vocal, to express their opinions or thoughts on what they were learning in class. Oh, how I hated that. My palms would sweat, I would stutter, and, of course, I would mumble so severely that my teachers would often ask me to repeat myself, speak louder, and stop mumbling.

One day after coming home from school, I was supposed to do my chores and homework, but I turned on the TV instead. My mom, at the time, was working for a cable company, which meant we got cable for free. On the TV, a TV screen was looking back at me. Then a woman appeared and started speaking in this strange language I could not understand. However, I was intrigued by it. As the movie continued, all of a sudden, this loud operatic music with sharp cuts of images and people came across the screen. I was wrapped in wondering what was going on! I ended up watching the entire film, crying my eyes out! I thought it was the most remarkable and beautiful film I had ever seen at that time. That movie was R+J, directed by Baz Luhrmann. That strange language I heard was Shakespeare, and I instantly fell in love. The seed that was planted started to sprout and grow.

In school, we started studying Shakespeare, specifically Romeo and Juliet. I remember we had to memorize the prologue. I already knew it by heart because I watched R+J as much as possible. Whenever it was on, I would watch it. The more we studied the play, the more I fell in love with the language, the verse, and the characters. I wanted to perhaps BE in it to try this “acting” thing.

My math teacher was also the drama teacher, and one day I surprised myself. I raised my hand, cleared my throat, and spoke. I asked my teacher if I could be in her drama class. She was shocked that I even said a word, let alone asked if I could be in her acting class. She was not quick to say yes, rightly so; I think she wanted to protect me. Why would someone who never spoke wish to be a part of something that requires you to use your voice and be seen by many people on a stage? However, she didn’t say no. I wonder if I even gave her a chance to say no because I quickly said, “I will fake cry for you right now!” I felt like I had to prove that I could do something: be brave and be seen. She said she would consider it and let me know in a few weeks.

The few weeks felt like the longest time, but the time arrived for me to check and see what she was thinking. She stopped me after class and said, “Yes, I would love for you to be in the class.” I was ecstatic that she was willing to take a risk and give me a chance. Sometimes, I think it was her way of rewarding my bravery in speaking up and allowing myself to be seen.

The seed was blooming more than ever, and I was finally in a space where I could try to act and see what it meant to be an actor. The teacher assigned the class a monologue to memorize, interpret, and perform in front of the class. I didn’t know what I was doing or where to start, but I didn’t want to take this opportunity for granted. I wanted to give it my all. I worked on the monologue every day and quickly started to relate to the character I had to bring to life. It was fun, and I felt like my dad was pacing in my bedroom and reciting the words from memory.

It was performance day, and being this shy little girl, the idea of performing in front of the class, using my voice, and being seen wasn’t something I realized I would have to do. It was fun preparing by myself, but getting up on a stage and standing in front of everyone would be a challenge for me. How will I face my fear of feeling safer in my silence? The teacher asked the class, “Who would like to go?” I held my hand down to prevent me from raising my hand. One by one, my classmates went up and were excellent. As they kept going up and performing, I got increasingly nervous and kept telling myself I couldn’t do it. I started to understand the hesitancy my teacher had when I asked to be in this class. Would my shy nature hold me back? My classmate completed the performance and sat down. The teacher asks again, “Who wants to go next?” I look across the room to see who is next and hear, “ok, Latoya, you can go.” Utterly confused, I looked at my teacher like, “I didn’t raise my hand,” but realized that my hand was skyrocketing up toward the sky. When did I put my hand up? The teacher nodded her head to go up to the stage.

I rise from my seat and walk upstage toward the center. I bow my head to take a few moments to ground myself and clear my mind. I could feel my palms beginning to shake and sweat. I tried to clear my throat, but it was so dry, and it felt like I could not catch my breath. Will I be able to do this? I close my eyes and quietly tell myself, “You can, as I finally breathe in two big breaths and raise my head to start the performance. Something I did not expect came out of my mouth – the sound of my voice. Powerful, not shaking, present, clear, and loud! It was the first time I heard my voice, and I realized how powerful it was. Through this character, I could see a side of myself that I had never been able to envision before. It was like a freeing of a part of me that I did not understand was there all along. It was the most “me” I have ever felt.

