Meet Abby Holland | Performer, Creator, & Young Professional

We had the good fortune of connecting with Abby Holland and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Abby, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I think risks are an integral part of life and the creative process. In order for growth to occur, risks are necessary. A few years ago, my way of taking a risk was saying “yes and” to every professional venture and performance opportunity. My mindset was work as hard as possible, have your hand in every pot, throw everything at the wall and see what sticks. This was a very effective way for me to get my foot in the door, meet lots of incredible people, and do a lot of amazing work. However, this wasn’t as sustainable as I had initially thought. While I felt success mounting, I wasn’t experiencing the joy, stability, or financial freedom that I had assumed would come with that success. My mindset has changed a little bit with my growing understanding that I cannot pour from an empty cup. I’ve been taking a hard look at what risk management can do for my peace of mind and for my quality life. Developing a work/life balance has been an absolute game changer in the way I approach projects and commitments. I am still an enthusiastic advocate for taking risks, but I would say the risks I take now serve me on a higher level in more than just my professional life. I’ve reduced the amount of performing I’m doing which has felt like a big risk. As a result, I’ve had the time and freedom to take new risks and pursue other passions, such as conceptualizing and writing a musical with some incredible collaborators and pursuing education in horticulture and farming. The fear of risk is the fear of perceived loss, but sometimes that perceived loss can open the door to new and beautiful experiences and opportunities, both personally and professionally.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve been a working actor in Atlanta for 6 years and I truly love making art in this city. I am an actress and a singer first, most of my work falls in the musical theater spectrum and I am very proud of that. For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be in musicals. I was very lucky to have started receiving training early on and continuing to pursue my education in the arts throughout high school, college, and into adulthood. Even though I had a lot of training, I struggled with my self image my entire life. My weight has always fluctuated and I’ve struggled with disordered eating my entire life. This is hard for any person, but it was especially hard that my industry has always been very image-based. I can remember educators and peers at every stage of my life criticizing my body and the validity of my work because of my body. This is slowly starting to change but not nearly at the rate it should be. Luckily, I’ve started to realize that much of the negativity was a reflection of society and not of me personally. Now, I can more easily register the difference between good and bad advice when it comes to my work and capabilities. I credit that to the sheer amount of people I’ve worked with, you never get one opinion. However, It was a tough road to self-acceptance and self-love to know that I am not the roles I play or what others perceive me to be. Another factor in that self-acceptance is that I came out as bisexual in college after many years of denying myself of the truth. I’ve really struggled with my sense of identity over the years, however, I’ve come to know that I can be many things and those things can always change. I feel, more now than ever, at home in my identity and that has led to some incredible breakthroughs both personally and professionally. I’ve been exploring an interest in horticulture and how I can bring that to my artistic work. I am conceptualizing and co-writing a musical about queer identity and spaces with some great friends and collaborators. I’ve performed on stages I used to only dream about performing on. I’ve had the time to start training in voiceover. I’ve taken a deeper interest in the community around me, especially regarding food insecurity. I have a renewed interest in learning and creating what serves me and my community. For all of that, I’m thankful and proud of where I am today as an artist.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ooh, I love this question! I’m basing my itinerary in a perfect, Covid-free world. For breakfast, we would have to hit Folk Art and The Real Milk and Honey. For lunch, I love to sit on the patio at Brake Pad, Mezcalitos, and Carrol Street Cafe. We’re doing dinner at Argosy(especially if the back room is open), Beetlecat for oysters, or picking up some pho from So Ba and eating it in Freedom Park. In terms of going out, I have a *whole agenda*. We’re going to karaoke at the Local on Monday, Mary’s, Chairs, The Basement for a themed dance party, probably the Clermont, and any WUSSY event that I can possibly get tickets for(go see a drag show or one of their screenings at the Plaza, you will not regret it)! I absolutely love the Botanical Gardens and I used to work at the aquarium so I always think that’s a fun stop, especially Sips Under the Sea. I love to go to concerts, plays, and art galleries, too. My favorite concert venues are Terminal West and Variety Playhouse. We’d go see a play at Out Front, Actor’s Express, or the Alliance. We’d also go see what’s up at MINT, Atlanta Contemporary, and Whitespace.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have a very long list of people I cherish for their encouragement and support throughout the years. I would be remiss if I did not thank my parents for their constant love and encouragement. I’m very close to my family and that means a lot to me, especially as a queer woman and knowing so many people in my community who don’t have that kind of supportive. I also owe a lot to Freddie Ashley, the artistic director of Actor’s Express. Freddie gave me my first professional acting jobs in Atlanta and helped set me up for success. Being a plus sized woman is not an easy road in the entertainment industry and, unlike many in the field, Freddie never made me feel it was an obstacle to overcome. I’ve always felt celebrated just as I am at Actor’s Express and I am thankful for all the time I’ve spent there. Lastly, I am deeply inspired and supported by one of my best friends Jacob O’Kelley. He is a visual artist, curator working with MINT Gallery, and co-owns and independent gallery called Showerhaus. I am in awe of the many hats he wears and his ability to accomplish so much. We’ve come up together as artists, and though we exist in different mediums, he and his drive challenge me to be the best that I can be. Not to mention, the art he has introduced to me and our circle of friends has been truly enriching and I know I would not be the artist and creator I am had we never met.

Instagram: @abbyholland