We recently connected with Denise Hoey and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Denise, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
Years of practice! Success doesn’t come overnight in show business – even when it seems like someone has seemingly popped up from nowhere, chances are they’ve worked hard for years to get where they are. You get used to rejection and you learn not to take things personally. You have to be really passionate about the entertainment industry to survive in it and anyone who can’t handle the knock backs doesn’t usually last long. If you can believe in yourself and your talent no matter what the outcome of an audition, you will go the distance.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m a professional actor in stage, screen and voice over, and I also sing and dance. I first performed on stage at the age of 3, which I have no memory of, but I’ve pursued a career in the arts ever since. I grew up in Hampshire, England and studied acting all through school, college and university. Whilst still in the final year of my degree I booked my first professional theatre gig playing Ophelia in a 6-month tour of Hamlet which was a huge learning curve for me at such a young age. More theatre roles followed plus on-screen work and voiceover, but it was when I was performing in an off-Broadway run that I decided I wanted to try and pursue a career in the US. When I got the opportunity to go for a Green Card I jumped at it, but instead of heading to NY where I was planning, I ended up in LA when a friend offered me a room. I was lucky enough to be selected as a BAFTA LA Newcomer and welcomed on to their 4-year program for nurturing emerging international talent in the US which was a boost to my confidence in a new country and I have met some great friends and peers throughout my participation. Moving to LA meant starting all over again in terms of making connections and understanding how the industry works out here, but it was worth it for the opportunities that have come my way. I’ve been surprised by how in demand my accent is and lately I’ve been loving booking voice acting roles in video games. I just joined the Call of Duty franchise playing Dr Ava Jansen in Modern Warfare Zombies and I hope there’s a lot more to come. They are so much fun for an actor!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I met Henry Winkler at a BAFTA event once (the loveliest man!) and he told me this business is all about tenacity, and it’s true. You just have to keep going and trust in your talent, no matter how any knock backs you receive along the way – it’s just the nature of this beast. There is no quick and easy path.
Be kind. If you are the kind of person people want to work with, you’ll get the work.
Pursue other interests and hobbies outside of acting, and make time for your family and friends. The entertainment industry can be brutal and it can get you down if it becomes your sole focus. In my opinion it’s really important to take breaks and pursue other interests. It’s very easy to fall into the FOMO trap – the ‘fear of missing out’ on jobs or auditions stops you taking vacations or spending quality time with family but it’s so important for your mental and physical health.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
I head for nature. Whether it’s the ocean, a forest, lake or even a local park, I find that it gives me perspective. It’s important not to get hung up on the little things and to see the bigger picture. When I’ve taken some time out to appreciate this incredible planet we live on I can tackle something with a fresh outlook.
Contact Info:
- Website: denisehoey.com
- Instagram: denise.hoey
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisehoey/
- Twitter: denisehoey
