Meet De’Marcus Monroe | Actor

We had the good fortune of connecting with De’Marcus Monroe and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi De’Marcus, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Gabrielle Union talks about how she went from being a mean girl, to really rooting for people she says, “Okay, now, how did your life change? Did you get the guy? Did you get the job? Is your house any bigger? Did money just magically get put in your pocket? What positive [event] happened in your life after you just tore that woman down?” From the second I heard this, I knew this was that mindset I wanted to have in my life. Sometimes, in the world of acting you can get consumed with the politics and gossip of it all and it can descend down a dark path if you’re not careful. There was one point in my life where it was really hard for me to sit back and watch other people succeed. I envied them, and sometimes because of that I would allow that emotion to control my life and I would do and say things that were not supportive. However, after hearing this interview and specifically this story, I knew that what I was doing was only going to continue to hurt me and the future I wanted for myself. What was I gaining by continuing to shut someone else down? Nothing. Nothing, at all. I was just continuing to darken my own soul and so from that moment I wanted to do better, I DID do better and I allowed myself to be genuinely happy for people and the success they were gaining and in the back of my head I continued to think to myself, “Your time is coming!” and through this thinking I found myself just being a lot happier for not only myself, but for the things that God was doing in the lives of the people I love and care about.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I always knew I meant to be in the performing arts. Even though I didn’t know what “theatre” was, as a kid I was always trying to make someone laugh or smile just to have a better day. It set me apart from the other kids I grew up with and with time I learned to use it to my advantage. Looking in the mirror as a chubby black gay boy I always knew I would never “fit in” and I didn’t want to. I never wanted to be put into one kind of box. It’s one of the things I thank my amazing parents for installing in me. They always told me that I was a very adaptable person. That I could pretty much make friends with anyone from all walks of life and to always keep that trait. To this day, I pride myself on bringing that same energy to any character I play. I always want to be seen as as actor that is more than one type, someone who can play a street thug on one day and then come in the next day and be a full on drag queen. I think it has become easier and easier for me to make that switch into different characters because I already do it on my day to day life. One day I may want to throw on jeans and a t-shirt and look really masculine, and the next day I may want to serve you a LOOK and pop on some eyeshadow. You never know what you may get from me and I try to pull that part of De’Marcus into every character I play. Today, I am proud of where I am and my continued growth in the industry. However, “EASY” was never a word I would associate with my journey. From my experience, being a black, plus size actor already puts you at the bottom of the totem pole for a lot of casting directors. You instantly get put into this box, just based of how you look and so it sometimes gets frustrating that you have to fight 10 times as hard and be 10 times as good just to get half of what some others get. You have to prove yourself a lot of the times and that is honestly what keeps me going. I constantly think to myself, “Oh…you thought I couldn’t do this? Let me show you…” I love proving the people who doubted or didn’t believe in my wrong. For a long time, that is what kept me going. I would constantly push myself because I wanted to prove so many people wrong. Now, as an adult and after getting to to know myself all over again, I do it for me. I have to. I want to push myself to be the best I can be so I will know at all times, I gave it my all. I pushed myself, not for people, but FOR ME and I have learned that this mindset makes getting to the top of that mountain of success so much sweeter.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would not be the person, actor, or even friend I am today without the support and guidance from my middle and high school theatre directors, Betty Walpert and Heather Davidson. When I first got to Davidson Fine Arts, I had no idea where my path would lead me. I was a talkative student and was never afraid to be silly, so Mrs. Heather Davidson thought drama might be a good place for me. The day I signed up to take my first Drama 1 class, my life and path was forever changed. I finally felt like I belonged somewhere. I remember the first day of class we had to say our name and an adjective that described us and then do a funny movement. On top of that, you had to remember everyone’s name and movement before you, it was my first time playing a “theatre game”. Honestly, I felt ridiculous, but I also felt free. It was like I had finally found a missing puzzle piece that I didn’t even know I lost. These two women continued to push me and force me to grow and they never were afraid to be honest with me. This industry is so hard, and when I told my teachers I wanted to continue to pursue theatre outside of High School they both sat me down and we weighed the pros and cons of my choice and never once did they make me feel like this idea of becoming a professional actor was a farfetched dream. Mrs. Heather Davidson and Mrs. Betty Walpert opened my eyes to an entire world I never knew existed and it is through them that I have become the actor I am today.

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Other: Email: demarcus.monroe94@gmail.com

Image Credits
Ira Carmichael Taj Stephens Tori Taylor