We were lucky to catch up with Meaghan Aitkens recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Meaghan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

I didn’t earn my first dollar as a creative in the typical way—no film sets, no commercials, no TV gigs. My first paycheck came from performing as a street character at Six Flags in Jackson, NJ. I was 17 when I auditioned, which involved a ton of improv, and landed the role of a “tacky tourist”—think wild outfits, over-the-top personality, and nonstop interaction with guests.

It was easily one of the best jobs I’ve ever had. I got to fully embrace creativity, comedy, and spontaneity while making people’s day just a little weirder and a lot more fun. That experience taught me so much about connecting with an audience, staying in character, and rolling with whatever came my way.

Unfortunately, the entertainment department was cut later that year—but I was lucky enough to stick around for two seasons of Fright Fest. I also got to take on some wild roles, including suiting up as iconic characters like Daffy Duck.
Let’s just say… those were some seriously big shoes to fill.

Meaghan, 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?

My name is Meaghan Aitkens, and I’m an Actor and Voiceover Artist with a deep love for storytelling. I fell in love with acting at a young age. Whether I was singing in the choir at school or church, performing in school recitals, public speaking, or stepping into musicals, I was always drawn to performing.

What captivated me most wasn’t just the performance itself — it was the chance to escape into other worlds and explore the lives of characters so different from my own. I didn’t just want to share my passion —I wanted to give people a chance to escape into something bigger. Art and entertainment have this incredible ability to help people forget their worries for a bit and lose themselves in a different reality.

I truly believe that storytelling can be healing and transformative. It’s why I’m so passionate about what I do, and it’s what keeps me inspired to keep growing and pushing my craft.

What I’m most proud of is my persistence and dedication in a career that’s challenging, not always financially stable, but incredibly fulfilling. If I can make one person laugh while watching me run around in bubble wrap on Sex Sent Me to the ER, or make them feel something when they see me as a struggling mom in a Huggies PSA, or have them rooting for me to win in a show off-Broadway called The Video Games— or even help them find cheaper parking at Tulsa International Airport after hearing my iHeartRadio ad, then I know I’m doing something right.

At the core of everything I do is a deep love for my craft. I dive into every role with heart, humor, and a real passion for bringing each character to life in a way that connects with others. Oh, and I’ve been told I take direction pretty well too.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

There’s this analogy I keep seeing on Instagram that I really love—it compares the life of a creative to an iceberg. People usually just see the tip: the awards, the TV roles, the commercials, the highlights. But what they don’t see is everything underneath—the long hours, the training, the countless auditions, the rejections, the networking, the side jobs, the constant hustle, and all the moments of doubt. That’s the part that really holds everything up.

I think we all kind of dread the question, “So, what have you been in?” But the truth is, whether we’ve just booked something huge or we’re in between gigs, we’re still actors. The work doesn’t stop just because the credits aren’t rolling yet. What people don’t always see is that years of hard work can look like an overnight success from the outside.

Have you ever had to pivot?

In 2020, when the world shut down because of COVID, I had no idea what my career was going to look like. I was an actor working front of house on Broadway—and then, overnight, everything stopped. With so much uncertainty, I decided to lean into another passion of mine and went back to school to study zoology.

Ironically, 2020 ended up being one of my most creative years. I booked an episode of Evil Lives Here, filmed a Huggies PSA, tackled just about every self-tape challenge imaginable, and took part in workshops with some amazing casting directors. I even joined in on #SelfTapeMay, and out of 10,000 submissions, I was one of just 50 chosen to perform a winning monologue live on Instagram for Leah Daniels-Butler.

Now, my goal is to bring it all full circle—to combine my love of animals and entertainment by training animals for TV and film. It feels like the perfect blend of everything I love.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meaghanaitkens/
• Other: Voiceover site:

  https://www.fiverr.com/s/vvD1b61

Image Credits

Tandem Photo