We recently connected with Meg Biddle Smith and have shared our conversation below.

Meg, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you signed with an agent or manager? Why or why not?

I have had a couple of agents now. And honestly the journey hasn’t been easy. When I first moved to Atlanta 10 years ago, with a theatre degree and bright eyes for the future ahead, I had no idea how hard pursuing a career in acting was going to be. It took me 3 1/2 years to sign with my first agent, and hindsight there were definitely things I could’ve done differently, but also, I know I was exactly where I needed to be, learning the lessons that have made me a better business owner with my career today. With my first agent, I wasn’t really clear on what I wanted in my career, I didn’t really know who I was or the actor I wanted to be – (but then again how many of us really know at 23?!) All I knew was I just wanted to act. I wanted to get my feet wet! So I signed with whoever would give me a shot. And over time the more opportunities I got, the more I learned what type of actor I wanted to be, what type of stories I wanted to tell. When it came time to part ways and find a new agent, I knew it was because I needed to find someone who aligned with the bigger vision I had for my career, someone who we could partner together and fight for that bigger vision. I think when you have a clear vision for yourself, you’re confident, and with that confidence you can be bold to have conversations and know that you will find the team you need to in time.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am an actress, voice actor and fitness coach. I love to wear many hats and try new things! I love people, love to love deeply and love to make people laugh. I have been an actor for the last decade and have been fortunate to book a couple of movies recently that have impacted my acting career greatly! A Perfect Christmas Pairing and Love on Retreat (which can be found on Amazon Prime) both were opportunities for me to see just how much I LOVE comedy, and playing comedic characters. Both of these opportunities allowed me to grow in my craft and have fun playing and improvising on screen. Since booking these, it’s pushed me to be curious about writing, with the aspirations of writing a comedic tv series! As far as the fitness coaching part of my life, I have LOVED coaching women! I had a pretty impactful and transformational fitness journey a few years ago and that propelled me to become a fitness coach. It was through that journey that I discovered how good I was at getting in my own way and how easy it is to limit what you can do in life (and for me, to see just how easy it was to limit what God could do through me). After achieving what felt like impossible physical goals for myself, I learned just how much the physical process was fueled by the mental process, by my mind, from my beliefs about my life and myself. That mindset discovery was so eye-opening for me and has now heavily impacted the way I coach women today. My goal is to help my clients see what is possible for them and then equip them with the strategy they need to push through obstacles and achieve their goals! It’s crazy to see the potential you can reach when you get curious with yourself and truly set your mind to it!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I think I’m living in it now! A couple of years ago I had my most successful year as an actor, I felt so alive, doing what I loved and it felt like the momentum was only going to keep going up! And then it didn’t, my auditions were changing, the amount I was receiving was drastically dwindling, and it was a real eye opening experience and grieving process. I had worked so hard to have such a busy and successful year, all to realize that the pay I was receiving just wasn’t sustainable, and the opportunities for work were continuing to decrease! I mean I was REALLY SAD! It felt like the death of a dream. The death of a part of me (like – ow! BIG OW!) This is a calling for me, being an actor / artist / story teller, for crying out loud! This was my everything! And then I realized it, I had tangled up my identity in my work, in my job, my career! So then the grueling work began of untying my identity to what I did professionally, for a job, etc. It was not fun and frankly I wanted no part in it! I wanted to be the girl on the red carpet, the one accepting her Oscar, (and I still do!) but I’m learning to allow my hands to be open with life. To trust I serve a good God who knows me deeply, loves me perfectly, and is working for my good and his glory! I really started to realize I was building things up for own glory, and not for his. And my heart started to change. I realized my life isn’t my own, I am a vessel for him and he is worthy of my trust. And so I really had to lay my career down, as an offering to him. Of course, my prayer is that he would bless it and at the same time that I would live so open to wherever He leads! And it’s a constant fight to trust God with my career, but I am learning all the ways he has created me, and letting him use me as he will, trusting that he loves me so and that He is so worthy of my trust! And so I am allowing myself to learn, to try new things, to dive into my fitness business and live with my hands open and live knowing I am so radically loved by a good, good Father!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Yes. I think if this is the last question people read, it may be evident at this point – I feel so called to the film/ tv/ acting industry. I feel sent with purpose and on purpose. I think for me the journey of walking with God through life is just that- a journey. Just like Bilbo Baggins (from Lord of the Rings) we all have our story, our path, our journey and on that journey we come across easy, pleasant moments, and then we come across the moments that seem so dark, impossible and scary! But like Bilbo, he didn’t have to journey alone, he had many-a-friends who helped him along the way, some expected, some unexpected. And he couldn’t have finished the journey without them, without help. This is where I find myself in this season – remembering I’m not alone. I’m not alone and I don’t have to journey alone, I’m not meant to. And when I look up and around I may just find the help I need.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.megbiddlesmith.com
• Instagram: @megbiddlesmith

Image Credits

Chase Anderson Photography