After I completed the performance, I sat down, and I could not believe what had happened. The seed had blossomed. That seed was me. Since that moment, I knew it was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

And here I am today because of that.

Latoya, 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 have never wanted to be put in a box when it comes to creativity. I have always believed that, as long as it is not problematic, I could play whatever role in whatever world or genre. I never wanted to be limited as an artist because I think all informs and can inspire you as a creator.

I started my career as a freelance stage actor. Most of my work has been on stage. I have always believed that the stage is where you can learn how to craft a character, which provides you with the tools to know how to do that in film. I made my Off-Broadway debut in New York City in 2012 at the formally known New York Musical Theatre Festival, leading the production. I worked at a Tony Award-winning regional theatre and was a part of several new play developments, some of which have made their premieres in the United States. I have worked on Shakespeare productions, contemporary plays, and musicals.

I directed my first production in 2022, and I have since directed six stage productions, ranging from plays to musicals.

I was in my first movie back in 2013, playing the love interest, and recently signed with a local talent agency to further my film, television, and commercial career. I have been the lead in a horror full-feature film and have played supporting roles in several other films. I look forward to connecting with other filmmakers to continue acting in movies and being on set. I also hope to have an agent in LA to start submitting for projects in Los Angeles, across the country, and internationally.

I have recently begun to focus more on my writing. I am finishing one full-feature film and starting another full-feature film along with a short. I have always wanted to learn about playwriting and will focus on that as well. I hope to finish those films and also write my first play.

Along with my acting, director, and writer work, I am also a singer! I am in a local Motown band and like to write my music despite my lack of knowledge of how to play an instrument. I love collaborating with my pals, who are incredible musicians, and being in the flow of music always inspires me in everything I do.

Something that influences all that I do as well is Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Representation. I believe that everyone has a right to tell their stories. It is pivotal to the progression of the world’s consciousness and our humanity. As a Black woman, it was life-changing to see a story that reflected my experience by someone who looked like me. I hear that story from so many folks and how impactful that was for them, too. If there is any way I can support that, I will. Art has the power to heal, educate, and change people’s lives while still being entertaining. I want to always be a part of that.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

We are in a crucial time in this country and the world, and the arts can be an accessible resource to engage audiences to remind us of our humanity. About who we are as a collective and what we hope to be. As we all are still recovering from many tragedies that have continued to pile on since 2020, art can be a place to talk about it, feel, and have discourse about the events happening in a safe environment. Storytelling helps guide us toward having conversations with ourselves and others. Perhaps to instigate an understanding or even a pathway forward in this world during such difficult times.

To ensure that these places, such as local professional theatre houses, movie theaters, art festivals, museums, arts non-profits, and organizations, we need patrons to be our audience. To engage in the art and with local artists. To be a part of the continuation of storytelling because the story will live long past the performance through the audience. Or live long past the art in the museum, music venue, symphony hall, or theater.

Stretch yourself and what you think you know by attending artistic offers that do not reflect your life experience, racial background, etc. Don’t stick to what keeps you comfortable or what is familiar. Art is meant to challenge you, so let it. Get uncomfortable. It is good to be uncomfortable!

Support, support, support. Don’t let these places disappear. They make communities stronger, special, unique, and thriving.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The biggest lesson I had to unlearn as an artist was not to limit myself based on others’ limited imagination.

In college, based on what I looked like, a tall, curvy Black woman, I had professors tell me what I would or would not play. I remember planning my entire career based on those opinions. Even how I sang was manipulated to match their thoughts so I could have a successful career. I quickly realized that once I started to audition for the professional world, I learned that those opinions were just that – opinions – and I would succeed better if I did not limit my imagination about myself. I became more of an authentic performer and started showing more of myself in audition rooms, with other creatives, and even how I create once I gracefully let go of that belief system.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/LatoyaCameron
• Instagram: @loyaness_roar
• Facebook: Latoya Cameron
• Other: Sistas Unscripted Podcast (Spotify: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sistas-unscripted/id1781458240)