Meet Carol Jefferson

We recently connected with Carol Jefferson and have shared our conversation below.

Carol , looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I truly believe when you are passionate about something you are willing to put the work in required to pursue it. A strong work ethic is an absolute must if you are going to succeed at anything in life. Being a creative definitely requires a strong work ethic.  I started out in community theatre in Northern California and fell in love with acting as I continued my legal career.  At that time, I was traveling for work and often had to fly to Southern California for hearings or client meetings followed by rehearsals in the evenings upon on my return. So, there were some long days for sure. Then I signed with an agency in the San Francisco Bay Area and began training at Beverly Hills Playhouse. So, basically I would work during the weekdays then drive to the Bay Area after work and on the weekends for auditions, shoots, and rehearsals. I spent a lot of time driving when I wasn’t working!

Since relocating to the Los Angeles, I’ve worked even harder by training more, auditioning and networking while still working as an attorney.  I was blessed to sign with a great manager who believes in me and has made it possible for me to audition for some amazing opportunities which resulted in booking roles on popular television shows.

Certainly, it’s not easy! You really have to manage your time well, establish your priorities, have healthy boundaries and an amazing support system. Also, I’m a huge believer in the power of prayer, faith and self-care. I always make sure to schedule some time for myself. It helps me be my best as an actress, an attorney and in my personal life as I pursue this amazing yet very unconventional journey!

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m a former television news reporter turned attorney and now professional actress based in Los Angeles. As a television news reporter, I covered crime, politics, features, breaking news stories, and entertainment. In my free time, I modeled for a local modeling agency and volunteered as a mentor for young girls. After covering several criminal trials, I became interested in pursuing a new career, law and continue to work as an attorney.

As an actress, I got my start in community theatre. I played the lead role of “Pecola” in the highly successful production of Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye” at Celebration Arts Theatre. It was named one of the best stage productions of the year. Since that time, I’ve had roles in several independent films and commercials, including a national commercial. Most recently, I had roles on American Horror Stories and the new popular show Poker Face.
In addition to acting, my legal career and prior work as a journalist, I’ve been active in a number of civic organizations, including the Nebraska AIDS Project, Omaha Girls Club, The Clark County Stay In School Program and the San Francisco Black Coalition on HIV & AIDS. I was a student teacher and a mock trial coach while attending law school. Also, I am a strong advocate for children in foster care and serve on the board of directors for a local nonprofit working to improve the lives of children in foster care in Los Angeles County.

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?
Passion, work ethic and confidence all play a significant role in my journey. I absolutely love acting, it’s definitely my passion. The opportunity to bring amazing stories to life that inspire, educate entertain others is such an amazing experience. But it does take a strong work ethic to pursue it and you have to put the work into develop your craft. So, when the opportunities come you are ready. Of course, you have to believe in yourself no matter what anyone says! Therefore, you have to have confidence.

Sometimes pursuing your passion is a leap of faith, but we never know unless we try. So, we should pursue dreams that set our souls on fire and make us feel alive. I believe that’s what life is really about. It’s about being passionate about your personal journey and how you decide to live it. Rather than simply living life on “auto-pilot.” Then commit to pursuing it.  As an actor, it’s about developing your craft by training, taking workshops, reading plays and signing with a reputable agent or manager. Most importantly, you must believe it is possible.

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?
It’s difficult to narrow it down to one single person. So many people have been a part of my journey and without them I would not be where I am today. However, I would definitely say the late Ed Claudio, Director of the Actor’s Workshop in Sacramento had a significant impact on my journey! Ed gave me the opportunity to learn, grow and my first chance to perform on stage. He had such a colorful personality and a huge heart. I’m so grateful for the opportunity he gave me to perform and fall in love with the craft!

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