Meet Leslie Nicole Ivery | Actor, Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Leslie Nicole Ivery and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leslie Nicole, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk has always had a fear-based connotation. The potential losses in risk-taking may seem more daunting than making ordinary decisions. But risk in an inevitable aspect of the creative industry, and if I chose to navigate every risky moment from a place of fear, it would only make an already-challenging career even more so. Instead, I look to risk as moments of opportunity. Opportunities of failure? Sure. Opportunities of growth? Just as likely.

Taking risks feel most necessary when I’m ready for a new challenge. If my career feels too stagnant or my motivation wanes, then it’s time to take a plunge. More often than not, it’s nerve-wracking process, but it has helped me retain my creative inspiration, further my knowledge, reaffirm my professional and personal identities, and possibly most helpful of all–learning to navigate my life and career by not operating from a place of fear, and instead by trust.

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.
Of course it wasn’t easy! It still isn’t. In fact, I think it’s gotten more difficult and I have good feeling that it’ll only be more difficult from here on out! But that’s the beauty of being an artist. Those difficulties build character (literally and figuratively, if you’re an actor or writer).

I’d like to share my biggest lesson. The power in being confident and secure in yourself, and how integral this is as an artist from an underrepresented community.

This is a weird industry. In a nutshell, it’s paying strangers to tell YOU who you are or should be. Or at it’s worst, it’s strangers telling you who you cannot or aren’t good enough to be. It boggles my mind, really, but these are standard procedures and we are expected to conform. Sure.

But here is where these “standard procedures” err: unconscious biases. When the gatekeepers of your profession want to define who you are and what you offer, are they doing so fairly? In my experience, no. We all carry bias, but for minorities, BIPOC, and other underserved communities, that often means the amount of closed doors and opportunities are higher. It’s an uphill battle, but one that can be won as long as you’re not questioning yourself at every turn.

Invest your time knowing your self-worth and make it non-negotiable. Is it worth your time, effort, sacrifices, well-being, etc.? If the answer is no, walk away knowing that you’re not operating from a place of desperation, but trust–trusting that another opportunity will arise.

Know who you are, so when others question if you’re enough, you can confidently have a conversation about it and not accept all feedback as status quo.

There are so many decisions, conversations, and projects that will you challenge you. Welcome them and enter into them knowing what you bring to the table. Do so with strength, knowing that we as artists and minorities are partners and equal in every way.

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?
Eat at Banh Mi 135 – My favorite spot with the best Banh Mi sandwiches I’ve had to date Tour Spelman College, my Mom’s alma mater
Hiking at Arabia Mountain to catch the sunset
Drinks at Gaja Korean Bar for my two favorites, Soju and Makgeolli
Brunch at Bomb Biscuit Co.
Illuminarium After Dark for some immersive views
Supper and drag show at Lips
Picnic at Piedmont Park

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
When I was five, I saw my first Broadway show, “The Lion King.” I only remember bits and pieces, but what I have heard is a moment my parents often remind me of: after the show concluded, I turned to them and said, “That’s it! I’m moving to New York to be an actor!” The novelty of the situation isn’t that yet another person had dreams of living in NYC being an actor. That’s old news, right? The special part is that ever since my (apparently) very dramatic and very grand declaration, not once have my parents ever stopped doing everything in their power to support that dream. They are the epitomes of tenacity, unwavering in their support, mentorship, and encouragement.

There are moments imprinted on my mind, meeting the parents of young aspiring artists, who ridiculed their child’s creative dream. They are bittersweet moments, as I regret not standing up for that child who wasn’t present or perhaps too uncomfortable to do so, yet I am also immensely grateful knowing that the negativity I heard never existed my parents’ vocabulary. It is something I try my hardest never to take for granted.

Website: www.LeslieNicoleIvery.com

Instagram: @LeslieNicoleIvery

Image Credits
Allison Joyce, Kynder Bonilla