Meet Madeleine Goforth | Actor & Writer

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

Hi Madeleine, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
For me, it was never an option to NOT pursue a creative career (that’s a double-negative). I was quite shy and anxious as a child, but once I discovered acting, it was like a lightbulb went off in my tiny cerebellum. Movies and stories were no longer just escapism-the scripts that built them became a playground of emotion-the good, the bad, and the ugly, all wrapped up in a plot to make viewers feel something. At my core, I am a student of human behavior, and this informs my work-copywriter by day, screenwriter and actor by night. My happy place is at the intersection of art, psychology, and mysticism. It’s also where juicy, truth-centered stories come from. For me, creativity is medicine and a way of making sense of a world that wouldn’t otherwise.

Ian Mckellen sums up the crux of the actor in two sentences: “Acting is a very personal process. It has to do with expressing your own personality and discovering the character you’re playing through your own experience-so we’re all different.” No one person will ever play the same character the same way, because everyone’s wounds, loves, and fears, are unique. It’s unpredictable, it’s beautiful, and it’s an art form that keeps on giving. It’s also unreliable-you never know when that “perfect” take might be edited out, or when you’re going to get a call-back from casting. When I start getting in my head or dealing with impostor syndrome, good ole Constantin Stanislavski grounds me with this quote: “Love the art in yourself and not yourself in the art.”

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My first taste of the stage was in my high school comedy showcase-after that, it was kismet. I fell in love with improv while I was studying psychology and clinical social work in college. Eventually, I switched gears to graduate with a B.S. in Film & Digital Media. This gives me a unique lens into the film world, searching for “the why” behind the things we humans do. I’ve been writing since I could hold a pen, and this intimately informs my approach as an actor. Every detail is backstory, motivation, and characterization.

As a screenwriter, my work often centers around psychological themes, challenging taboos, and Appalachian culture. I believe the light and dark of the human experience is best shown through visual mediums. My process is one of “centered chaos”; the best creative sparks often come at random. My senior capstone proof of concept, a religious horror, has evolved into a feature-length film script. There’s also a psychological thriller/Stockholm Syndrome short in the works. Music is a HUGE part of my writing routine-I have different playlists for different characters. As someone who lives with multiple chronic health conditions, I’d also like to explore how illness affects the psyche on screen. There are a lot of cliches out there that need to be shattered and re-told in a more authentic way.

The natural progression of my professional writing became “Blue Quill Creative”-copywriting, ethical marketing, and video script services for soulful small businesses. The healers, the makers, the artists-those are my kind of people, and it all starts with getting their message clear with their words. Every brand has its own special archetype, personality, and tone of voice-or “character”-so this work melds my two worlds seamlessly. A typical morning for me involves wiping crumbs off my keyboard, opening a hundred different research tabs, and consuming copious amounts of tea. Each day is a little bit different-sometimes it’s writing a marketing video script, sometimes it’s ensuring schedules align for a client shoot I’m producing, and here and there, I get to play in the lens and tape an audition.

As for where I am now, I’m forever grateful for the “film family” I made in college-many of whom I still work with today. You cannot create or work in a vacuum, so finding my “tribe” full of brilliant minds and mentors has been incredibly valuable. Maxwell Bentley of Bentley Media (trailblazing friend and colleague) is an excellent example of someone who has reached a level of success and continues to “pay it forward”. Sharing words of wisdom, encouragement, and making connections with those standing where you once stood is part of what sets the creative industries apart. We all help each other out!

Lessons I’ve learned-oh, there are many. The greatest lesson I’ve not only learned, but LIVED, is that stories are powerful. The stories you tell others and especially the stories that you tell yourself have the power to hurt or to heal-so you must ask yourself, “What kind of story am I telling?” Is it one that’s full of blame, sorrow, or self-criticism? Or is it one of challenges, discovery, and self-growth? I’ve learned never to underestimate the power of story not just in our culture at large, but at the individual level. Stories inspire, comfort, and help us safely digest trauma. They also offer us a medium where we can “re-write” the narratives we tell ourselves into something closer to reality. As French philosopher Albert Camus said, “Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth.”

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh this is fun! In no particular order, I’d recommend they check out the Atlanta Botanical Garden and Piedmont Park for their flowers and nature fix. Café Sunflower in Buckhead and Nan Thai are two of my favorite restaurants in the city, particularly friendly for vegans and vegetarians. Honey Bubble near Ponce City Market is the best little hole-in-the-wall spot for boba tea and matcha. As far as entertainment, look no further than the delightfully zany bunch at Whole World Improv Theatre in Midtown (Chip Powell and Emily Reily Russell, co-owners, are wonderful people). I also adore The Shakespeare Tavern-actors who can pull off Early English believably are a rare breed. The Laughing Skull Lounge is another highlight for local stand-up comedy and greasy burgers at the Vortex.

The Tabernacle is a must-visit for epic heavy metal shows-it’s the coolest venue with gorgeous stained-glass windows. Lastly, Smith’s Olde Bar is an old faithful, where my talented husband, Tyler Goforth (he doesn’t toot his singer-songwriter/musician horn enough so I will for him) has played many a show to a jam-packed crowd. Atlanta is just brimming with hidden gems and tasty bites-it’s easy to see why it appeals to people in the arts. Many who aren’t from here have told me that “southern hospitality” is a real thing, and it’s one of the many reasons I’m proud to call this city home.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a warm shoutout to Selena Anduze at CineChi Studio-accomplished actor, coach, and curandera. First my teacher, then mentor, now forever friend, Selena exemplifies what it means to live a creative life and weather the highs and lows of the entertainment world. She’s coached me through auditions where I left not only feeling more confident, but also learned something unexpected in the process. Her presence and magic is palpable, bringing an electric energy with every threshold she crosses.

A big shoutout also goes to Adam Stoner, one of my first acting instructors and a profound influence on me. Adam helped re-frame (camera pun intended) what I considered weaknesses as strengths, and to use my traits as an Empath to inform the way I approach scenes. Teacher, guide, philosopher, artist, creative renegade-there aren’t enough words to describe this beautiful soul. His grounded, humanistic approach has had a ripple effect across the Atlanta acting community that continues to grow.

It’s so hard for a bookworm to name just one book! If I had to choose, it would be Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. I love her take on soulful spirituality and mining the “strange jewels” hidden within each of us.

Website: https://imdb.me/madeleinegoforth

Instagram: @madeleine_goforth for all things acting and offbeat, @bluequillcreative for copywriting and word nerd-ery.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeleine-goforth

Image Credits
Anna Enger Ritch, High Shoals Photography, Nina Ramos, Ethell Yarbrough.