Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michelle Campbell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Michelle, so glad you were able to set aside some time for us today. We’ve always admired not just your journey and success, but also the seemingly high levels of self-discipline that you seem to have mastered and so maybe we can start by chatting about how you developed it or where it comes from?
My self-discipline was most likely shaped by my years as a competitive swimmer! I swam competitively for 10 years before suffering an injury during my senior in year high school that kept me from joining the swim team at FSU. (Thankfully this injury led to me pursuing acting!) Swimming was the rich soil that allowed my relentless drive to push myself as an athlete, human being and artist to take root. It set me up to know how to take my deep love for storytelling seriously and to go after it with all I had. Acting isn’t just something I do—it’s deeply part of who I am. And when I knew what I wanted to do with my life, I ran toward it with all my heart.
During my middle school years, I trained rigorously. I was on one of the best swim teams in the state of Florida. Swim meets held a lot of weight as the competition was fierce – and at times it seemed like our coaches were out for blood! (They were so intense) I remember this quote in our locker room: “Pain is just weakness leaving the body.” My teammates were like lightning in the water and they worked their butts off day in and day out to be as strong and as fast as they were. They were my role models and I pushed myself to work toward their level. It was probably the hardest I’ve ever worked physically— pushing through exhaustion, training for hours on end—but it taught me what it means to be dedicated. After school, I trained every day for 3 hours. Before we began our workouts in the pool, we trained in the gym or on the field, first — alternating days where we lifted weights and did sprinting and endless core exercises. I was in the best shape of my life! As tough as this experience was, I endured – and it ingrained in me the ability to push past discomfort and commit fully to doing my best, and that mindset has absolutely fueled my acting career and my drive to keep going.
I also learned a valuable lesson during this time: that it can’t be ALL sweat, tears and hard work — it’s important to enjoy the process of “becoming” and have fun. To savor the experience of the process, of being “in progress” as I’m reaching towards a worthwhile goal (and even while I’m not there yet).
The entertainment industry demands resilience and a career doesn’t happen overnight so you have to have stamina — and allowing yourself to enjoy the journey along the way is vital! I’ve also learned that showing up consistently, even when things feel dire or uncertain, is paramount. I can’t always rely on motivation—I have to rely on my commitment, and just do it. (Insert Nike checkmark!) Through the ups and downs on my winding-road-trajectory in Entertainment — I’ve come to learn that the joy of the journey and how you “become” — is the actually the best part. Because when you meet your goal, another set point or bar almost immediately appears. Boom! And it’s back to the grind.
Thankfully, my relationship with self discipline has changed over the years to be more supportive of myself and my journey. I think largely due to how tough my swim coaches were when I was just a kid (and I probably internalized their voices) — injecting kindness into my practice of self discipline has actually been something hard won. And for that work — I am very proud of myself. Yes, there’s merit and value in putting your head down and doing the hard work but… there’s equal amounts — in giving yourself grace, enjoying the journey and celebrating your wins, too— however small. I’ve had a bit of complicated relationship with self discipline and decades after my time as a swimmer, I now understand that you need to be kind to yourself while you work hard at your goals. You have to let the joy in. In a way, romanticize your life— make it fun along the way.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Hi! I’m Michelle and I’m an Actor, Writer, and Audition / Acting Coach based in Los Angeles. Through Matt and Michelle Coaching, I help actors of all ages— though I primarily work with young actors! —sharpen their craft, build confidence, and book roles in Film/TV and Voiceover. My approach goes beyond just technique—I’m passionate about emotional connection, presence, and helping actors tap into their most authentic selves.
In my acting career, I’ve had the privilege of working on acclaimed productions such as Yellowstone, The Cleaning Lady, Modern Family, Better Call Saul, and S.W.A.T, to name a few. These experiences have deepened my understanding of the industry, which I bring into my coaching to provide practical insights for my clients.
Outside of scriptwriting, as a writer, I create custom scenes for my coaching clients—whether it’s for class, performance tapes or material for Voice Over demos / samples. I know how important it is for actors to have material that showcases their strengths, and I love crafting pieces that allow them to shine. Over the years, Matt and I have noticed a lot of the same struggles popping up for actors in auditions—common mistakes, tricky habits, and areas where they get stuck. So, we designed all of our class curriculums to tackle these challenges head-on. Our classes are built to help actors break through those roadblocks while also drawing from our combined 40 years of experience as working actors. The goal? To give our students real-world, practical training that actually helps them book the job and grow deeply as actors. We offer several different courses: Scene Study, Emotional Access, On-Camera Technique, Branding & Voiceover. After getting to know the client, we can also develop targeted classes specifically for them.
Beyond coaching, I’m actively auditioning for exciting opportunities in Film/TV and Voiceover. I recently returned as a new character in Derelict, an incredible sci-fi narrative podcast where I was also given the opportunity to Voice Direct! I’m also developing my own short film in the sci-fi horror category — which I’ve written, will act in and as well as direct. I am currently in the fundraising stage and hope to get this project made very soon! My acting goals are bigger than ever, and I’m committed to stepping into the next level of my career this year! You might say there’s a lot on my plate, but that’s how I like it! Haha!
At the heart of everything I do—whether it’s Acting, Coaching, Writing, or Directing—is the belief that storytelling has the power to connect us, challenge us, and change lives. For any young actors / actors – looking for support, guidance, and a real game plan for success, Matt and Michelle Coaching is here for you! You can learn more at MattandMichelleCoaching.com.
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 had the biggest impact on my journey as an actor and coach were Resilience, Emotional Depth, and Adaptability.
