Meet Roanna Renee | Actress, Podcaster, Producer

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

Hi Roanna, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
The deepest answer to that question is: that it’s my God-given purpose. And one thing to understand about that is, there is so much freedom when you follow the course and do what’s been given to you. It’s not going to be easy, but freedom is a reward. Creativity and artistry give so much freedom just in the essence of what it is. I’ve always been a free spirit and I love the freedom my life has given me to make bold choices and move in a way that feels good to me. Sometimes it can be scary but not all the time. When a plant is given the freedom to grow, is nurtured properly and fed what it needs to thrive, it will blossom into something beautiful and continue to grow with no limits. It’s the same thing with people. Even in our lowest moments, having growing pains and obstacles, we still have the ability to adjust so we can continue the course of growth. The bigger the growth the more space you have and the more freedom you have.

As an actress and creative, I love to explore the possibilities beyond what I’ve already achieved and experienced. That in and of itself is proof that creativity is synonymous with freedom. I love to travel, explore and spend my time on things I want to do and enjoy rather than being stifled by something because I have to do it, but it’s not aligned with my purpose, agenda or desires. Granted, we all have to sometimes do things we don’t want to do, that’s life. However, imagine you step out on faith, your intuition or your gut to do something and it actually works? Oh, what a feeling!

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
This all goes back to God’s given purpose for me. I am a classically trained actress and that was a journey I never saw myself taking on. But I am proud of my journey for several reasons. One, the risk. I started pursuing a professional acting career right after I became a mother, having no real previous experience. Of course, when you tell people I’m going to leave University of Michigan on a scholarship to pursue a Theatre degree at another institution, people are like, “Oh, ok.” or “Well, that’s not an easy industry to break into, especially in Detroit.” or “How are you going to do that?” But I believed in my heart that is what I was called to do. It didn’t make a lot of ‘sense” to me either at first, but it felt right. And the first step I made towards pursuing that, doors began to fly open for me with opportunities, relationships, and an awareness of what I was actually getting myself into. It was clear I’m on the right path. The people who really know me, knew that I can do whatever it is I make up my mind to do. Those people were the only people I listened to for real anyway because it spoke more power into me, and they were there to witness my commercials coming on TV in “a place like Detroit.” When I left Detroit to move to Los Angeles, I had 6 commercials running. I still get phone calls and texts now about people seeing my commercials on the gas station screens, tv and social media. These are the things that help keep me inspired along the way.

I sacrificed a lot, so it was not easy. It was work, like anything else worth having. The grind was just that, a grind. Everyday. It still is. I am a single mother, I’ve endured toxic relationships, was broke, having to choose between paying for daycare for the week or pay my salon rent so I could continue to service my clients. I’ve had sleepless nights, long days with call times at 5am, trekking through the snow and brutal winters in Michigan. My son sometimes was a collateral damage in those moments too. I had to get him up earlier than normal and take him to daycare out in the cold so I could go perform. He had to sacrifice too. I’ve lost my voice, COMPLETELY for like 2 weeks and couldn’t perform in the touring show where I was cast in 2 roles and an understudy but still had to show up for a 7am call time.

But I wouldn’t trade my journey for the world. It has made me who I am today and proves that I truly want this. Commitment, consistency, focus and sacrifice have been the biggest learning lessons and traits I have been able to hone on this journey. I encourage anyone on a journey that is hard to keep going. The point is: there is no end to a purpose-driven journey, just stops along the way, preparing you for the next one.

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?
LA has such a plethora of things to do and eat. I love food and I enjoy trying new places in LA. Some of the best restaurants are in West LA or West Hollywood in my opinion. I think Silver Lake has some hidden gems too, so we’d visit those places for food.

I frequent places like C.O.D in WeHo for great sushi. The Classic Cat has amazing food and cute nightlife entertainment. I like The Butcher’s Daughter in Venice for weekend brunch. Members is an experience with good eclectic cultural food and vibes. SoHo Malibu is such a vibe on a nice day or evening. Geoffrey’s in Malibu is also a favorite. There are so many. I recently went to Grandmaster Recorders in Hollywood and the food was amazing!

Another one of my other favorite things is hiking in LA. But hiking can be a toss-up. No one wants to work out on vacation. Haha. Griffith Park, The Wisdom Tree, and Malibu Creek are my top favs. The each offer a different experience.

The beach is always a good idea. My favorite beaches are Bruce Beach, Malibu and Venice (for eating and shopping).

Hollywood Bowl concerts are such a great experience! If an artist of interest comes, that’s definitely on the list.
Black on the Block is a monthly marketplace for black owned business that offers live music performances, popular and up-and-coming brands, and plenty of good food. That’s a whole vibe every time.

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?
My family, friends, pastor and my former boss have been my biggest supporters and of them, my mother is at the top of that list. Not only has she set a high bar example of what perseverance, dedicated, consistency, spiritual power, purpose-driven tenacity and hard work looks like, she has been the most supportive of my dreams, aspirations and goals all my life. As an adult and now mother to my own child, I have a deeper appreciation for it because she has always been there even when its inconvenient or sacrificial for her.

My mother, Annebelle Duncan, has overcome some major life setbacks and obstacles that altered her life for a long stint of time and out of that she has built a remarkable foundation with her business and non-profit for the Deaf Community in the city of Detroit and abroad. Not only is she the only Black-owned American Sign Language (ASL) agency in Detroit, but she also runs a non-profit organization that advocates for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Blind community. Growing up as a C.O.D.A (Child of Deaf Adult), my mother has used her life experiences, her passion and immersion in deaf culture and community to drive her in her purpose and accomplishments. With government contracts, many accolades, awards and recognition from her peers and other agencies, she has accomplished so much in the last decade. I have a close look at all the work she puts into her purpose, our family and how she shows up for people in general. She is always there! Such a true gem.

With all of that, I am still at the top of her list, whether that be giving me advice, helping me with my son, financial support, prayer (ain’t nothing like a praying black mother), or just knowing she is in my corner believing in me, my dreams and offers support in any way she can. She’s my heart.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/roannarenee

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFvjJ90642wHrKoxttNpTog

Image Credits
Davide Anderson