I would say the moment that started the whole acting thing for me. It was the day I saw the movie Polly starring Keshia Knight Pulliam. I couldn’t have been anymore than 7 or 8. But, I knew, I wanted to be on TV. I wanted to perform! I would watch that movie for hours, copying the singing and dancing Lol. My mom then, enrolled me in acting and modeling classes with Barbizon. So, I did that for a while, until it was to expensive to keep up.
I always entertained and performed for my family growing up. Then, was apart of chorus and dance in elementary school, high-school I took up drama and dance. I then shied away from acting. I was thinking of what family and friends would say about me pursuing acting as a career. But, I couldn’t fight it for long. I came back to acting of course, starting with some background work to gain set experience and etiquette! I did several theatre and indie productions around Atlanta. My first speaking TV experience, was S3 of Fatal Attraction on TVONE!
indieactivity: How did you become an actor?
Ebony Williams (EW): The moment that was the deciding factor for me to return to acting, I was one day riding in the car and heard Oprah on the radio speaking about, you get in life what you have the courage to ask for, and following dreams, and I just felt like she was talking to me! I started auditing different acting classes, while taking classes online as well at iActing studios, reading, googling, networking with other actors, as well as events, anything to learn as much as I could about the business side.
What acting technique do you use?
Ebony Williams (EW): My go to acting tool box usually consist of Stella Adler… using my imagination, I use emotional memory recall, Ivana Chubbuck’s power of the actor is an amazing technique I use as well, my acting coach Barbara Beneville teaches just breathe acting. Whatever the emotions my characters call for, I usually determine what method works best for me.
What wrong impressions do actors hold about acting?
Ebony Williams (EW): Acting is not an easy living, it’s a jealous and needy career, it’s hard to have a full time job as it’s time consuming, takes hard work and dedication, and even then some actors don’t reach the level of success they want, but they continue acting anyway, and if you’re in it for the right reasons and stay the course, I believe you can have the life you desire. Not all actors want to be a list celebrities. A successful working actor suits us just fine!
Do you take courses to improve your craft?
Ebony Williams (EW): I take various acting workshops through my talent agency, and one’s I choose to take myself, I take classes and work privately with my coach. I definitely read a lot!
What acting books do you read?
Ebony Williams (EW): Power of the Actor: by Ivanna Chubbuck, Truth: by Susan Batson, An Actor Prepares: Constantin Stanislavski are a few of my favorite reads!
How do you keep fit as an actor?
Ebony Williams (EW): I try to keep fit physically by eating right/not late, drinking lots of water, work outs, my warm up voice exercises. Mentally I try to stretch my imagination and daydream when I can! Lol
When you’re offered a role, what do you do next?
Ebony Williams (EW): Once I book a role, I like to thoroughly read the script twice, once as reader then as an actor, I then start my character’s development . I also like to memorize lines based on scenes I’m filming first.
How do you take a character in a script to a honest, believable and breathing person?
Ebony Williams (EW): I like to use Meryl Streep analysis… “acting is not about being someone different, it’s about finding what’s apparently different from me and the character and finding myself in there.” If I can’t relate to the character personally. I imagine what I would do if I were in the situation.
How do you stay fresh on set?
Ebony Williams (EW): If I’m onset and it causes for my character to be really emotional, I like to be alone between takes, and use my techniques to stay in that mind space. It’s easier if I’m in a more comical role.
Describe a memorable character you played?
Ebony Williams (EW): My most memorable character is a woman that I portrayed on season 4 of fatal attraction, name Constance Clark, she was convicted of having her husband murdered for insurance money, it premiered on 3/30/2015. I had to be mean, conniving and heartless… totally opposite from me as a person, people couldn’t stop talking about it.
Explain one creative choice you took on set?
Ebony Williams (EW): Thus far I have never interpreted a director’s direction, I’ve worked with some pretty cool people, That have allowed me to bring my honesty and choices to my roles. I hope I’m blessed for that to continue in the future!
What do you want most from a director?
Ebony Williams (EW): What I want most from a director, is to trust that I’m going to bring my best to a character, and trust my choices. Where we both work together to tell a great story.
What actors do you long to work with?
Ebony Williams (EW): I long to work with many actors, one of my absolute faves being Meryl Streep!
Why?
Ebony Williams (EW): I think she’s amazing, she has great range.. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her play the same type of character twice!
What advice would you give to actors?
Ebony Williams (EW): I would tell actors around the world to stay inspired, grind and work hard, it’s already written!
Briefly write about your career?
Ebony Williams (EW): I have been pursuing my acting career full throttle for about the last five years, and I don’t intend on slowing down. I’ve been blessed to be apart of some great TV, Film and Theatre productions in the past and recently!
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ACTOR INTERVIEWS
