Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Nichole Curtis.
Hi Amy Nichole, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started the way many young performers do, kid’s choir, talent shows, and church plays. I had always dreamed about being some sort of actress/singer/dancer and my family KNEW it. They were always incredibly supportive of my pursuit of it all. I began theatre classes at Westbury Christian School under some amazing teachers like Patricia Duran and fine arts administrators like Dena Swasey who became like a village for me. Those people, also being industry professionals, helped push, encourage, and shape me. They drove me to work hard at what I wanted, helped me find programs where I could further hone in my skills in theatre and film, and introduced me to professional connections. Through them, I found, auditioned for, and got into the Alley Theatre’s Conservatory. I went on to do another 2 years of training at Stages Repertory Theatre’s Young Artists Conservatory. The more training I got, the more I fell in love with the craft of acting. I was passionate about storytelling and the gift to step into someone else’s shoes in a role. I think proper exploration in acting builds you to be a person of great empathy. It’s a beautiful gift.
As high school was ending, I started to grow further curiosity for acting in film and television. In addition to the school classes and shows my senior year, I took acting for film classes at Next Level Acting Studios under Shelley Calene-Black.
I went on to get into the University of Houston School of Theatre and Dance to pursue a BFA in Acting. The training I received there was such a wealth of knowledge and craft and I’m incredibly grateful for it. While there, I dove into film more and more. I took advantage of every industry guest they brought in, taking their master classes, workshops, and being SURE to get their contact information. My sophomore year I worked on a short film called “This is Real Life” made by Comfort Abiodun which got 73K views on YouTube and was selected to be showcased at the Moving Parts film festival in Los Angeles. My junior year I worked on my first television feature film for Lifetime Movie Network called “What Happened to My Sister”. I also had the pleasure of working with one of our previous industry guest teachers Alan Rosenberg (former president of SAG) as I was working background on the Netflix show MO. By my senior year, I had auditioned for Pastorini Bosby Talent Agency here in Houston and officially signed with them for Texas Representation in acting. Since then, I have acted in commercial and industrial work for Houston Metro, USAA, Gel Blasters, 7/11 and more. Fast forwarding to this year, I’ve continued to find passion projects to be a part of like the teaser trailer for Houston local artist Different Chris’s song release of “Can’t Get Away”. This year I have also been focusing on connecting, networking, and training with casting directors (A HUGE shoutout to casting director Bella Hibbs for creating a space to do this in)! Most recently, I have also signed with the Wayne Agency under Troynae for representation in LA and I’m stoked to see where this takes me! This year has been full of networking, training, and auditioning, and I couldn’t think of a better way to spend it!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitley hasn’t been the smoothest of roads. One of the largest obstacles was that as soon as I graduated with my BFA, I went into a world that JUST began a strike! The Writers’ strike led to the Actors’ strike and soon enough the industry felt like it was at a stand still. There were very few jobs available in an already extremely competitive market. It took a long time, even after the strikes ended, for everything to get back up and running and for new projects to begin to come up again.
Another truth is that you have to be okay in the times you aren’t booked. In an industry like acting, you have to have confidence in who you are as a person first and foremost- because the reality is that rejection is just a part of the industry. So many talented people can be auditioning for ONE spot. And you have to be okay with not getting it. You can’t let it define your work, value, talent, or any part of yourself. You just keep yourself sharp and trained and have faith that the Lord will bring you through the doors you’re meant to walk through.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Houston-based actress who began in theatre and now works in film and tv. In theatre, my previous credits include “Woman with Furs” in Marisol, “Ocean Choir” in the American Reperatory Theatre tour of Ocean Filibuster, “Oliver Twist” in Oliver!, “Penny Pingleton” in Hairspray, “Ruth” in The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, “Margot” in The Diary of Anne Frank, and “Steward” in Rail Events’, The Polar Express.
As I’ve stepped into film, I’m most known for being Dr. Moore in the short film “This is Real Life” by ComfortFilms on Youtube and a being a dayplayer in Lifetime Movie Network’s “What Happened to My Sister?”. I’ve also done commercial and industrial work for Houston Metro, USAA, Gel Blasters, 7/11 and more. My most recent work is was starring in a teaser trailer shot by Hanmin Paek for Houston local artist Different Chris’s song release of “Can’t Get Away”.
I think what sets me apart is allowing myself to be a commanding presence in my work while also exuding warmth on and off screen. This is a people business, and I make it a priority to show the love of Christ to everyone in every space I enter.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I think it’s important for anyone in the acting industry or interested in it to know that you ARE NOT BEHIND! This industry is an eb and flow. There are always things shifting and changing and always other opportunities to be had. This is an industry with pretty much no age cap. Actors can be children, senior citizens, and everything in between. I’d encourage people to learn from those around you without also comparing yourself to those around you. What sets apart great actors is their individuality. When you bring yourself to a role, you can do something in the room that no one else can do!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kgmca.shorthandstories.com/amy-nicole-curtis/index.html
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyc2019/
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/dyrg5dayV-Q
