Meet Adeline Ward

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

Hi Adeline, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I believe in healthy risk taking. I think that deciding to take a risk in one’s life or career is a personal choice. Though, for me, it’s one that’s served me very well. While I have skinned my knees (physically and figuratively) too many times to count, the payoff for taking risks has always been greater. Every time we take a risk, we have a new reference point to counter the fear that says, “I can’t do this”. Learning to navigate through this fear has been an
invaluable tool for me because it allowed me to confront my worst case scenarios. For artists, I think it’s almost essential to take risks because it’s all trial and error. That’s the beauty of creativity: it’s a messy adventure. In the end, there is an inherent risk in not taking the risk anyway. So, you may as well go for it!

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.
I’ve always loved storytelling. When I was a kid, I had very vivid dreams; people and places I had never seen before. While I found it fascinating, I bored my family to death with all the details. So, my mum bought me a journal and encouraged me to write them all down. Never would I have thought that writing would lead me to receiving a Scholarship and University Degree, let alone a 12-year career as a published professional.

I feel proud of the accomplishments in my career and how diverse I’ve become as a writer. Though, I think I’m more proud of the moments that I’ve witnessed my stories impact readers. That’s what I fell in love with; helping to create a positive experience for others through storytelling. I think it’s this same love that led me to pursue a career as an actor. I struggled with debilitating anxiety for most of my life. So, when I was younger, I think I accepted that performing wasn’t in the cards for me. Though, while at University, I discovered my passion for downhill longboarding. It forced me to come out of my shell and challenge my anxiety. I learned that it was possible to feel safe going 40 miles an hour downhill on a skateboard. It changed my relationship with fear completely. Beyond that, I became aware of the impact a welcoming, supportive community can have. I became less and less embarrassed to fall while learning new tricks because I felt so encouraged from the skaters in my social circle. Further, many of them reinforced the importance of physical safety for me; protective gear, seeking quiet or closed roads, skating with others, and knowing your limits. I felt safe to fail and learn. I think that gave me the confidence to pursue acting more seriously, and seek community in the arts too. I felt the same way working on <i>Twalette</i> with my indie film community in New Mexico. It was my first leading role like this, and I felt so safe to play and try things because just about everyone involved were all my friends. It’s so freeing when you’re surrounded by the right people.
As a writer, no one sees your first draft. As an actor, it’s much more public. So, at some point, I think I learned to accept that failing in front of others was part of the process, and to just enjoy the messiness of learning. I feel proud of how far I’ve come with that. It’s definitely not been an easy journey, but I feel like my North Star always has been my passion for what I love and my commitment to personal development. Being willing to face my fears and challenge my belief systems has always put me back on track at times when I’ve felt lost. It’s not an easy thing to do for anyone. Though, I do believe that we are capable of more than we realize.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m an extravert, so I love going out. I would probably start the day with brunch in Weho or Fairfax. Grabbing drinks at Lala Land Cafe is a must – Great matcha spot. If it’s sunny, I’d take us to one of the local the farmers markets to shop. I love supporting the small businesses and artists there. My bestie and I have been talking about going sky diving together for a while. Knowing us, if we didn’t do this, we’d probably find something equally as adventurous or active to do! Skating along Venice Beach is a cool experience, and the skatepark there is fun too (when it’s not too crowded). The Santa Monica Pier is another great option for sunsets. I like watching the sun set from the Ferris Wheel over the water. My bestie and I both love Disneyland. So, you better believe we’re making the drive down to Anaheim for that too. We can fit that all into one day, right?

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’m so blessed for the support that I’ve had throughout my life and career; my family, close friendships, teachers, mentors. I would list them all if I could! In saying that, I do have a few shoutouts. First, I have to shout out to Mademoiselle Nonles and RLYLILY. Your friendship and support has given me my wings and so much more. Shoutout to my friend and mentor James Liakos. Your guidance has meant the world to me. Also, shoutout to Larissa Miller for your belief and support to pursue the vision in my heart. I wouldn’t have had the opportunities that I have today if it weren’t for the strong women in my family paving the way for me to have better opportunities. So, I absolutely have to shout out to my mum and gran.
One of the biggest gifts to enter my life has been Downhill Longboarding. It has helped to shape who I am and pushed me beyond limits that I didn’t know were possible for me. I will always be grateful to my skate family from home, the Sydney Downhill Longboarding Community, as well as Longboard Girls Crew for fearlessly supporting gender equality in the sport. Throughout my adventures, I also came across many other downhill communities around the World that welcomed me with open arms. To them, I will always be grateful.

Website: www.adelineward.com

Instagram: @itsadelineward

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/helloadelineward

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helloadelineward 

Image Credits
Chris John, Rick Saa, William Bledsoe