Meet Crystal Coates

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

Hi Crystal , thank you for joining us today and sharing your experiences and acquired wisdom with us. Burnout is a huge topic these days and so we’d love to kick things off by discussing your thoughts on overcoming or avoiding burnout

As an actress, entrepreneur, and Mom of three, I beat burnout by doing my best to stick to a schedule and planning out my week ahead of time. I set specific times for work and family, making sure I get quality time with my children. Knowing when to stop working is key, so I set clear boundaries to keep a healthy work-life balance. Sometimes it doesn’t go as planned but that okay. I also make sure to get enough rest, eat healthy (when I can) to stay on top of my overall health. We all know life be life’n—just do your best and don’t stress!

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My name is Crystal Coates, a 37-year-old, born and raised in Virginia. I have boy-girl twins who are nine and a recent high school graduate heading off to college this fall. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always dreamed of becoming an actress or on TV of some sort. My very first acting gig was at the age seven for an Oscar Meyer Wiener commercial. I didn’t make the commercial, but I did make it into the local newspaper, which was really exciting! That experience from start to finish was when I knew I wanted to be in the entertainment industry.

Acting is my passion, and I love being intentional with the roles I play bringing my characters to life in a way that makes the audience feel seen and heard. The most exciting part for me is fully embodying my characters and living their experiences, making everything feel real and authentic.

I’m also a digital marketer, digital marketing has been a game-changer for me, helping to support my acting career by monetizing my skills and talents. It’s also enabled me to teach others how to use digital strategies to make money online around the clock while chasing their own dreams. In 2024, mastering the digital world is essential for success, and tapping into its potential is a MUST to fueling your passions and achieving your financial goals.

I also founded the Actors Society DMV in September 2023. It’s a community where actors, writers, directors, and producers can come together to share experiences, give advice and show the DMV who they are. I’m building this community to help the DMV come together and support each other. I host Talent Talk Tuesdays and Thursdays on IG LIVE, where I chat with local talent who showcase their work, talk about what they do, and share events happening in the area. This has been a great platform to spotlight talent in the DMV and collaborate with amazing, likeminded people.

Last, I host a monthly Actors Workshop in the DMV area. It’s the perfect chance to network, meet new people, and have a great time while we work on our craft. Our next workshop is on August 17th from 12:30-2:30 pm—check out the details on our Instagram page, @actorssocietydmv. Come join us and be part of our dope community! It’s always a good time!

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

Looking back, three qualities that were most impactful in my journey are persistence, networking, and authenticity.

Persistence kept me going, even when things got tough. I used to get so upset when I would have setbacks, but setbacks are just part of the process, and builds character. I kept pushing forward, focused on my goals, and I’m never going to give up.

Networking has been huge for me. Building genuine connections and relationships with people in my community has opened doors I never expected. I do my best to be proactive in reaching out, attending events, and always willing to learn from others. I will forever be a student.

Authenticity is key. Being true to myself, knowing who I am and my vision helps me stand out. I’m not afraid to show up as I am and the women I am growing into. My unique perspective and story is my strength, so I embrace it, I own it and let it shine. Don’t be afraid to tell your story, be relatable and real.

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

In the past 12 months, my biggest area of growth has been in building my relationship with God along with building and nurturing the Actors Society DMV community. It’s more than just bringing people together; it’s about watching the magic of collaboration happen and seeing opportunities come to life. Seeing our community grow and support each other has been incredibly rewarding and has shown me the true value of leadership, connection, and teamwork. It’s been an amazing journey, and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish next as we continue to grow and creating together.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @_ceeclass_
• Facebook: _ceeclass_
• Youtube: Cee The Actress
• Other: TikTok- @CeeTheActress