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

Hi Madison, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
For me to know whether I should give up or keep going is solely based on how much of myself I put into said thing. I didn’t stick 100% to my initial passion. But, I gave it blood, sweat, tears, and all. I realized through triumphs and trials that my passion lied elsewhere, and I moved on. (And the funny thing is, my past passions have circled back to me, just with different terms). But if I never threw myself in with everything I had at that time, I would have never known when it was time to move on. And I guarantee calling it an early defeat would’ve given me some regret. As simplistic as this sounds, you’ll never know unless you try. And I believe that means 100% effort 100% of the time, until that passion doesn’t serve you any longer. We are constantly evolving, and we are going to shift gears every now and then. We have to be able to shed our skin and keep pushing forward. I believe as we keep maturing in our artistry and through life, we’ll only get closer to ourselves. And with that, hopefully when we reach a cross roads we’ll be able to trust our gut to propel us into the next adventure.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
We are all so uniquely different as artists and I believe that our actions speak louder than our words. As an artist I hold myself to a certain standard. One of professionalism, kindness, and offering as much of my truest self as I possibly can. I have a strategy, I work very hard, I do my research, and I have specific goals set for myself that continue to grow with time. While my focus is clear, I am always still allowing. Allowing the natural flow and surprises of life to come my way, keeping myself open and available to “new.” Never staying comfortable nor complacent. It’s very nice to feel like we have control, but I’ve found that the moments that have made the most impact were completely OUT of my control. There’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes, but allowing the universe to take control from there is key. While I’ve had some great milestones career wise this year, I’ve also been nourishing my soul by traveling to new places around the world. I encourage you to open your mind to all the ways we can ignite our own unique artistry flame. I have plenty of dreams in and out of the industry, and I firmly believe we can make it all happen. I am an artist, and my life will be my creation through and through.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
I spend a majority of time researching places to eat. So, a perfect day would look like: First stop: Brunch (surprise, surprise…) The Local Peasant in Sherman Oaks has a stupid good brunch & bloody mary bar if you’re into that. Afternoon: Drive up PCH for some gorgeous views, stop at Malibu seafood for some delicious and fresh fish! Then head to Zuma beach for a more relaxed beaching experience. Dinner: Salsa & Beer. Huge portions. Margarita pitchers. Super friendly staff. Nuff said. Spots to explore: Sunset Junction (that’s Silverlake, right? I’m still confused after 6 years) Awesome stores to thrift in. Cool bars like The Thirsty Crow. Insanely delicious Thai food at Night + Market. Downtown for The Last Bookstore and Perch for a nice rooftop hang. Night views: Drive your car up to Mulholland Drive. Plenty of pull outs to park your car and look at the glistening city below you. Hikes: Fryman Canyon. Take a turn about halfway up and explore Tree People. Awesome hidden stage area back in there where they do performances during the summer. Any and all live theatre! It’s happening ALL THE TIME, EVERYWHERE. Improv/comedy shows at UCB, Groundlings, The Comedy Store, Hollywood Improv, the list goes on!

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?
I’d love to first shout out 2 of my teacher/mentor/friends that have impacted me greatly as an artist and made this all feel like home: Benjamin Mathes at Crash Acting and Helena Walsh overseas in Dublin, Ireland. All of my family at Crash for the most solid foundation a young artist could ever ask for. I’m not an avid reader, but something that has resonated with me immensely for grounding and stillness is Thich Nhat Hanh (he has plenty of books, but I’d start with The Mircale of Mindfulness!) Ah…the list of people is grand. Co workers, distant family, old friends, strangers, regulars at work…anyone who has given even an ounce of support in my direction is never taken lightly. And I will always aim to give that in return. I’m a major softy, so bear with me, but these humans deserve it all…,my partner Aaron, who is an incredible writer/human and motivates me with his tenacity and dedication. My family for their laughter and wisdom, my sister Brittany for…literally everything, and my friends, who have seen it all and have never left my side. I wouldn’t be where I am without any of you. Thank you for pushing me and coloring my world!

Website: http://madisonleigh.me/
Instagram: @madileighbee

Image Credits
Alix Rae Photography Leah Huebner LeAnn Oliver