Meet Mogo Talem

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mogo Talem. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Mogo, so great to have you with us and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with the community. So, let’s jump into something that stops so many people from going after their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. We’d love to hear about how you dealt with that and persisted on your path.

I wish I had a happier story, but I don’t. I grew up really ashamed of who I was, or my quirks, of what I looked like, you name it. I was severely bullied for nearly a decade, at a time in my life where all I wanted to do was to fit in, and not make any waves. So as a way to survive, and to avoid attracting attention, I tried to fit the conventional mold that everyone but me seemed to fit in. Unfortunately, I learned pretty quickly that no matter how hard I tried, this just wasn’t working for me and I had to be true to myself. People were still picking on me, and I felt like I was wearing a mask constantly. So around the time I graduated high school, I decided to be unabashedly myself. It took a lot of work, and I lost some people along the way, but I realized that making waves was what made me « me ». I can safely say now that I like what I see in the mirror, and i’m really proud of my journey.

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 am a french actor who moved to New York City to pursue musical theatre. The lights of Broadway have a very big reach, and I can’t see myself doing what I’m doing anywhere else. I recently produced and translated an American adaptation of The Game of Love and Chance, a french play by Marivaux, and turned it into a modern day and queer production. As a french queer woman, it was really important for me to not only share my culture, but create parte for queer actors of different backgrounds. I am currently planning on writing a musical, which I hope will showcase more queer voices.

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?

I think one of my biggest qualities is that I am irrevocably passionate about what I do. When I believe in a project, I give in body and soul, and find happiness in it. I love being on stage, and any work that I do towards getting me back on it is work I will do with a smile on my face.
I am a big believer that it is never too late to lear new skills. I perfected my singing once I move to New York, and I am still actively working on my dancing, as I always strive to do better.
I am also resilient, and if I tend to have momentary moments of panic, I never let it get in the way of my goal. I know how my body works, I know I have to exteriorise my doubts, so I can come back twice as strong. My advice would be to know what works for you, are you someone who internalizes everything ? Or do you need to scream and shout for a while to feel better ? Whatever works, use it.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

I am surrounded by wonderful people, who are helping me daily on my road to success. The first name that comes to mind is my voice teacher, who went from giving me classes at school to becoming my full fledged life coach. I come to him for advice not only on my singing, but also on life and my career. He is incredibly insightful and I rely heavily on his opinions.
I also have to mention my best friends back home, who are on the receiving end of all of my career freak outs. They keep me sane, and prove that having a support system is terribly important, especially in this industry who can become ostracising really fast.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mogodotcom?igsh=ZnQxbG5ycTI1OThz&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@mogotalem?si=tlhPghHdJQmEfxFk
• Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/18pkgywdoL45QqE67

Image Credits

Matt Walting