Meet Erica Mae McNeal | Actor and Model

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erica Mae McNeal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erica Mae, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
This is a great question! I would say that the balance between just life and my career has definitely changed- especially since graduating from college. While I was still in school it was easier to balance my social life, because I saw my friends all the time in class and at work. But since graduating and booking roles more consistently, it has been harder to find times to “just be”, you know? My friends and I all have really busy schedules so finding a time to “just be” is harder than we thought! But on the other hand, I am very lucky that it’s hard for me to find time, it means I’m getting closer to my dreams!

I like to think about the balance as a see-saw, it’s almost never balanced and that’s what makes it fun! I love not knowing what auditions I might have tomorrow or what I might even book tomorrow. At one end I have less time to focus on “just be-ing” and more time to focus on my career and stepping on my stepping stones, and on the other end, I have more time to focus on being a 22 year old, and hanging out with the people I love.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an actor and a model, I dabble around in writing and directing, but acting and modelling, definitely has my heart. I guess thinking back, I always knew I was going to be a performer. My sisters and I would always put on these little shows/dance routines for our parents and even during soccer practice I would do little skits and things to pass the time, thinking back, it’s very embarrassing!

I didn’t really realise I wanted to be a performer/artist until my mom and I went to go watch The Lion King at the Denver Center for Performing Arts, amazing production by the way! Sitting in that chair and seeing people who looked like me made me realise that I could definitely do what they do. That you didn’t need to look a certain way to be on stage.
It was like something switched in me, I started to really act out scenarios for my sisters, like, “this is what I would do if a zombie was running after me” silly things like that. In seventh grade, the drama teacher from the High School came to our Middle School drama class with some of the cast members from that years musical, Shrek, and they were talking to us about the theatre program at the High School and all the things they do. I was so inspired, it felt like celebrities were talking to us!
Keep in mind, I was a super shy kid, so when High School came around, I felt like I had no one to hang out with and that I was going to be alone for the rest of High School, but then my mom and older sister told me to sign up for drama and that was when the gears really started to go! I was almost in everything the theatre and choir did. Either backstage or front and center, it felt like that was where I was meant to be. I felt so comfortable on the stage and just felt like this was my purpose you know?
Junior year comes around, and I auditioned for my college (and got in!) and that was when I knew I made the right choice. Two weeks after graduating High School, my family and I packed up my things and headed to Los Angeles to start school, and the rest is history!

With modelling, well I just kinda fell into that. My friends kept telling me that I should model, I agreed with them jokingly like “yeah right, sure” but more and more people kept telling me to give it a try. So I started to take our little at home photoshoots more seriously and really exploring the world of modelling. I posted every shoot on instagram, not really expecting anything, but my agent dm’ed me on instagram, and is just an amazing person so I signed with her!

Modelling gives me the same feeling as acting, you can pretend to be this whole new version of you or some other person for a few hours and really feel out what life would be like if this happened, if I did that or looked like this etc. I find both very therapeutic in a way. Makes you step out of yourself for a brief moment and lets you forget your worries. And the people you work with all come from different walks of life and it’s just an amazing experience every time I’m at a shoot, or in rehearsal or on set, because you get to meet so many cool and amazing humans!
Acting and modelling are also just super fun!!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ooo! If my best friend came to visit Los Angeles I would definitely take them to Perch. It is such an amazing experience when I go there. The drinks and food are delicious and the staff is super kind! It’s also a roof top bar/restaurant in downtown so you know you are getting the best views of the city. I would also take them to Two Hands Corndogs, because that is my favourite snack spot! My friends and I go there all the time, you have to try to Kimchi Fries- so good! Obviously I would take them to Malibu. The beaches in Malibu are stunning, and usually super quiet which is always great! I would also take them to LACMA and The Getty because I basically live there, so they have to go. The pieces in those museums are amazing and never fail to amaze me. The Monet section is my favourite.

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?
Oh man! So many people deserve credit for helping me get to where I am. But I really want to recognise my family, my friends and just my loved ones! They have pushed me and supported me in so many ways. They encourage me to go for the things I never see myself in, and encourage me to continue being the best I can be and leaving it all out on the stage.

They’ve helped me through hard times, more times than I can count. Being an artist can be really difficult at times, you’re constantly putting your all out there, and when you are turned away, it can be really discouraging. But having such an amazing support group, like I do, can really help! They’re the people in my life I want by my side for everything, they deserve the world and mean so much to me.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_ericaamae_/

Image Credits
Tommy Flanagan. Rocky Chang. BlackBox Production. Eduardo Arias. Julian Diaz. Nathan San Filippo