We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Maye Harris. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Maye below.
Maye, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
First, thank you so much for the opportunity to share my story. The best way I have found to keep my creativity alive is to jump between different mediums of art. If I’m having writer’s block I won’t force it and keep going. I will take a break and move to something different. I’ll start painting and then when I’m ready, I will go back to writing. If I am having a hard time moving forward on a painting, I’ll read. I try to alternate between different mediums to avoid feeling stuck or uninspired. I try to constantly generate creative ideas wherever I am- I’ll jot down a phrase, concept or bit of inspiration. I also try to find inspiration in everything: the people I’m surrounded by, nature, or circumstances. A great way to funnel creativity out of the everyday experience is to take your struggles or challenges and use them to fuel your art. In addition, I find acting classes are one of the best ways to keep my creativity alive. Class is a safe space to play, experiment and learn to help cultivate your craft. Being surrounded by a community of other artists is inspiring and fosters creativity.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Maye Garner Harris and I’m an actor, painter and writer. I was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and later moved with my family to Houston, Texas where I fell in love with acting. I relocated to Los Angeles, California to pursue film acting full time. I started acting at an early age in musical theater to help come out of my shell, as I was very shy when I was little. On stage I found acting fascinating and wanted to explore it further. After taking film acting classes I realized I wanted to pursue acting as a career. So, I took the leap and moved to Los Angeles to continue my acting journey. I’ve worked on some really rewarding projects during my time in L.A. such as Robin Arenson’s “The Blue Period”, The Asylum’s “America is Sinking” and featured background work in Damien Chazelle’s “Babylon”. I’ve ventured into screenwriting and am currently writing multiple scripts I hope to one day develop. I am also a visual artist and enjoy figurative realism and oil painting. My goal is to tell stories through art that connect and bring together audiences as well as to play emotionally charged and complex characters.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
As an artist, I think the three most important qualities to practice are hard work, resilience, and empathy. Without determination and hard work, I would not have been able to carve my path as an artist and make progress. With every audition and project, I do heavy research, homework while being on time or early. I put my everything into every audition because I value every opportunity I receive and try to make the most of it. I try to remind myself to keep going after facing rejection, which is frequent in this industry. I’ve learned to trust my instincts and not be afraid of making bold choices. Nonetheless, I think empathy is the most important quality a human being can possess. Being kind and empathetic towards others is important as you never know what someone is going through. Whether it’s on set, in the audition room or just hanging with friends, I try to release my ego and judgment and be kind.
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?
There have been so many people who have helped me along the way: amazing teachers, directors and peers who have made such an impact. But my biggest support system is my wonderful family. My parents have always nurtured my love of art and encouraged my career choices. I’ve always been able to lean on them for advice in the midst of adversity. They have taught me to work hard and be committed to the craft, and to never give up. My brother is my biggest cheerleader and I am his. We have a really strong bond and lift each other up. Without the unequivocal love and support of my family I would not be who I am or where I am today and I am so grateful to have a family who have always championed my dreams.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mayeharris.com
- Instagram: @mayegharris
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10301228/
Image Credits
Kurt Boomer Photography Kayla Alise Photography Mert Alas Gucci Photographer
