The Actor’s Perspective
When I think about why I chose to become an actor, the first image that comes to mind is water. Think about how much of it exists within us, how much we consume every day, and metaphorically how much of it we pour into others.
As someone who's been acting for over a decade, I can honestly say that real acting is when there is no acting present at all. Actors are mirrors for humanity, and to be a mirror, you must walk in truth. We may play with pretense and fiction to the extreme, but the stories are all rooted in real, relatable circumstances.
I feel accomplished when I know that someone has witnessed my work and felt seen. That’s what we all want, isn’t it? For someone to truly see us.
“The Bard of Avon”
William Shakespeare
Lady Anne
“O, cursèd be the hand that made these holes;
Cursèd the heart that had the heart to do it;
Cursèd the blood that let this blood from hence.”
Acting Reel — 2026
Playing Shakespeare
When I first encountered William’s text, I found it to be cumbersome and unrelated. But what can’t be understood can’t be related to. It wasn’t until one truly dedicated professor in undergrad, with a slight Shakespeare obsession, that my thinking about the work was expanded. Although translating th text continued to pose a challenge, her passion inspired me to take a deeper dive into the work.
Playing Brutus was by far one of the most enriching experiences I’ve ever had. With complete control over body, mind, and spirit, Brutus made me feel powerful and alive.
Nominated for the 2022 Best Actress award, Jha’Neal Blue performs “Somebody Almost Walked Off With All Of My Stuff” by Ntosake Shange.