Interview with Dierdra McDowell

I am Dierdra McDowell, when I was about 7 years old, my mother took me to a dance performance at Lincoln Center. We sat on the balcony and watched the show and during the performance something touched my soul and I said to my mom…”How can I get down there?” She answered, “we can’t go down there because these are our seats!” I said “No, I mean on the stage! I want to be on the stage Mom!” The very next day my mother found a dance school in Harlem that gave yearly performances at Lincoln Center. Within one year I was on that very stage at Lincoln Center and was even given a brief solo within the ballet choreography. When the lights hit me and I looked from the stage into the silhouetted sea of blackness, it felt so comfortable… like home! From then on I never refused any opportunity to hit the stage!

Did you study acting
Yes! Once I made the decision to commit to an acting career I began looking immediately for a place to study and found the T. Schreiber Acting Studio in NYC. It is the same place that actor Edward Norton studied and would highly agree that I received a very good education there. However I must say that as an actress, the breakthrough really happened for me when I studied with Susan Batson at the Susan Batson Studio (then at the time it was called Black Nexxus). I came there by way of my acting coach/director Marishka Phillips who I met at a workshop with (Tyler Perry actress) Tasha Smith. They both encouraged me that I had a depth as an artist that really needed to be uncovered. Without hesitation I began studying with Marishka the very next week at Black Nexxus and everything changed from there! It was one of the best moves I’ve ever made for myself as an actress!

What acting technique do you use
I have heard some people make comments while watching me work say “Ahh, that’s method acting!” However I truly believe that I have gathered my education from several techniques along the way. In theatrical work I love using my imagination with sense memory, and creating a very strong 4th wall (that is, through my mind’s eye I can see another world in front of me instead of the people sitting in the audience) Once I build a very strong 4th wall that all of my five senses can rely on I am fully immersed into the reality of that scene. I love to relate to the truth of any character by drawing on my own personal experiences for reference, therefore turning it into an “as if” situation. For example, if the character was a child abandoned by her parents I would recall what it felt like to be left behind by my teachers and class on a school trip. Both would feel lost, alone, afraid etc… Although they are two different experiences, the feeling still abandonment…therefore I can fully relate to the moment!

What wrong impressions do actors hold about acting
Acting is not about mimicking or about doing an impression on what you think a character should be like. A character is what the character IS with his or her own reality! The actor has the responsibility of recreating that reality and fully living in the moments of that character. Know where the character is coming from before the story begins,(this is very important to me) and then go on the journey from there! By whatever method the actor chooses to get that done, so be it. But either way, I believe it requires full commitment, research, and a sense of artfulness! If you are not going to commit and do all the work as an actor, I say don’t bother. (Unless you don’t mind mediocrity).

Do you take courses to improve your craft
My best studies have been at the Susan Batson Studio and participating in her Slices of Lives Workshop! I have also done improv workshops with Hollie Harper (of American Candy) acting with Marishka Phillips (MPTP) and Tasha Smith (TSAW). I run to my acting coach Marishka whenever I need to brush up for a role or an audition! I also take dance workshops at Alvin Ailey and I always attend acting seminars whenever I can at The Network or Actors Connection. I think they are all very helpful!

What acting books do you read
My favorites are: TRUTH by Susan Batson, A CHALLENGE FOR THE ACTOR by Uta Hagen, RESPECT FOR ACTING by Uta Hagen, HOW TO GET THE PART… by Margie Haber, THE ARTISTS WAY by Julia Cameron, A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK FOR THE ACTOR by Melissa Bruder, Madeline Onlek, Nathaniel Pollack, Scott Zigler, BREAKING INTO COMMERCIALS by Terry Berland

How do you keep fit as an actor
My physical fitness plays a big role in my overall balance. As mentioned before I take dance workshops often and I get to the gym as often as my schedule permits. I feel better when my body feels better. I try to attend acting workshops as often as I can and I keep submitting myself for roles and auditioning very often. I have a beautiful family to take care of and that also keeps me very busy! In my downtime (when there is any) I love to immerse myself in a book or see a show at the theater. That keeps me inspired and excited and it ignites my soul! I just keep it all moving as often as I can…that’s the main point. I never stop moving!

