Meet Keith Holliday

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Keith Holliday a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Keith, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

My mother. I grew up a product of a single parent. Although we lived with my grandparents at the time, I watched my mom hold down a clerk position in the Washington, DC court system. One Christmas, money was tight but as a child I was shielded from the stresses adults deal with daily. My mother took on an overnight gig cleaning up a hole in the wall fitness center. Just to make sure Christmas didn’t pass us by. On top of leading the dance ministry at church as well as ministering on select Sundays. Sharon Holliday, for 23 years, worked in the DC Court system and spearheaded their advocates program, became a director in 2 different divisions of the court. She passed away two weeks before I graduated from college but her mark was left to where theyve created an award in the court system in her honor.

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

I’m not an A-list actor, yet. Until my time comes, I grind like the next dreamer. I make sure I sharpen myself by taking classes, doing improv, and connect with other actors and do scene study. Outside of acting, I’ve taken a keen liking to the gun range. Primarily tactical ranges and shoot houses. In the event I book a role that requires firearm movements, I make sure Im introduced to the reality of it all so I can bring the role to life. My mother put me in Martial Arts at age 6 in which Martial arts has been in my life. for quite a while. I’m not instructor but I. still train on my own. I prefer it that way honestly. be it Kickboxing, Capoeira, or boxing. I’ve studied and have been taught just the same. Before I pursued a career. in acting, I played arena football for about 7 seasons. That life. was invigorating but with every hit and every season, you realize when. it’s your time, it’s time.

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?

Honestly, I would say trusting in God and prayer. Life happens to us all and when it happens, we stress about it. The beauty of it is that God will put you in the situation so you have no choice but to TRUST Him. Knowing that He’s handled it makes it that much. sweeter. My advice is simple. Be anxious for nothing but pray about. everything. Most importantly, trust that its already worked out. Not on your time, but His.

For folks who may not have read about you before, can you please tell our readers about yourself?

Absolutely. I chose this specific question so you and anybody that reads this can see that I’m not ashamed. of showing vulnerability. Currently dealing with self-doubt. I’ve always been competitive. In everything that I do. So when I audition, I expect to book. Still learning that we won’t book everything so at times I doubt my talent. I often question if I’m good enough sometimes. I will say this, it’s ok to question yourself BUT don’t you dare stay there too long. It’s a journey and there’s never been a short journey in life.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: _KeithHolliday

Image Credits

The Angry Black Girl And Her. Monster
“Atlanta” on FX
Genius: MLK/X
Rose Room