We were lucky to catch up with Lyndell Campbell recently and have shared our conversation below.
Lyndell, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We love heartwarming stories – do you have a heartwarming story from your career to share?
A heartwarming story I can share with you all isn’t really career based but it’s probably the root to why I have one in this industry. And that’s being a caregiver for my now 92 year old Granny Anna, which in all honesty is such an honor and a privilege/blessing. Her favorite quote that she heard when she was a little girl is, “once an adult, twice a child”…which took me a minute to understand lol. But to bathe, clean, feed and dress her is one of the most humbling yet priceless experiences I’ve ever had. I got the typical southern granny too, reads her Bible daily, prays for everyone in the family and tells the best stories about her life. So to cater to her over the years AND being able to show her something I’m in (movies or being tv) which left her speechless? That right there definitely showed me that I’m doin somethin right in her eyes and to me that is absolutely one of many reasons why I keep goin.
Lyndell, 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?
My name is Lyndell, I wouldn’t call myself an ATLien but definitely a transplant to the city by way of the Midwest (Indianapolis) and yes, I know I know, y’all are full! Lol. But my story for those of you that are new to me goes like this:
I started out as most kids do with no idea of who they were, or where they were going but yet and still, I knew that I belonged somewhere that was much bigger than myself and the housing project I grew up in. But I was the typical curious, shy, not too risky type of kid that grew up in a single parent home, with a devoted mother, grandmother and even father that collectively did what they could with what they had in regard to raising me.
Fast forward, it wasn’t until I was in my late 20’s that I felt I had a passion and gift in regard to the arts or singing and songwriting that I went the route of auditioning for the popular singing competition shows we know all too well at this point lol, but yes there I was on stage in ATL in front of a live recorded audience of about 2,000 or so people at The Fox Theatre ready to do what I love. By the time I finished, the crowd resoundingly unified chanting “VEGAS VEGAS VEGAS” in which if you got the judges vote, you would get to go too Vegas and be your own opening act or something like that but anyway, it opened my eyes to what was really tangible. However, while I was appreciating the love from the audience, I couldn’t help but mention the TWO boos I got from whoever those guys were lol, and oddly enough I valued those boos more than the cheers. Because to me, at that point in time I understood really quickly that while the love is great, there’s always going to be someone that isn’t on the same wave as the majority, which was cool with me because I’m my own worst critic, but I LOVE real feedback!
So, when I came here (ATL) with the mindset of pursuing acting full time, while sleeping in my 2004 Ford Explorer trusting God but also still trying to do it without his help? Yeah, that alone was enough for me to wake up and face myself and hammer out who I wanted to be, and who that little boy inside of me dreamed of becoming because I was going about it all the wrong way. I can’t count how many times I’ve failed successfully, but if you’re reading this, I’m sure you can relate to going after something (s) that is inside of you that you don’t have the manual for, but you have the vision and dreams of pursuing it. I am most proud of ME for not giving up on me and knowing that quitting does not speed up the process of success, because if you quit too early, you will be haunted by what and who you were meant to be quite possibly for the rest of your life. Would you rather be haunted by regret, or would you rather fulfill your dreams, goals and purpose and look back over your life and be able to say to yourself…”I have NO regrets because I lived the life I knew I was meant to!”
My proudest moment so far is landing a role in a Dennis Reed film in which I play Detective Kingsman in a movie called “Preaching Lies” written by Denora Boone, produced by Tammy “The Godmother” Myrie and directed by Courtney Arlett streaming now on Tubi. Ultimately I will be a leading actor, sought after to the point where I become a household name. I will direct, write and produce movies, commercials, and tv shows while making my way up. I will have my hands in everything possible from a creative aspect when it’s all said and done. Because truth be told I owe God everything!
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
As an actor or creative, the most helpful thing that I can honestly say attributes to succeeding is will. There are days when giving up IS the only option or so it seems but, it takes that THING that’s in you that can’t be bought or sold because it just has to be there on its own. The desire, drive and WILL to know you deserve whatever it is that you naturally dream about and can’t stop thinking of.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I walked away from the entertainment world a few times, I did so with the mindset of wanting to play it safe or as others who know what taking that leap means, I was using that as an excuse to just go work a regular job so to speak. I come from that class of working 4-5 jobs and as I am speaking now, I have just that while also driving or flying back and forth to film and or be in movies. But the LEAP that I’ve avoided taking is here yet again and this time I can honestly say IM READY!!!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @everybodyloveslyndell