Meet Tiffany Toney

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tiffany Toney. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tiffany below.

Hi Tiffany , so happy you were able to devote some time to sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our community. So, we’ve always admired how you have seemingly never let nay-sayers or haters keep you down. Can you talk to us about how to persist despite the negative energy that so often is thrown at folks trying to do something special with their lives?

I was raised by two parents and an amazing family who encouraged me to always believe in myself. If there was ever something I wanted to do, they found a way to support me…I remember my Dad working multiple jobs to make sure I never knew how hard things really were for him and my mom. I think that women, especially women of color have been up against some pretty detrimental stereo-types and that has been my most difficult barrier along my journey. Because I am multi-racial, people often pushed me in and out of “Boxes” for their own digestion, and none of those boxes ever resonated with the core of who I am as a human being with deep empathy. I love hard, I fight hard, I create hard…..everything I do, I go all in. I thought this would be considered an asset in Hollywood, but sometimes people feel threatened by it (as if I want what they have or want to be them) I don’t. I just want to be the best version of myself and work with a team of people who appreciate what I bring, so that we can build an ecosystem that allows us all to win (over and over again). I think the hate comes in, when people feel the need to compare journeys. I’ve been hated on by people who have much more money and success than me….and honestly some of those people were individuals I looked up to…..they were my heroes, so that was actually really heartbreaking. I think the ego is a really dangerous thing…..if we can all find the balance between being confident and practicing humility, I think we would all be better off. The ego causes people to compete with others who aren’t even in their lane. I never wanted to produce or direct, I wanted to be an actress, but when I kept being told I wasn’t “black enough” for this or “indigenous enough” for that….I realized I would have to learn to write, produce, and direct my own film, just so that I could showcase my acting skills. Nobody would give me a chance because they were pissed that I didn’t fit into their little boxes. I never set out to be the best “black or brown” actress….I set out to connect with humans, artists, lovers, dreamers, women, men, children, and people in general despite their race, religion, or socio-economic status. My dream was always to connect with people so deeply through my work, that peop[e forget about all of those things, and just “feel” something. I have been judged, stereo-typed, criticized for not helping certain people….for helping too many people….blackballed for not sleeping with certain people, and criticized even more if I do decide I like someone…. for a woman like me, It’s damned if you do, damned if you don’t. So I decided that the only way to deal with hate and negativity, is to live as authentically and unapologetically as possible. At least that way, I know it was always “me”….my choice, not anyone else’s. And as long as I know that it was “me” who decided to take that role, do that stunt job, kiss that man, take that trip, as long as I know that my heart and intentions were authentic in my personal and creative choices….then I can live with that. As many mistakes as I’ve made, from quitting a job too soon, to falling for the wrong guy….I have no regrets. My grandmother is almost 80 years old and she has never let her age or her ethnicity stop her from dancing, drinking the best wine, kissing boys, and falling in love over and over again under the full moon as she dips her toes into oceans all over the world. She stopped counting the years after 25 and I think her soul stopped aging the moment she made that choice. So as her grand daughter, it’s only right that I keep the tradition. What we give energy to grows, and I chose to nurture my inner child and stay creative and free…so that leaves no time to give the “hate” any of my attention.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

During the pandemic, when I thought the world was ending, I decided I did not want to die before starring in a movie, so I wrote my dream role and produced, directed and starred in a Feature film called BORA. We made an entire feature film with me and 2 friends while I was living in my car with one of my business partners. The film went on to screen in Salt Lake near Sundance, The Essence Film Festival, and The Athens (Greece) International Film Festival. As a result of the film’s success and wide exposure on Amazon Prime, Tubi, and Direct Tv, I have since starred in 5 feature films! Betting on myself has led me to manifest my dream of becoming an actress and it has opened so many doors for everyone involved. I am so proud of my team, and of myself for setting out on a mission and finishing it. I now consult screenwriters, filmmakers, and coach other actors while working as the assistant to a major stunt coordinator in Hollywood. I manifested my dream of being an Action Actress my work includes the following titles: BORA (Prime & Tubi). The Influencer (ALLBLK, & Prime), EXOTIC (Coming 2025), Beneath the Shadows (BET 2025), Jungle Juice (Tubi & Prime) and I am currently starring in an action film that’s shooting in Houston.

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

Ambition, Determination, Vulnerability & Empathy have helped me to deeply connect with people and to overcome imposter syndrome to get the job done.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I am looking to act in films that are being directed and produced by new and seasoned filmmakers! I love Action films and thrillers but I’m open to all genres. I am also accepting new clients for consulting and coaching. Most of my clients and partnerships stem from social media and then I loop in my management team to make sure things go smoothly. I used to negotiate deals myself, but people don’t really respect that so this seems to be the most efficient way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tubitv.com/movies/100028068/bora
• Instagram: @Tiffany__Toney

Image Credits

James M. Black, Chyna McCoy & Segrin Phillips