We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nija Okoro. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nija below.
Nija, we are so happy that our community is going to have a chance to learn more about you, your story and hopefully even take in some of the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Let’s start with self-care – what do you do for self-care and has it had any impact on your effectiveness?
I do not know (nor do I want to know) who I’d be without my daily self-care practices. I meditate, read, journal and pray daily. I also workout at least 5 days a week. Meditation keeps me present. And connected to my breath. As an actress, being present is invaluable. I’m noticing that there are more distractions than ever. And so I’ve had to rely more heavily on my ability to drop in and truly be in the moment. Meditation works that muscle for me. The breath connects me to what’s true. My truth. And if I allow myself to really breathe, my ego and perfectionism get out of the way. What’s left is the truth. My simple truth. Journaling helps me to decipher my feelings. To uncover what’s underneath. I also journal as my characters. It’s one of my favorite tools. Reading allows me to escape or learn something new. I’ve been an avid reader since childhood. It activates my imagination, which is crucial for any artist. This business can be pretty brutal at times, so workouts and prayer keep me sane and focused. If I’m short on time, I can simply do 5-10 minutes of each. I make the time for it because it really works for me and I happen to enjoy it.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a Juilliard and LaGuardia HS (the Fame school) trained actress. I’m from New York, the South Bronx more specifically. I currently live in Los Angeles. I fell in love with acting because, as an overachiever, I found something that I found to be exhilarating and difficult. It became my passion as a kid. I continue to love it because I find acting to be a masterclass in empathy. By stepping into someone else’s shoes, you begin to see people in a more expansive way. At the very least, you begin to imagine their motives. Their childhoods. Their fears. The things they don’t talk about. You realize that we are all way more than what meets the eye. We may know this intellectually, but acting is a visceral exploration of this truism. And as a result, we somehow become more human. More accepting. More loving. The craft of acting has been a gift to me. I am grateful I discovered it. I think everyone should at least take one acting class! The world would be a better place, I truly believe this.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Studying the craft of acting has served me. I learned tools that were invaluable along my professional journey. I was all instinct when I got to Juilliard. I didn’t have technique. Just a spirit of play. Juilliard was instrumental in showing me that this is a craft to be honed. Instinct and talent are musts, but skillenables you to be consistent. And gives you a confidence in this work. To anyone starting out in this business, I’d say develop your craft. Work on your technique. Take classes. Read plays. Study people. And keep your entire instrument sharp. Mind, body and soul. Take care of your one and only vessel.
How would you describe your ideal client?
I coach actors, when my schedule permits. It has been a joy and blessing to see people soar in their work. I’ve been fortunate to attract the perfect-for-me clients, so far. (Knocking on wood now.) The qualities they share are the love of acting, a willingness to play, tenacity of spirit and a compelling “why”. Having to teach the tools I know has also gifted me with a sharpening of my own technique. I have certainly gotten to work with kindred spirits who will stop at nothing to grow their craft. And I am always giddy before my sessions, because I know I’ll get to witness artistic expansion. In real time. It’s pretty cool.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nijaokoro.com
- Instagram: @nijaokoro
- Facebook: @nijaokoro
Image Credits
Vincent Alvas
