Meet Janet kilonzo

We were lucky to catch up with Janet Kilonzo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Janet, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

By faking it. If I feel as though I don’t deserve a compliment or a certain role I have been offered and I begin to doubt myself, I take those thoughts on as a challenge; as though the voice in my head is telling me to prove it, prove that I can do what I think I cannot. 9/10 I end up winning the challenge and besting the part of me that doubts myself when presented with an opportunity that I think is too big for me.
Now, with that being said, I also find it critical to observe whether I am proving it to myself or proving it to others. Do I want to overcome this to aid in my growth as an artist? or do I simply want to boast that I have done it?’
That analysis offers me clarity and puts things into perspective and from there I am able to create a path moving forward.
Another thing that helps is talking to those around you that you trust (and who don’t bullshit you!). Talk to your friends, family, therapist; if you can. Often times when I speak and listen to my peoples replies I often find answers I didn’t even know I was looking for or needed and that assists me in organising the mess that is my own self doubt.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am excited to have a couple projects coming up in the next few months.
I will be reprising the role of Achan in Achiro P Olwoch’s ‘The Survival’ at The Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC) this coming 22, 23, 26th & 27th of June. You can find the tickets on PACNYC.ORG
The show is Pride NYC’s official Theatre event and I could not be any prouder to be a part of it.
Something else that is equally as exciting is a podcast play I have been a part of. Set in 1970s Ghana, ‘Lys AKA Lysistrata of Aristophanes: An African version’ is a comedic account of one woman’s effort to end the ongoing war in her homeland by mobilizing the women around her to withhold their most powerful weapon against their spouse: sex.
I have the fun task of being the narrator as well as part of the ensemble. Releasing on Oroko radio on May 29th and available 2 weeks later on streaming platforms. it is truly a witty, empowering production that you don’t wanna miss!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Communication – Always, always communicate. Even if it a detail you may think is minor, it is better to ask than assume. Communicating with casting directors, stage managers, agents etc if you’re going to be late for something, or if you all of a sudden are not able to a project; any scenario you can think of it is best that you always let someone know.
At the end of the day being an actor is an incredibly collaborative career. Never are you doing things by yourself so that means your actions will always affect someone. Therefore, keeping an open line of communication, in any and all aspects, doesn’t leave room for misunderstanding.
Respect – goes without saying. Respect everyone; on and off screen, on stage and behind the stage, in the street, in a grocery store, and any other place you can think of. The industry is very small and people talk to each other, so it goes without saying if you create an uncomfortable environment for others that would become what people associate you with. Respect others as you would want to be respected.
Time efficiency/ adaptability – This industry moves quickly therefore you must be able to organize yourself accordingly. Adapting to the speed of the industry can be daunting at first but once you get the hang of it, it turns into a skill that assists you in your daily life as well.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

First I cry. Once I get that out of the way, I figure out what I need to do. Often times when I am overwhelmed it is because of a bunch of responsibilities have run ahead of me. So, I list them all down and I prioritize them by due dates, amount of work and If I am able to seek assistance on some (such as reader for self tapes) I do that too.
Another thing that helps with the feeling of being overwhelmed is knowing when to say no. As an actor in can be difficult to say no to things because jobs don’t fall out of the sky, however, attempting to fit too many things into a schedule can at times do more harm than good. So plan well, take a beat to decide if something is for you or not and prioritize.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://janetkilonzo.com/
• Instagram: @janetkilonzo
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-kilonzo-0484b6238/

Image Credits

Erick Forester
Sachyn Mital