Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nerida Bronwen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nerida, appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us about a time that you or your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience? 

I’m a Neurodivergent artist so this is a topic I’d love to discuss. There’s been a recent influx of content on ADHD lately, which is great to spread awareness, information and acceptance, however, the downside includes misinformation, misconceptions and a generalising of what it’s actually like to have medically diagnosed ADHD.

As actors and artists, we can feel misunderstood and mischaracterized often. It’s not always easy at the best of times to convey how you see yourself vs how the world sees and receives you. And it can be a constant balance to maintain what to let in and when to trust yourself. With that, there’s an added scrutiny because you’ve chosen a profession where a lot of what you do is supposed to be made quite public. Whether it’s an agent, casting director, the 100 people in between or the general public. Your audience get this little snippet of you, and then decides a multitude of things about you and your personality, what you might stand for and whether they like you or not.

Now let’s add ADHD to the equation. Hypersensitivity, overthinking, lower self-esteem, indecisiveness, forgetfulness, distractibility, time blindness the list goes on.. As a female with ADHD, feeling misunderstood is part of daily life. Often just the fear of being misunderstood is enough to derail us; therefore we over explain everything. We’ve coined a term for this within my immediate family: “Explain-atron”. However, we are experts in relating to other people. This is due to our high level of sympathy and empathy, as well as our desire to experience many different things. To many people aka Neurotypicals; someone with ADHD seems aloof, unorganised, lazy, behind on work and tasks, messy, is often late or bad with time and overwhelmed. And this is somewhat true, but when you start to understand the difference in a neurodivergent mind, their behaviour starts to make sense. Otherwise, we tend to sit with all our understanding and compassion for others, but feeling like all we do is frustrate, annoy or cause inconvenience to everyone else around us, but can’t quite seem to fix it. 

I was diagnosed with ADHD at 7 years old, which is the average age for young boys. For girls – if they are lucky enough to be diagnosed as a child – the average age is 10. Thankfully, I was extremely lucky for my forward thinking paediatrician – Dr Duffy. He had been there when I was born and was a dear friend and colleague to my Midwife Mum. My understanding of ADHD at that time, was what I had seen in a couple of young boys in my class. Boys who acted out, behaved unpredictably, swore and even threw a chair at a teacher due to poor impulse control and emotional dysregulation. I was quite the opposite – chatty, articulate, polite, confident and energetic, and generally rule abiding as I don’t like confrontation. Males were predominantly observed in ADHD studies, not females, despite there being a drastic difference in how it presented between the birth assigned genders. So girls were under diagnosed and less was known in general.

I sat there crying with Mum and Dr Duffy. My little 7 year old mind, already overthinking, grasping to understand. I remember the thoughts vividly: “But I thought I was good at things”, “I like school”, “I’ve never sworn at a teacher“, “I don’t understand, I try really hard”, “Does this mean I’m stupid, I’m not stupid.” Dr Duffy reading my mind: “Oh darling, it’s because you’re so so smart. In fact you’re highly intelligent. You just have so many thoughts in your head at once, that it can be hard to decide which one to focus on”. It didn’t really resonate with me at the time, but it absolutely did later.

For a long time I was in denial – I was deeply embarrassed by my diagnosis and partially unsure of it’s validity. Being a kid with anything that makes you different, especially neurologically, is not something you want. It equates to bullying, failures in school, difficulty in friendships and relating to other kids. And let’s face it, you’re likely going to be called “weird, peculiar or strange” more than once. Again, my limited understanding at the time of the kind of behaviour ADHD resulted in, was predominantly informed by male observation. Thus the “masking” of my neurodivergent mind started at a very young age in an attempt to fit in with what is considered socially “normal”. For that reason, I have not often felt understood, as both human and artist. Luckily, what also began was a 29 year journey of acceptance, learning my brain and how to work with it, not against it and to love and be proud of my ADHD diagnosis. To be completely honest; now there’s no way I’d change it.

Despite the challenges it can pose in a world seemingly built for the neurotypical mind, it has also offered much benefit. Like most people; we have our strengths and weaknesses. Many Neurodivergent people are creative. We feel everything very intensely, and are incredibly passionate (perhaps obsessive), so when we can get past our minds and execute something through a creative outlet, it’s pretty incredible!

There is far more to say and unpack here, but for now I want to say to all my fellow neurodivergent artist’s, you are not alone and I understand you. Turns out my desperation to be accepted, seen and understood, was really only ever by one single person: Myself.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was very lucky to grow up in a family who loves the arts. My grandmother quite literally ran away to join the circus as a trapeze artist and acrobat after becoming a small time child star in Perth in the 1920’s. I’m forever grateful that growing up in the 90’s, I was surrounded by music, film, TV, theatre, art and consistently introduced to the creatives that I credit much inspiration to. If the TV or a film wasn’t on, a soundtrack, musical or album, from a vast selection of genres was. I credit my parents with my very diverse love of all artists and creatives, from any place, any background, any situation, any style; it helped inform who I proudly am today.

My curiosity and zero filter were also major players: Who?, Why?, When?, What?, Where?, Why? WHY DAMMIT?” We would discuss actors, writers, directors, composers and their work. We’d guess who the voices were in animation. Some parenting styles may differ but I was a Simpsons kid and watched the first episode of South Park: “Cartman gets an anal probe” not long after is release in ‘97 when I was 10 (100% Dad). The building blocks that would eventually lead to becoming a voice actor. It is my parents fault really; you can’t mention all these amazing films and then wonder why my brother and I wanna watch Aliens, The Exorcist or Training day before we’re 15! But we’re smarter because of it.

