Interviews With Professionals! - Kaitlin Conner - Actress and Singer!

Welcome! I’m running a new series here on my blog Interviews With Professionals! where I’m specifically focusing on those in the acting industry! We have a great guest list lined up, so be sure to check back often for new interviews!

Today’s special guest is Kaitlin Conner, a very talented actress and singer! I recently had the opportunity to virtually meet Kaitlin, and she’s an absolute joy to visit with. She’s faith-filled, passionate, inspiring, and a very hard-working individual. So it’s my great honor to interview her today!

So without further ado, let’s begin the interview!

Tell us your name and how long you’ve been acting!

Hello! My name is Kaitlin Conner and I have been acting since I was 17 years old.

What’s your story? What inspired you to end up in the exciting career of acting?

I grew up in the small town of Fitzgerald, Georgia, with my wonderful parents and sister. I had wanted to be an artist up until I was around 8 years old, but thank God I sat down and watched the life-changing musical movie Hairspray (2007), directed by the phenomenal Adam Shankman because it was such a game changer for me. I had no business drawing anything for anyone, so I just became a different kind of artist!

My love of acting comes from a place of pure love. You can turn someone’s whole day around just by telling a good story and that is such a powerful thing. It saves people’s lives by giving them an escape. Entertainment gives us a safe place to go when the world gets heavy. I just want to help people and maybe bring them just a little piece of happiness and this is the best way I know how.

We have other actors and voice actors who subscribe to this blog. What piece of advice would you give to someone just starting out in these careers?

A piece of advice I could give for those just starting out would be: submit for everything! Even things that you feel you are not right for, you never know! The person seeing it might refer you to a friend of theirs and then yay! You have another job and another connection! Also, just do the best you can and try not to let the no’s get you down, someone will always say yes! I know because someone said yes to little ole me. I promise there will always be opportunities.

Would you ever be interested in the voice acting industry?

I have always wanted to break into voice acting. I want to be a part of a Disney/Pixar show or movie someday! So here’s to me manifesting that! Anything like Sofia the First, Sing or Zootopia would be a dream. Those were such sweet and beautiful pieces of work.

The audience is interested in learning about the education path of various actors. Did you go to school for acting or did you study something else? If something else, what did you study and did you find it useful as an actor? Do you think it’s required for an actor to have a degree in this field in order to purse it as a career, or is it possible to self teach?

First off, I will say that college is such a personal choice. I am fully aware that it is not for everyone, nor is it plausible for everyone to go. Please do what you feel is right for you! I made the choice to go because I felt that I needed the experience. I was starting at the very beginning and I needed all the help I could get. So, I packed up and went to Piedmont College (now University) and really, it just gave me the confidence that I needed to pursue this professionally. Those four years taught me so much about being sure in my choices and just to bet on myself every time, because if you bet on you, someone else will too. I promise!

But again, college is up to you! There are so many wonderful people and resources available online, that are willing to teach you the same things! My best friend is a firm believer in books too and the magic that they can teach you, for free. And if that is the better option for you, I say go for it! Make the choice that is the most right for you and you will be great! (You already are!)

Any special tips or “hacks” for getting into character?

I get into character usually by taking their given circumstances first. “Where did they come from? Are they more privileged or are they lower class?” Circumstances are everything, they are our foundation and how we grow into the people we are. Then, I get into the more exciting stuff! “What do they want out of life? What music do they listen to? What do they do on a day off for fun?” It’s all about the little details. Mainly, just keep it honest. People want to see something real, don’t force it. Your instincts are right!

What would be your dream role?

As far as dream roles, I have always wanted to play a genderbent George Bailey in “Its A Wonderful Life” or Elwood P. Dowd in “Harvey.” Can you tell James Stewart is my biggest acting inspiration? Jimmy and Tom Hanks are my favorite because those two have always been honest on screen.

What role are you the most proud of that you’ve done so far?

I am so proud of all the roles that I have gotten to play and I am grateful to everyone that has ever said yes to me! When I first started in college, I was so scared that no one would give me a shot because I started later than most, but then I got my first yes so I would say, Chick in “Crimes of the Heart” because she was so different from me and very fun or Jo in “Gathering Blue” because my wonderful director let me sing in it! That was very special for me.

If you are currently cast in a role or have recently completed a role, tell us about it!

I just recently got to do an app testing for a company and that was very fun! I got to send a sweet happy birthday message to a couple of celebrities. So hopefully that app will finish development soon and everyone can get a piece of the fun!

We have a Christian community subscribed to this blog as well who like to hear about inspiring stories involving walks of faith. If you have a story you’d like to share about this, either related to acting or not, please feel free to do so.

I grew up in the Christian faith and I will say this, everyone knows about the stigma of this career and that people always say, “It’s not a viable career, it’s not stable enough, etc.” Forget all that, my dad always says, “God did not lead you down this path to watch you fail or suffer.” If you feel in your heart that this is what you are meant to do, it is what you are meant to do. That’s it. You got this and your dreams are so possible!!