When you’re offered a role, what do you do next
The first thing I do is research! If the character is based on someone non-fictional, you better believe I am all the way in deep on anything that is written on that person or any audio or visual material. I read the script and start breaking it down for everything and anything I can relate to…dissecting all the beats and actions as best as I can. I call my coach to schedule any needed sessions to work through any kinks. I sleep with the script under my pillow and take it with me on all my train rides through the city. I read it alone at home and I find a reader at times to help me run a scene here and there. I find any physical attributes to the character and start playing with it and getting it into my body.That’s always fun to me!

How do you take a character in a script to a honest, believable and breathing person
As mentioned before I relate my experiences wherever possible to those of the character. I need to find the truth in every situation for me that presents itself! I try to establish a certain comfort level with the character’s physical attributes by practicing it as often as possible. It has to feel comfortable and natural to me! (For instance, I am not a smoker…but if my character smokes I will keep an unlit cigarette in hand for weeks until I get the natural feel of it in my hand!)

How do you stay fresh on set
That is a good question because sometimes I find that challenging. There are a lot of circumstances which could jolt an actor out of character during a production. I really prefer to stay in character until I am wrapped…it’s just the way I like to work (especially if there are physical attributes I need to take on, like a voice or a limp or something specific the character has). If someone asks me a question that might take me out of character I may answer them with the physical attribute of that character and it reminds them and myself, that I take my work seriously and I am still focused and working. I try not to eat too heavy when in between takes. I stay hydrated as much as possible. I constantly try to ask myself…”What am I aware of in this moment?”. If there is a very emotional scene coming up or a very physical scene coming up…I save up my energy and I keep the inner work going. Then when the director calls “Action”, I can let it out!

Explain a creative choice you took on set
Once in a theatrical performance, when I had to portray an abused child and I was given an action by the director to reveal to the audience the results of the beating by lifting up my dress…I went home and researched how to make realistic looking scars, then at the next rehearsal when I lifted up my dress I revealed a gross amount of welts, scabs and dripping blood that had everyone gasping. It took me a long time to do it…but it was well worth it and the director loved it and kept it in the scene! (Needless to say from there I learned to be pretty good at special effects make up!)

Describe a memorable character you played
Memorable? Why…Eartha Kitt of course! Need I say more? (“Grrrrrrrr”)

What do you want most from a director
I want good specific direction so that we are all on the same page. I love working with a director who I have good energy with and who is understanding of the full working process of the actor. I love when a director has a good eye and I can completely trust that I am in good hands with the work. I like when the director respects a harmonious working atmosphere, because in the end we all are working together to make a great product. I really believe we all need each other to get the job done.

What two actors do you long to work with
Angela Basset and Jeffrey Wright

Why
To be on set working alongside Angela Basset has been a longtime dream of mine. I admire her in an incredible way and I am moved by every performance she gives! I think Jeffrey Wright has an amazing commitment to any role he plays and he always gives stellar performances. To be with him in a production would be a great honor and another platform for growth for myself as an actor!

What advice would you give actors
Put in the work and commit all that you can to the process of acting. Love what you do!!! You must LOVE the work of acting. Oh, and have fun with it! It really is fun if you love it!

Write about your career
My career began and continues with a lot of work in Television commercials. The most fun and memorable commercials I been featured in were WII Just Dance 3, Spray N Wash, Norwegian Cruise Line, Apple Computers, Coca Cola, Allegra D, Disney Cruises, Verizon, Time Warner Cable, Annie’s Linens, and PathMark. I have worked in a feature with Willem Dafoe playing his estranged ex-wife and alongside Janet Hubert playing a cousin at her family reunion. In All My Children I played an inmate alongside Susan Lucci…that was fun! I worked with the actors Paul Benjamin and Hope Clarke in Paul’s theater production of The Pantry. (I really enjoyed working with Paul!) I really enjoy my work and I look forward to a long career in this business

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