Meet Tamiyka White | Actor, Writer, Director and Producer

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

Hi Tamiyka, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I chose to pursue an creative career because once I introduced to the arts and that I loved being creative as a way to express myself and that it really made it me happy whenever I had the chance, I knew that I didn’t want to do anything else. I loved performing. And even though I had come to the realization at the age of 7 years that I wanted to be an actor, that awareness of myself at such an early age stayed with me. I was very determined to make that dream a reality and I’ve been in pursuit. Of course, I hadn’t a clue how long it was going to take nor what all it was going to require. But, as I got older and worked other jobs and paid very close attention to how I wasn’t really good at those other jobs. And it was very clear to me that I wasn’t very good at those other jobs and I hadn’t any plans to stick around to see if I’d get better because it was that the only journey I want to be was the journey of being a creative because it was the only interest I genuinely I had and was truly passionate about as it was becoming quite apparent to me that it was my calling and purpose to pursue in life.

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.
My art is being an actor. I love that part of being storytelling. I love being able to examine the human condition by having the opportunity of portraying other human beings. I like the psychology of human beings and being an actor allows me to delve into those areas of roles. And I think that’s what sets me a part from others is my ability to be willing to take risks And while choosing to go down the road of being an actor is a long one and could be considered a not so easy one, I wouldn’t change anything in my choice of deciding to take myself on this journey. And I’m very proud of myself for choosing to take on a very difficult industry. I’ve come a very long way from my humble and very naive beginnings as an actor. I didn’t know anything starting out. I went through hard times, made a lot of mistakes as I’ve been on this pursuit of building a body of work as an actor. I’ve questioned so many times if I should even continue pursuing the opportunities to work as consistently as possible as an actor whether it was on stage or on the screen in film, or television. But, every time I would consider wanting to stop pursuing this dream, the Universe, my gut feeling, a small group of trusted friends wouldn’t allow me to stop. I love being an actor and acting way too much! And that would be the lessons I would learn about myself every single time and continues to stay to me. So now I worry a lot less if I have what it takes to be a good working actor. Or, if I’m talented. The self doubt, negative talk, comparison of myself to others has lessened a great deal. I’m very proud of that. And what I’ve discovered at this point on my journey is how tenacious I am. I don’t give up and how I’m my biggest cheerleader. I’m fighter and I believe in myself. That’s where my brand. That’s my story. And I’m very excited about not showing only the world what I can but showing myself what I can do.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My BFF and I are going to some very fun spots for sure!

We’re going to The Grove. We’ll take in a movie and have some lunch. While driving around in between from spot to spot, our version of ‘Carpool Karaoke’ will be bumping in the car. And that’s on the first day of him visiting. The rest of the week, day activities would range from window shopping. eating out, going to Culver City, Melrose, We’d go to our favorite bookstore in Studio City, Bookstar. Sometime for night activities, we’d take in an improv show at either UCB, or The Groundlings. We’d see a ;play. We’d go shopping. Go out to eat some more. We’d go to Inglewood, Leimert Park and/or Baldwin HWeills and check out whatever festivals, or events, happening during his stay. We’d’ go to The Last Bookstore in Downtown Los Angeles. We’d go to Griffith Park and check out the planetorium. We’d go to the beach if the whether permits. We’d go to Burbank to go grocery shopping because one of those nights we’d stay in so I can cook and we’d watch something on Netflix. It’d just be a fun time because that’s just what my BFF and I do.

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?
Of course there is so many people to shout out. But the person I always want to shoutout is my mother. I believe she deserves the credit in my origin story of how I even become interested in the arts in the first place. My mother, Willie Rae James, was a creative individual. She was dancer. She was very stylish. She introduced me to my love of language by teaching me to read and write before I attended kindergarten. Music all of kinds from jazz to folk to opera, country and R and B was very much the soundtrack of my childhood. Family fashion and talent shows were very much encouraged growing up. She took me to my very first audition when I was in the 5th grade from an an ad she saw in our local neighborhood Penny Saver. I wouldn’t know how to pronounce the late Ntozake Shange’s name if it wasn’t for my mother. She took me and older brother and sister to the cinemas, art exhibits, outdoor cultural festivals and museums constantly. My mother is rooted in my DNA not only biologically but creatively. I wouldn’t have this love affair of the arts and creativity if it wasn’t before my mother who is the reason as why I keep going on this journey and walking in my purpose as an actor and storyteller because I just want to make her proud and show in my own way that all of her efforts weren’t in vain. I do all this for her and I miss her every single day.

Website: https://demoreel.com/tamiyka-white

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

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Twitter: https://x.com/tamiyka

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tamiyka.white/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC428R99CmF08rZerN6zL7Uw