Meet Tina Alexis Allen | Actor, Writer, Producer, Author & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tina Alexis Allen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tina Alexis, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Mind set. That is one thing as an actor, you do have power over. Where I put my focus changes everything. And specifically, I commit to lead with gratitude. Recently, someone asked me about my experience working as a regular – playing “Shurn” – on the television series Outsiders (Sony TV). They asked me if I ever had any “bad days” being on the show. I said, “no, not one.”. And looking back I realized that it is because every single day I was grateful. Every single shot I lead with gratitude. No actor blessed enough to be working regularly at the thing you love, should ever have a bad day on set. Challenges, yes. Bad, no. It’s all mind set.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I come from a big story. A complicated childhood that includes abuse. Once I gave myself permission at around 30 to become an actor, it was the beginning of telling my story both directly and indirectly through characters. My solo shows were produced on both coasts. One playing my 12 siblings (Irresistible) and the other (Secrets of a Holy Father) playing my father. I wrote a recent memoir, Hiding Out (HarperCollins) to tell another piece of my story. So much of my self generated work began because I had this fire inside that needed to be set free. I believe every character I have the honor of portraying holds a piece of myself that needs to breathe, to be awakened. I use dreamwork in my acting and writing process in order to get as organic as possible inside of the character. Great dreamwork teachers, Sandra Seacat and Kim Gillingham have been my guiding lights in that methodology. In terms of lessons learned, it took me awhile to get it that acting is giving. It’s self-less, It’s service oriented despite the fact that the instrument of the the actor is themselves. The place to stand that allows me the most freedom is asking how this story, this character, will serve the audience, It’s remarkable how much fun and less scary this business is when you truly embrace that your job is only to serve.

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?
The Hollywood Bowl is a perfect night out in LA, grooving under the stars. Malibu beaches where you might catch the sea lions sun bathing, Maxfields for the coolest clothes in Hollywood, Abbot Kinney for people watching and plenty of good coffee hangouts, and I adore the Self-Realization Center in Pacific Palisades for some quiet, meditation 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?
There are so many mentors, teachers, friends and lovers who have supported my dreams. Really, this whole article could be about them. Susan Batson, acclaimed acting coach, is my first acting teacher and still my coach. Tracy Goss and Jim Fugitte are my transformational mentors that continually remind me “there is no way things should be.” And my love, Gina Raphaela, who supports my every move and is also, my partner in Gina Raphaela Jewelry, our socially conscious jewelry brand

Website: http://imdb.me/TinaAlexisAllen
Instagram: @tinaalexisallen
Linkedin: tinaalexisallen
Twitter: tinaalexisallen
Facebook: Tina Alexis Allen
Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KSsTAiKCD9E
Other: ginaraphaelajewelry.com