Meet Adjovi Koene

We were lucky to catch up with Adjovi Koene recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Adjovi , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I’m pretty sure my purpose found me! I was born in Togo, West Africa, and later move to the U.S. with my family. Adapting to American culture and excelling in education were priorities for my parents. However, my passion for acting emerged in the most unexpected way. I still remember when my mother took my sister and me to a double feature of The Lion King and Angels in the Outfield. There was a scene where Danny Glover and Joseph Gordon-Levitt shared a heartfelt moment, and as the camera lingered on Joseph, something stirred within me. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that was the moment I fell in love with acting. While learning English and adjusting to a new life in the U.S. were our immediate focuses, that spark stayed with me.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am an actor, writer, and innovator. My journey began as a young girl falling in love with acting, and I feel fortunate enough to pursue it successfully. Today, I’m also focused on exploring other creative facets of the entertainment industry to build a lasting career.

What excites me most about my work is relating to people. Whether through acting, writing, or business, my goal is to show how deeply connected we all are.

Currently, I’m recording an audiobook, developing writing projects, and celebrating the completion of a short film executive produced by Issa Rae. Beyond my work in entertainment, I’m also preparing to launch a company—10 years in the making—that exists outside of the entertainment industry.

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

Determination, Preparation, Opportunity.
Coming from Togo, and adjusting to life in the U.S. required me to relearn everything. I didn’t know what acting was, but it found me—and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It became a problem I was determined to solve. I joined my school’s drama program, participated in an American Girl fashion show as Addy, and read every book on acting I could find at the local library.

I attended acting camps during the summer, took classes at the Harvard Extension School, and eventually majored in communications to stay connected to the entertainment world. I seized every opportunity to perform, honed my craft, and secured agents—opening doors to professional film sets and new opportunities.

Take a moment to breathe and recognize everything you’ve accomplished—the work you’ve poured into yourself and your projects. Continue to make space for it and value it, because, at the end of the day, you deserve everything.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

Patience, although I think that’s my Chiron— a lifelong lesson. Moving to Los Angeles during the COVID-19 pandemic and amid the industry strike required a lot of waiting as the industry rebuilds. However, this time also helped me realize how the industry is as much a business as it is an art form. It made me create a business plan for my career.

This period also allowed me to dive deeper into my other interests like writing, producing, and creating video content around things I genuinely enjoy: cooking, field hockey, archery, and astrology. It’s so important to find life outside your career, it only enriches it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @filmsandchampagne
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AdjoviKoene

Image Credits

1st Photo: The Wayward Artist Theatre – 2021. Adjovi Koene & Patrick Vest in The Nether @The Wayward Artist Theatre.

Photos 2-7: 2024. Adjovi Koene images by Sianoa Smit-McPhee. Makeup by Kassandra Castle.