Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Disnie Sebastien. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Disnie , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
In my heart, I always knew I was born to be an actor, however, I was always very introverted. Many might think most performers are extroverted, but my introversion drove my passion for the Arts. I am from the Commonwealth of Dominica, a beautiful, quiet island in the Caribbean. Not to be confused with the Dominican Republic. I spent a lot of time enjoying nature and what the island life had to offer. I had a secret dream to be an actress, a dream that I told no one about. The Arts is not a thriving profession back home. Most people chose business or medicine, whatever they considered to be a regular job. Therefore, I knew my dream was not going to be simple to accomplish. At a young age I started memorizing all the scripts on the TV and would act them out. That was my way of teaching myself. My stuffed animals and dogs always had a front row seat! As an introvert, being able to immerse myself in the world of television led me to a fantasy land that only I could experience.
One day, I came across a young, black actress in my age group while watching TV. Her name was Keke Palmer. I loved her immediately and I wanted to be just like her! I noticed there wasn’t a lot of representation for black actresses particularly in lead roles which really inspired me to choose acting. Ms. Palmer grew up to be an incredible actress, singer and producer among many things. I also realized that I was probably not the only one in my country who had a passion for the Arts and I hoped to be successful and inspire others. When you come from a small country with few opportunities, it’s much harder to make it. Years later after moving to the US, I found myself involved in a few film projects that Keke Palmer was a part of and that was a testament that anything is possible! My journey to the US to achieve my dream was faced with challenges in every aspect, but the important thing was to stay focused on the goal.
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?
The pandemic actually helped me to find one of my true gifts in the entertainment industry, which is hosting and that has been much of my current, creative focus. After a string of successful auditions, I signed on to be a host for Amazon Live’s shopping channel. The channel gained traction in 2020 and 2021 while people were staying indoors. I work with Top Rated Studio in the tri-state area to bring these shows to life and earned my own show with the title, “Sunday Funday With Disnie.” On the Amazon platform, we showcase some of the top Amazon products along with a bit of my sarcasm and fun banter with the Producers. Everything is live and requires the ability of the host to think on their feet. Hosting has become a passion of mine and I’m grateful to have discovered that. All of my acting training comes into play when I am on the show and I love every moment of it. I have done more than 400 episodes to date. On Amazon Live, you get to see the real Disnie and the audience can chat to me in real time anywhere in the world. It’s a great way for the audience to unwind and also shop for items like gadgets or beauty supplies. If not, they can be entertained by the new trivia segment we implemented. The shows are on every Sunday at 6PM & 8PM EST on toprated.live
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
For anyone interested in acting or even hosting, I would say the best thing to focus on aside from acting training of course is improv training. I took improv classes in school and these skills have become so necessary every week on my Amazon Live show. You need to be able to think and move quickly in such an unpredictable environment because the show is live. With Theater as well, improv skills are needed, there is no rewind button on stage, so being able to react quickly is always helpful.
Secondly, treat yourself as your own business. As an Artist, you are often times independent, you have to market yourself, you have to have the right material to submit to auditions, you might have to spend to make money. Headshots are not cheap but they are one of the first things casting directors judge you upon even before meeting you. I believe if you keep investing in yourself, then it should all be worth it in the end. Especially if acting is your true calling.
Thirdly, make connections and find a mentor. My Dad always told me to make connections with people. Even in my introverted world, I understand the need for contacts in the entertainment industry. You never know who is who, be kind to all and put your best foot forward. I have gotten quite a bit of acting work from people who might be friends of someone I know. For about 8 years, I have been attached to Urban Stages, an award-winning Theater company in NYC. My lovely mentor Frances Hill, Artistic Director of the theater has helped me connect with so many industry professionals and opportunities that I may not have had otherwise. Plus, it’s great to have a mentor to look up to and trust.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
This is a great time to thank both my parents for everything they have done for me. They have impacted my life so positively just by being who they are and I wouldn’t trade them for the world. Coming from the Caribbean and choosing an unconventional career, they both really supported me and never let me feel that I could not achieve my dream of being an actress. If I didn’t have their support, I’m not sure where I would be. My parents helped put me through school to study Multimedia, Performing Arts and Theater in the US as a teen. This paved the way for my success, giving me the tools I needed to learn about the Arts. Even though they were not in the industry, they would look at my audition tapes and give feedback. They both gave good advice and my Dad telling me to make industry connections stayed with me forever. No teacher in school told me that.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.disniesebastien.com
- Other: www.tiktok.com/@disniems
