Meet Ginger Renee | Actor

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

Hi Ginger, is there something you believe many others might not?
We’ve all heard the importance of hard work: “Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds,” but I believe in working smart rather than working hard – there just isn’t enough time in the day.

Our brains are wired to seek patterns. You may get results purely by chance or after thousands of hours of training or being efficient; regardless, the patterns you create through your actions trains your brain to expect Y to happen if X occurs. I used to map out hard-work inspired plans A, B, C, etc. to achieve Y, but my life has proven to be almost random with no guarantees.

So I’ve learned to stop planning or overextending myself, and start living – choosing the paths I’ll enjoy the most (which of course still have a high probability of success). How can you plan for a chance meeting with a producer at a coffee shop who refers you to a talent agency, or writing an award-winning short story based on a random anecdote you heard? Less working means more time to rest and recharge. Rest is often overlooked, but I like to remember the proverb, “Come to me…and I will give you rest.” Yes please.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
In a field like acting, sometimes I wonder if the biggest obstacle is you? Acting is this blackhole you throw yourself into, often with little to no feedback, dusted by the self-reliance required to persevere. As Lily Gladstone said, “It’s so easy to…close ourselves off, to stop feeling, and we all bravely keep feeling.” Having a safe place in this industry to feel and channel experiences into a character is everything.

While I know my purpose and why I’m an actress, the feeling I get from being on set keeps me motivated. Last week I starred in a new series where the set cast and crew made it feel like summer camp – giving instant feelings of joy, collaboration, and creativity – it left me in pure joy for days! And while set camaraderie is quotidian, it’s my growth mindset that sets me apart. It drives me to consistently gather feedback from directors, agents, strangers, friends, etc., and incorporate that feedback into my craft. For me, acting is about how you make the audience feel and I trust the perceptions of those around me.

My agent friend from L.A. always used to tell me, “Ginger, all it takes is one yes. Just one.” Which is so true; it doesn’t matter what 99 people think if the 100th is your biggest champion and makes the difference. The same goes for feedback, you never know what kernel of knowledge you may receive that takes your craft to the next level.

Currently, I’m pitching a comedy series with my production team and this May I start filming my latest short script here in Atlanta. Watch this space…

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love this question! There are so many hidden gems around the city.

Coffee and Pastries==> The Daily, The Buttery ATL, Southern Sweets Bakery (try the apple pie! They also have vegan options), Little Tart Bakeshop

Food==> Miller Union (its farm-to-table yum), O-Ku, Flower Child, Chattahoochee Food Works

Venturing About==> Inman Park, Piedmont Park, Botanical Gardens (their annual scarecrow contest is a yes), Beltline walk from Ponce to Krog Market, thrifting in Five Points or any Goodwill, Solidcore, High Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, and Spaceman has great sunset views

Hiking==> Red Top Mountain, Stone Mountain, Orange Mountain (and Dahlonega – so cute)

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First, thank you to Voyage for creating this inspiring community of artists and entrepreneurs!

I just celebrated my birthday – Pisces represent – which was an amazing reminder of how important community is. I’m so grateful for mine and how they continue to show up and encourage me on a regular basis. So, this shoutout is dedicated to my friends @yes_msgeeter, @nicolemarie12188, @michelleflanaganhere, @graceannetrombly, and @rebekahtadros who celebrate me for the little things and keep me going through the ups and downs.

Instagram: instagram.com/msgingerrenee/

Other: imdb.me/gingerrenee

Image Credits
@gregory_philips @joefunkphoto