Both the American and British influence in Australian media, combined with our own oddly mixed bag of home grown content made for an absolute smorgasbord of viewing and added to the certainty I’d had from age 4 that I would be an Actor. So off to University to study Theatre I went. I was already working on sets doing extra work and bit parts from 14 years old; on Aussie shows like Don’t Blame the Koalas and Home and Away, and was beginning to book commercials.

Eventually after carving a humble career in Sydney where I’m from, I moved to Los Angeles in July 2017. I’ve continued to hone more titles: writer, producer, director and more recently Voice Over Artist, but honestly, I prefer Artist or Filmmaker. In 2019, I started a Production company “579 Productions” with two of my best friends and fellow artists and we’ve produced 2 short films and a bunch of other content. At this point we’ve just been playing, experimenting, figuring sh*t out in the hope of continued film making and creation. It’s exciting.

I also like to promote that I’ve written, directed and produced (with a few cameos), quite a number of Music Videos. I love doing a Music Video. Such freedom of creativity, intense but short, and not having to deal with sound. Sound is so important in film making it’s nice to occasionally not have that pressure.

My next endeavour, is to study ADHD coaching and eventually Psychology. It’s gonna be a bit of a balancing “act” though. Keep an eye out if this is of interest to you or someone you know, I’ll soon be available for coaching and support for fellow ADHDers.

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

This feels like a somewhat difficult – albeit important – question to answer currently. Nearly 5 months into the WGA writers strike and over 2 months since the SAG contract expired and they joined in the strike too. Do we boycott streaming, stop going to the movies, Honk as you drive past the Picket lines? No, No, YES. Stopping streaming and movies just means that the hard work that artist’s did put into the projects goes unseen AND we’re not getting paid properly either – also everything still coming out was made prior to the strikes. However, if you feel the need, you should somehow let them (studios and streaming) know why you’re boycotting. 

I myself have a film on Netflix currently. This is the second time I’ve been in a project that has ended up on the streaming service, and both times, my contracts and compensation were not what I’d consider fair for my work and contribution and did not allow me to receive further residuals. And before you ask “why did I sign these contracts?” well I was inappropriately pressured in one situation, or I’d have simply been replaced by someone who would. For too long us Actors have been told “It’s an honour to just be working and you should be grateful”. So time and time again we say yes to low or even no pay hoping something will lead to the thing that actually gets you paid enough to cover your rent.

So ultimately, I’d say right now to support creatives, specifically people in the film industry; you need to understand. Why your favourite shows aren’t coming back straight away, and certain movies have postponed their release. And that most people in the industry are not paid obnoxious amounts of money. Many of us are struggling to make a basic living in this technologically evolving industry. Educate yourself. If you know people in the industry; ask them questions and show support. We’ll happily chew your ear off about how we once got paid $100 to eat a rack of ribs for a Steak House Promo…and we’re a vegetarian! Oh the things we’ve done…

Mike Druker wrote an article for The Gamer back in July about what you can do to support the strikes and it’s informative and funny:
https://www.thegamer.com/how-you-can-help-those-of-us-striking-sag-aftra-strike/

UPDATE: The exciting thing is as of Sept 25th, it seems that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. The WGA and AMPTP have reached a tentative agreement to end the Writer’s Strike, and hopefully SAG’s requests will be met not too long after. My hope is that this will actually lead to real change throughout not just the entertainment industry but all industries, as we are not the only ones on strike right now. It shouldn’t be so much to ask considering there is nearly 50 trillion dollars in circulation in the world; that EVERYONE has enough to live in comfort.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I think the best story would have to be making the 12066 kilometre move from Sydney to Los Angeles in 2017. It had long been a goal of mine, but the logistics of making that happen are way harder than one might think. There really is no simple way to just move to the USA without citizenship or a green card (permanent residence). Since 9/11 immigration to the USA was forever changed.

As a foreign actor, if a green card isn’t available to you, you do have another option – The O1 VISA. The Visa for “Aliens of extraordinary ability” in the arts. The dream VISA for a non-American actor to obtain, so coveted, if you have the requirements needed. Extensive Press, credits, recommendations, worked lined up, an award maybe? Education? No. Your Bachelor’s Degree and other training mean nothing for this visa however.

After nearly a year of constructing my case and many tears, I was approved for my O1 Visa. I actually flew to New York just to hug my lawyer. Cause for celebration right? But beside the plethora of limitations of any visa, what they don’t tell you, is no one really wants to hire an O1 actor. Immigration made this VISA without proper understanding of how the industry works for actors and Hollywood is under no obligation to fill out the extra paper work it takes. So not only is this race competitive, but they just put a 50 pound weight around your neck and said “Well?…RUN”.

As a result, most managers and agents aren’t super interested. Early on I had a good friend who was well established, give me the best introduction to a manager I could have asked for: “You’ll regret not signing this one” and they said “No, she’s O1. Tell her to call us when she has her green card.” I remember driving east on Beverly boulevard past CBS studios, sobbing on the phone to my Mum, because I had worked towards this visa for 10 years. And right as I was in a show about to air on TV in Australia, I had moved here; thinking I’d have more opportunity, when perhaps I should have stayed and rode that wave…This was one of the many times I nearly moved home. 

I want to reiterate I’m so grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to even get this visa and be able to move here at all. But I was warned prior that it has it’s limitations and I feel a responsibility to help other foreign actors have an understanding to best manage their expectations. 

This story does have a happy ending. I stayed. Even through Covid. And I don’t regret it. I’ve had this dream since I was 4 years old. Every time I’ve wanted to give up, I think of her. After 6 years here, 2 O1’s, I’ve made much headway and had successes and signed with agents and managers I love. But more importantly I’ve built a life here. A really happy one, with my life buddy and our little pup Zelda. I’ll always call Australia home and I mostly visit twice a year. And in May this year, I got a birthday present. I got approved for my Green Card.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.neridabronwen.com
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• Twitter: neridabronwen