Olivia Taylor

I started acting in local community theatre when I was in middle school, mainly because my family had just moved to New Mexico from Florida (big jump for me), and I wanted to make friends. I also was a pretty shy kid, and I was guided to theatre as a way to break out of my shell a little. It definitely helped boost my confidence and create a little community.

Honestly, I really wanted to meet Tom Hiddleston when I was younger. 12-year-old me had a major crush on him, and I figured that pursuing an acting career might be my only way of getting close to him. Now that I’m not twelve, I’m definitely inspired by actors who came from really tough circumstances and slowly built their career out of what they had --- Demi Moore comes to mind, who is actually from New Mexico, too.

I think everything I’ve had the fortune to book since signing with my agent in Albuquerque has been so surreal. Coming from a shy kid who used to push myself to audition for school plays, I had no idea that I’d ever have the chance to make a living out of it. It’s been such a blessing to have worked on several platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Lifetime, and The CW, and to be a tiny part of the unique atmospheres on each set. A lot of content is surprisingly filmed in New Mexico, and I’m just super happy to be here right now.

I’m someone who gets starstruck on set. Kristin Davis was very kind. I had a little scene in a film with her last December, in which I was directed to interview very unsuccessfully to be her nanny. It was all improv and I hadn’t shared with her what I was going to say in the scene (but I was going to try and make it as funny as I could). I ended up making her laugh on camera when she probably wasn’t supposed to, and she told me, “You tricked me!” That was pretty awesome.

I’ve always wanted to play the main character in a comedy. I feel like I’m pretty silly in real life, and I try not to take myself too seriously. A lot of the leading ladies I see on screen are a little too perfect and beautiful and graceful to be relatable to me --- I think it would be really fun to turn that archetype on its head.

Hope, maybe? I think a lot of actors have to constantly grapple with the amount of time and discipline it takes to build a career in acting (or any creative art, really). There are absolutely times when I’m booking nothing, with nothing to do but sit and overthink and look over my shoulder at what other people are doing. But I have to remember to be patient

Hmmm. I think everyone is faced with their own challenges getting noticed in this job, and it can take a while. I would say I’m thankful to have been pretty adaptive to the demands of the industry. I’ve definitely pushed myself to try new things, even if they might make me look silly (like, I do every singing audition I get. I can’t sing at all). I like making people laugh, so I try to bring that part of me into my performances, too.

PATIENCE. Most of my time has been spent in the “in-between” of waiting for a new acting opportunity. It can be an ongoing struggle, but I think it’s really important to make peace with the fact that acting is just a job in the end, and it doesn’t have to consume your thoughts in an unhealthy way. I’ve been pursuing a Theatre degree while working in film the last few years, so that’s been a helpful outlet to put my energy somewhere important.

Sometimes. In my experience, it can be hard to first set yourself up on the right path and find an identity in your local industry (I’ve only barely begun my career myself). I used to take every offer given to me when I was getting started, no matter how overloaded I got or how stressful or unrewarding it was. Over time I’ve had to learn to say no to opportunities that were too time-consuming, too emotionally demanding, etc. for my own health. It’s okay to say no!

For me, the internet has been a double-edged sword: on one hand, it’s been a helpful tool to find auditions, get connected with industry professionals, build up a portfolio, and find really valuable resources within seconds. It’s provided a great way to communicate overall, too. On the other hand, social media and other platforms can sometimes provide an overload of conflicting messages that can be pretty discouraging (you’re not doing enough, or you’re doing too much, or you’ll never be as talented as this yoga influencer, blah blah blah). I try to limit my intake and remember that we all take unique paths in life, and there’s not one single correct avenue to follow with acting.

I would definitely question the exclusivity and mysticism of the industry. I think it can be really difficult to “break in” for someone who doesn’t have money or connections or guidance. For me, I didn’t know what to expect when I started doing film locally, and it was a little scary to figure that out alone as a teenager. I still am so thankful my agent took that first chance on me! In a similar way, it’s great to see people in the industry taking much needed steps to diversity and inclusivity. A career in the arts should absolutely be accessible to anyone who dreams to make it happen, and no one should have to feel alone on that journey.

My mom has been really emotionally supportive to me in my acting and life in general, which I’m extremely grateful for. Sometimes my anxiety gets to me about my future and whether I’m making the most of my time. When this happens, she reminds me that I’m putting in all the work I can possibly do with my resources, and to just let the rest go. That’s been the most comforting thing to hear, especially in a job that’s so unpredictable by nature.

A couple things that finished filming before the shutdown --- I worked briefly on a thriller called Deadly Illusions a year ago, which should be released to a major streaming service early this year, so I’m excited for that! I also wrapped on a local short film last February called The Holy Word, which won the 2019 New Mexico Girls Make Movies Screenwriting Competition. I believe that’ll be submitted to some upcoming film festivals this year. I’ve been working on more comedic roles lately, which are my favorite.

This has been a monumentally difficult year for everyone, so I’m just thankful for what I have and to be in good health. This May I’m excited to be graduating from college (virtually!) and living fully on my own for the first time. Planning on moving out to LA at some point, too. I’m gearing up for 2021 to hopefully be better than this last year for all of us, and hopefully the murder hornets won’t be making a return either.

Carrier pigeon. Just kidding, I’m on Facebook and Instagram (@oli.viataylor). I try to keep my sites updated with my projects, and hopefully there will be more news to come soon!