Meet Diamond Franklin

We were lucky to catch up with Diamond Franklin recently and have shared our conversation below.

Diamond, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

There have been many instances in my entertainment career that I was the only woman of color in the room. This has been common when acting and auditioning, but more notably with my work as an opera singer in the classical music world. There is a constant battle not to be categorized or made a stereotype and to prove why I belong there, yet I don’t allow that to intimidate me or make me feel self-conscious. I am very comfortable in my own skin, and it allows me to stand out in a positive way and makes me even more determined to showcase my talents despite any bias or lack of representation.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Since the age of four, I have worked as an actress and singer specializing in Opera, Jazz, RnB, and Gospel music. What’s most special about my work is the places it’s taken me and the people I’ve been fortunate enough to work with. Having trained under Jazz great, Monette Sudler, and performed with legendary artists, Andrea Bocelli and Jon Bon Jovi has been especially rewarding, as well as performing music abroad in Hong Kong for Christian youth. For many years my focus as an actress was Theatre, but I just recently transitioned to Film & Television, and it’s been most thrilling to receive my first IMDb credit this past summer. I am also really excited to be performing at the renowned Apollo Theater in NYC this spring, as well as working on three film projects also in production this upcoming spring. One is a faith-based film and the other two are horror/thriller films which is something I’ve always wanted to act in because of my family’s love for the genre.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Throughout my journey, Resilience, Self-Care, and Receptiveness have played a significant part in my success. In the entertainment industry you need to have “thick skin”. Persevering through losing out in auditions, not securing a particular acting role, and not landing a soloist position in an opera and only getting chorus work are all things I’ve experienced. I have had to be resilient through many challenges and I never allow a “no” to stop me from pursuing my goals. Self-Care has also been key because it is important to take care of yourself, be it mentally, physically or spiritually, you must always prioritize your needs. I make a point to take care of my health, get proper rest, and decompress by doing calming activities like embroidery or reading a good book because industry work can at times be exhausting. The third skill I have had to utilize is being more receptive, especially when being given direction from industry professionals such as directors and my acting coach. There needs to be a willingness to improve in your craft and take constructive criticism no matter how much it may hurt. My advice to those early in their journeys is to simply put these skills into practice because it is necessary to achieve greater success.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Partnering and collaborating with others in my music career has been something I’ve always strived for. I love performing jazz and want to make the genre more palatable for today’s youth by fusing it with more popular styles of music. I’d like to meet more eclectic musicians who would be onboard with this concept and hopefully form a band and record some original work. Any who are interested can connect with me through my social media platforms and my website: diamondfranklin.com

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Nicole Souza
Diamond Franklin
Cleo Townsend

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