1) Resilience: This industry is full of rejection, uncertainty, and long stretches where it feels like nothing is happening. Early on, I had to learn how to keep going, even when things weren’t unfolding the way I hoped. It took me 12 years to book my first TV role with dialogue—that’s a long time to stay in the game without external validation! What got me through was a deep belief in myself, even when the industry wasn’t reflecting that back to me. I also solidified my inability to give up (please refer to previous passage about self discipline!)
My advice: Develop your resilience by focusing on the work, not the immediate results. Keep training, keep showing up, keep networking and surrounding yourself with people who uplift you. Also, find ways to refill your cup outside of acting—whether it’s writing, volunteering or a creative hobby—so that your entire sense of self-worth doesn’t hinge on booking a role. It’s better if said hobby can’t really be monetized!
2) Emotional Depth & Awareness: Acting isn’t about “performing” emotions—it’s about truly feeling them and allowing yourself to be seen. A huge shift happened for me when I started embracing emotional honesty rather than trying to “get it right.” (I’m looking at you Perfectionists!) As a coach, I see this all the time—actors afraid to feel, so they “show” instead of “embody.”When I help them break through that, their work transforms.
My advice: I believe that one of thee very best things you can do for your craft (and your life) is to develop emotional awareness. Therapy, journaling, mindfulness, and deep scene work can all help you access parts of yourself that make your performances more grounded, truthful, and layered. When you fully allow yourself to really feel, it will translate into your work and the audience will feel it too.
3) Adaptability: The industry is constantly changing—self-tapes have taken over (YAY!), AI is shaking up Voiceover (Yikes), let alone the entire industry…. and opportunities are popping up in places we never expected. One of the biggest reasons I’ve been able to keep working is that I’ve stayed open to new opportunities. When I moved to New Mexico, I had no idea it would be the key to booking some of my most exciting roles (Yellowstone, The Cleaning Lady, Better Call Saul). I also expanded into coaching, voice acting, writing, and directing—all of which have kept me creatively fulfilled and financially stable.
My advice: Be willing to evolve! Explore different avenues of the industry, build multiple skillsets (voiceover, writing, stand-up, producing, being an assistant, etc), and stay curious and creative about where your talents can take you. The more adaptable you are, the more doors will open.
At the end of the day, this industry totally rewards those who keep going, stay open, and do the work. Might I also add, those who push boundaries!! I’m saying this to parts of myself and for all of those who are afraid to take action, take up space and be your whole worthy authentic selves in the public eye! I think this new year and new timeline we are stretching into is going to require us to strip down a lot of extra gunk we’re holding on to — and we’re going to really need to be and show who we really are — in order to play the game. That means a lot of reconfiguring for a lot of folks. Bold innovation is on the rise… so my advice is to go boldly, to be YOU boldly. Creatively, find a way in. Find a way to platform yourself, to make what you’re good at serviceable to others in a good way. We’re all finding our footing with how quickly things are evolving and it’s an exciting time to discover how to take up space and be of service.
Lastly, I believe that if you focus on growing your craft, trusting yourself, and staying adaptable, the opportunities will come. You should also work on expanding your network so the right people can find you. And of course, this happens best when you’re being authentically you!
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I’m always excited to collaborate with like-minded people who are passionate about storytelling, creativity, and building something meaningful!!
Right now, I’m looking to connect with:
Actors – At Matt and Michelle Coaching, we love working with actors of all ages—though we specialize in helping young actors shine in Film/TV/Voiceover. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to take your auditions to the next level, we create a fun, supportive space to help you build confidence, sharpen your skills, and grow. We’d love to work with you! Please contact us through MattandMichelleCoaching.com or hello@mattandmichellecoaching.com
Investors for my short film “Harvest Room” – A project close to my heart, “Harvest Room” is a sci-fi horror short film set in a bleak future where four military intelligence officers find themselves trapped in an inescapable situation. The narrative delves into themes of survival, trust, and the human psyche under extreme conditions. As the writer, director, producer, and one of the actors, I’m deeply passionate about bringing this provocative thriller to life. We’re currently seeking collaborators and investors who are enthusiastic about compelling storytelling and innovative filmmaking. If you’re interested in partnering with us on “Harvest Room,” please reach out to birdfeetfilms@gmail.com or connect with me on Instagram at @michelleacampbell. Let’s create something extraordinary together!
Investors for our future restaurant – Matt and I have been dreaming up an incredible nostalgic-style restaurant for years, developing recipes and refining the concept to make it truly special. As former restaurant servers—we’ve put in the time! I personally worked in 16 restaurants over 16 years (some for 5 or 6 years, and some… just one day! Ha!). We know this industry inside and out, and we’re excited to bring a fresh, well-crafted dining experience to life. If you’re passionate about great food, amazing hospitality, and investing in something unique, we’d love to connect!
If any of this speaks to you, I’d love to chat! You can connect with me through heymichellecampbell@gmail.com or find me on Instagram at @michelleacampbell. Let’s make something amazing together!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.michellecampbell.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelleacampbell/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hey-michelle-campbell/
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1256169/
https://www.mattandmichellecoaching.com/voiceoverwithmichelle
https://www.mattandmichellecoaching.com
Image Credits
1. Matt Kallish
2. Jackson Davis
3. Matthew Menalo and myself with our client Hattie Hoskins – see her guest starring in NCIS: Origins!
4. Matthew Menalo and myself with our client Jacob Laval – see him as the lead in the upcoming feature Unbreakable Boy!
5, Matt and Michelle Coaching Logo
6. Doing ADR in New Orleans for Better Call Saul!
7. In my self tape set up at home
8. The “Harvest Room” poster
9. A recent self tape audition snapshot
10. A trailer selfie from the set of S,W.A.T.
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