Today we’d like to introduce you to Charitee Higgins.
Hi Charitee, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be an actress and be involved in the arts. I had always seen myself as a creative but excelled in academics. Because of this, I ended up pouring more of myself into my studies and neglecting that side of me that yearned to create.
I grew up a dancer from the age of 4. As an introvert, being on the stage, using my body to communicate–that’s where I felt the most comfortable.
I dipped my toes into the acting realm for the first time when I was still in grade school. A group of scholars were chosen from around the country and flown to D.C. where we were given the opportunity to not only witness the 2008 inauguration of President Barack Obama but select a project that we would present to all of the parents and program administrators at the end of our trip. I selected drama. We wrote, directed, and starred in our own rendition of The Wizard of Oz, and although I did not go home and immediately sign to an agency and move away to Hollywood, it stuck with me. But the introvert in me was very hesitant to get on board.
As I mentioned, majority of my focus was on academics and it wasn’t until I was in my final year of my bachelor’s program that I made a promise to myself to pursue acting seriously upon graduation. I moved back to Dallas and after sitting in on numerous classes and asking questions to anyone that was willing to help, I found my acting coach–Theresa Bell of TBell Actors Studio. After training with her for only a few months, I landed my first ever role in a commercial for the Texas Rangers. And with that, the rest is history. I have had the pleasure of working on various sets both in front of and behind the camera, and I would not change a single thing about my journey so far!
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?
I am fairly new to this industry, as I only truly began pursuing acting in the fall of 2018. That being said, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown in early 2020, I think I struggled tremendously with deciding whether or not to continue on this journey at the rate at which I was going. At this point, I was still trying to maintain a full-time job, acting classes, and auditioning and booking in between. The lockdown forced me to re-evaluate what I deemed important and truly put me in a position of choosing to stay complacent or jump out on this ledge and see where I fell.
Although at the time I chose to remain complacent, eventually it wasn’t enough. So, in the beginning of 2021, I decided it was time for me to trust in myself and I quit my full-time job so that I could be more flexible to accept acting roles. It has not been the easiest of transitions, but I love the freedom it gives me to create and accept opportunities that I would not have the ability to even consider before.
I feel like everyone can relate to imposter syndrome, but especially so when you’re in your 20s, surrounded by people who are asking what your next steps are, or seeking guidance. It’s like, I hardly feel like I’ve had any time to figure it out for myself really, but to some, where I am is where they are striving to be. It can get kind of cloudy but I always try to take time to refocus and recenter my thoughts and intentions.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I love to bring characters to life and breathe authenticity into the words that writers meticulously place on paper. Drama-centered movies and television are what I have been pulled towards so far, but I’d truly love to work in as many genres as I can. I believe what sets me apart is how the empathy I have with the characters I am blessed to portray mirrors how I am in my real life. I am most proud of how far I have come and I look forward to maintaining this trajectory as I progress and grow.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I touched on this a bit earlier, but I was extremely into academics. I am also a bit of an introvert so making friends was a skill I had to learn how to do. I always loved dance and cheer as a kid, and as I got older, I grew a love for volleyball as well. I did not think of myself as a quiet kid but rather a content one–if I needed to speak or work in a group I would, but I was also completely okay being and working on my own.
Contact Info:
- Email: chariteechiggins@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chariteechristina/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chariteehigginsactress
- Other: https://youtu.be/dF2hO3QWMEI
