Meet Adilah Barnes

 

We recently connected with Adilah Barnes and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Adilah, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

Actually, from a child I loved school, learning and was often praised for my intelligence, leadership qualities and ability to rise above seeming obstacles. My experiences of being admired and respected, in part, shaped my confidence in myself, my character and grit.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I wear many hats:

ACTOR
Award-winning stage actor and a TV, film, commercial and voice-over actor. One of my most proud endeavors as a stage actor has been creating my solo show, “I Am That I Am: Woman, Black” that has toured 40 states, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean and touched many souls, spirits and lives around the globe along the way.

Two of my most meaningful films I have acted in have been ERIN BROCKOVICH (big screen) and LITTLE JOHN (made-for-tv movie)

PRODUCER
Co-Founder of the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival now in our 31st year and the oldest solo Festival for women in Los Angeles. I am most proud that we have produced close to 700 solo artists from around the globe including those from the continents of North America, South America, Africa, Asia, Europe and Australia.

EDUCATOR
Acting teacher, instructor and coach of students from those in elementary school in kindergarten to seniors and from beginners in class to celebrities on set. I am also a writing instructor. I am proud of those who have gone on to have successful careers in the industry and those who have used acting and writing as a vehicle to empower themselves personally. Some of my clients have included such well-known actors/vocalists as Kym Whitley, Freda Payne, Florence LaRue,Toni Braxton, Benjamin Bratt and many others.

WRITER
My first love from middle school was writing on the newspaper staff and having my own column to write short short stories to becoming an award-winning Essence Magazine author of On My Own Terms:One Actor’s Journey. I have also written poetry.

DIRECTOR
i have directed four solo shows over the years that included works by two award-winning celebrities, Freda Payne and Florence LaRue.

ENTREPRENEUR
Founder of The Writer’s Well, an international writer’s retreat for women in Georgia hosting writers from as far away as Ghana and Puerto Rico and throughout the United States and represent many genres of writing.

AWARDS
I have received numerous awards over the years including being named One of the Most Influential UC Santa Cruz Alumni in 2000, Lifetime Achievement Award in Minneapolis, The Spirit of Peace Award, Women in Theatre Red Carpet Award, The Black Theatre Network’s Winona Lee Fletcher Award, Inner City Award, Dangerman Award, and many others!

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?

There are many but three that come to mind are 1) a curiosity to learn 2) to recognize and use our God-given gifts and 3) to constantly aim to be a better person.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

I believe we all have strengths and areas we can develop. I have spoken of some of my strengths. I also know I can be better than I am by allowing myself to be surrounded by those who know more than me to learn from. I can also continue to take as good care of myself as I do of others! 🙂

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