We recently connected with Whitney Holland and have shared our conversation below.

Whitney, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

My learning came after initially joining community theatre as a kid. At the start it was pure, unaware play. Then I stacked on a BFA in acting, hard dedication outside of class, a training in Russia, reading, more classes, self-practicing, studying, self-analyzing, and joining the acting company of a top Shakespeare Festival. It all packed on. My constantly growing, obsessive expectation of reaching this idea of a near “holy” tier of acting became all that was worthy to me. Yet always, maddeningly out of reach.

It spun me up so unrelentingly tight that I was on track to snap.

Instead, there came a forcibly unwinding in 2020, living a few more years back home, and experiencing more in life outside acting. Then steadily, the lessons I had worked so hard at to force into bloom began to come to life of their own accord. Untouched by me. I took a gentle step back into acting. Having released my grasp, that purity began to return and I felt bits of my prior leg work begin to coalesce and breathe.

This is the journey. I needed the hard, dedicated training. I needed the frustration, the gritting of teeth, and the crying through of unmet expectations. Then I needed the learning to let go. The last part is a mark of mastery to me. If you can begin to every so often, between hard work, drop the reigns out of your hands, then you will find your growth and divine inspiration.

I didn’t hear or rather didn’t listen to anyone tell me that. So, I hope this lands for someone. If not, that’s alright. I am just dropping it off and letting go.

Whitney, 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 am a voice actor who came from the theatre when I got honest about my regard and love for what videogames and animation can do. These entertainment mediums can share special stories of grandeur and heroism that I think we need as humans, to remind us of what we are capable of and called to. We need that inspiration to inject even into our daily, real lives.

My abilities excel and I have the most fun in the field of honest, emotional, grounded acting for narrative driven projects. Yet, I find success in applying this even into more colorful, bombastic projects which I am cast in. My range of play extends from the graceful, passionate heroines, to the popular or the edgy teen, and even to warrioress or the spunky, cute humanoid creature. I record from my home studio for games being created across the world, and for audio dramas, podcasts, and animations throughout the US.

If navigating relationships and noble ideals are the center of your project, I am an actor to join your team!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I want to be an actor who is a powerful conduit for creative teams to be lean on in order for us to compellingly carry out stories of grandeur and heroism.

My belief is art is our greatest tool to reveal self-growth through symbolism and inspiration. To remind us of what we are capable of and called to.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

The stories and accounts in the Holy Bible actually give me great guidance on how to act out of radical love and honesty, as do Ayn Rand’s ‘Atlas Shrugged’ and ‘The Fountainhead’. In their own ways, each of those books continues to bring me back to dedication to what is true and important. I do what I can, to the greatest of my ability, and the rest is out of my hands and out of my mind, but I have been true to what I value.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.whitney-holland.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/WhitneyDHolland

Image Credits
Genshin Impact, miHoYo Go Home Annie, Misfit Village Trackmania, Ubisoft Nadeo The Fountainhead, By Mouth My Time at Sandrock, Pathea Monster Never Cry, Boltray