Meet Mataya Britton

We were lucky to catch up with Mataya Britton recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mataya, so great to have you with us and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with the community. So, let’s jump into something that stops so many people from going after their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. We’d love to hear about how you dealt with that and persisted on your path.

I’ve had my share of naysayers throughout the years. It may sound strange, but I actually like it when people tell me I can’t do something. I first noticed how it impacts me in a positive way when I was a kid. In elementary school, I struggled with math, and when my peers found out, they weaponized it. They’d tell me I wasn’t smart enough to ever be good at math. I’m a naturally competitive person, so I took it upon myself to study extra hard and went through many hours of tutoring. It was hard work, and it wasn’t really my idea of a good time, but soon enough I was excelling in math. I was able to prove to people that I wasn’t dumb, and in the process, I learned to kind of enjoy math. Since then, I’ve always looked at failure or naysayers as a chance to prove myself. As an actor now, I’m incredibly grateful for this outlook. When I first started to tell people I was pursuing an associates degree in acting, most of the reactions were positive ones. Among the support, there were some that appeared positive, but I could tell there was an underlying thought process of “sure, good luck with that.” I knew that there were people who wanted to support me but didn’t fully believe in me. And so, the challenge began. I still catch myself giving into the haters now and then, and that’s just being human. The important thing is that I can catch myself and take a negative, use it as motivation, and turn it into a positive to help me keep building towards my goals as an artist and in life.

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

I classify myself as an artist overall, but an actor first and foremost. I tell stories for a living and hopefully help to positively impact the people who see my art. I think it’s very easy to forget our humanity nowadays and I like to think film and theater invoke emotions that remind us what it is to be human. I think that’s my main drive for pursuing this career–I want to have an impact on people’s lives. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to be booked and busy since graduating from drama school this past May. From student films, to short films, to a new undisclosed mini TV series! I’m very excited to see where this path takes me.

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

I’ve learned so much on my journey so far. Looking back there are three major skills and lessons I’ve learned along the way that I continue to use everyday. A skill that impacted my journey was to learn to enjoy the every moment and to not put so much pressure on myself— I’m right where I need to be in this exact moment in time. My second skill I found to be beneficial is to be kind to yourself— your art comes from within you and you’ll create beautiful things if you view yourself in a beautiful light. Finally, I learned to listen— acting is about reacting to what’s being given in those exact circumstances— so embrace it! Listen to your scene partner, yourself and the world around you. Along with those three elements I live by now, I would tell someone just starting their creative journey to be a sponge. A lot of things are going to be thrown at you, try and absorb it all to your best ability. Absorb the world around you— how does someone sit on the train to work? Can you feel someone’s energy based off of how they interact with their environment? How does this specific sunrise make you feel. Absorb it all because not only will it help your art, but you’ll find yourself truly living in the now.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

I try to remind myself that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed, for a start. I think being overwhelmed is a sign that you care about the things going on around you, which is a great thing, but it is important to learn how to manage it before you get burnt out. First thing I do when I start to feel overwhelmed is to acknowledge it, since I believe every emotion is a necessary part of being human. Then I try to find some time to do the things that bring me joy outside of my career. I love acting, but it’s so important to have hobbies and not let it fully consume you. I take care of three main things. First, my body: yoga, a walk, sleep, water and going to the gym have always made me and my body feel recharged and ready to take on anything. Next, my mind: meditation, reading a book, or watching a show that gets me thinking, helps me redirect my thoughts to something restful yet still productive. And finally, my heart: other things in my life that fuel me are singing, song writing, guitar, drawing, and quality time with my friends and family. I don’t always have the time to pause and check in with myself, but I know it’s important to make time, even if it’s only one hour of the day, and even if I can only cover one of my bases.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @matayabritton

Image Credits

Paul Smith Photography