Draper Wynston shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Draper , we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
This year has been the year of releases for me. So I am excited to get back in front of the camera to make some new films. I had two highly anticipated films to premiere and screen this year. “The Beautiful Struggle” and “Bid for Love 2”. I am really proud of both projects . I am excited about them both. To see myself grow as an actor is also a very rewarding experience. Also did my first Summer Festival Tour in 3 Cities. It was so much fun to back hosting and emceeing, moving the crowds, and having an amazing time.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Draper Wynston — an actor, director, producer, and acting coach. At the heart of everything I do is storytelling. I believe acting isn’t just about reciting lines; it’s about breathing life into a character so the audience feels every emotion as if it were their own. My brand is built on authenticity, professionalism, and dedication — I show up fully, whether I’m on set, behind the camera, or coaching the next generation of actors.
What makes my journey unique is that I’m not afraid of the grind. I study, train, and pour everything into the craft because I want every role to feel real and unforgettable. Beyond my own performances, I’m passionate about creating opportunities for others, building spaces where creatives can grow and thrive together.
Right now, I’m working on projects that stretch me both as an actor and filmmaker, pushing me to explore new sides of my artistry. My vision is to inspire, entertain, and leave a legacy that shows what’s possible when talent, discipline, and passion come together.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
The people who saw me clearly before I could see myself were my mentors and a few close loved ones who recognized my potential long before I truly believed it. There were teachers, directors, and even family who looked at me and said, “You’re meant for this,” when I was still trying to figure out who I was. They saw the fire, the discipline, and the heart I had for storytelling before I fully understood how to channel it.
Their belief gave me courage on the days when doubt tried to take over. It reminded me that sometimes others can see the greatness in you that you’re not ready to claim yet. And in many ways, that outside vision pushed me to grow into the artist I am today.
To get specific, one of the first people that recognized my talents were a Director from the Denton Black Film Festival. The movie was called “The Assignment” by Director Michael Grayson. even he saw my talent. It was one of the first films, that I was the lead in. I even tried an accent, lol. Then I had the opportunity to work with Terri J Vaughn during a stage play and she saw more talent in my abilities as an leading man actor. I am just really and truly grateful for all of the directors and producers who have blessed me with an opportunity. I am truly grateful for them all.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
This is such an interesting and vulnerable question. I am love to answer this because of I feel I am a beacon of inspiration. The fear was myself. Its so easy to hold yourself back, cause you can have moments of feeling selfish, or unworthy. Alot of times we can feel we are not good enough for moments. Those times, can be large. When success happens, we don’t live in the success. Struggle should not be romanticized, it should be used as a tool. A stepping stone, a building block. I feel too many times we feel you have to struggle to win. Instead, we must align, be intentional, strategic, and consistent, things will begin to run so much smoother. That is what needs to be romanticized, consistency. Thats what I am leaning and living into this year. So that my fear wont hold me back, cause I have systems in place.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
One belief that I used to hold on tight to, was struggle and hard work. They are both needed, but how you perceive it is what I have changed. There is a saying. “Being Poor is hard, Not achieving your dreams is hard……Achieving your dreams is hard, Being rich is Hard…CHOOSE YOUR HARD”. I could allow many people to project their fears onto me, I had to change that I can achieve, what I want to achieve, I can architech my life and achievements. I chose my own Hard. Regardless of what others had to say. To some, my visions are lofty, large. For me, that is fine. They are my visions. So the belief I had to let go, was listening to people based upon their life & visions. Not mine. Take the advice, apply what you feel is necessary and push forward.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m fully immersed in the work — either on set, on stage, or even in rehearsal — when everything else fades away and it’s just me, the character, and the story. There’s a stillness that comes with that focus, almost like the world slows down and I can breathe differently.
I also find peace in the preparation — those quiet moments of study, breaking down a script, or reflecting on a character’s truth. It’s in those spaces that I’m reminded why I love this craft: because storytelling not only connects me to others, it also grounds me within myself.
Work is rest for me, cause I am doing something I love. When I am working and building, I am fulfilled. Having a support system in place really helps. Doing what you love is really peaceful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.draperwynston.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamdwynston/?hl=en
- Twitter: https://x.com/iamdwynston
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dwynston
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamdwynston
Image Credits
Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images
Photo by Maury Phillips/Getty Images
