Inspirational Women In Hollywood: How Actress Jillian Reeves, Of ‘Sound of Hope, The Story of Possum Trot’ Is Helping To Shake Up The Entertainment Industry
…Hollywood isn’t your center. You have family, you have friends, you live an interesting life. So when you are called to play these different characters, you have all of this experience in your own life to draw from. I have to think of one word for that, but it’s like that expansive nature of life, living life and not making it all that you do. Every day is time. Every day is the journey of our lives. As you pursue your dream, you also want to live a life that you’re proud of and a life that feeds and sustains you. You need an expansive life. A multi-experiential life. I think then you can create the most interesting characters. If you’re only in your bubble, only dealing with the same people, and only focused on auditions, what are you drawing from to create?…
I had the pleasure of talking with Jillian Reeves. Jillian is an actress, writer, producer, director, and entrepreneur whose versatility and dedication have made her a prominent figure in Hollywood. Her career spans various mediums, including film, television, and commercials, where she has consistently demonstrated her artistic talent and passion for storytelling. Reeves will next be seen starring in the highly-anticipated film Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot, which is set to hit theaters nationwide on July 4th.
Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot is based on the true story of Donna and Reverend Martin, who inspired 22 families from a rural Black church in East Texas to adopt 77 children from the foster system, sparking a movement for vulnerable children. Reeves portrays Donna’s sister, Diann, a divorced single mother who becomes the first to adopt in the town. The film features a stellar cast, including Nika King, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Demetrius Gross. This role marks a significant moment in Reeves’ career, showcasing her ability to bring depth and authenticity to her characters.
In addition to her acting prowess, Reeves is an accomplished filmmaker. She directed, wrote, produced, and starred in the short film “Broken,” which delves into the complexities of serious mental illness. The film has been praised for its poignant exploration of mental health issues, particularly within the African-American community. Reeves’ commitment to raising awareness and #EndTheStigma has led her to develop “Broken” into a feature-length film, aiming to broaden its impact.
Reeves’ television career includes appearances on popular shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, CSI: Miami, The Young and the Restless, and Masters of Sex just to name a few. Her performance in commercials alongside icons like George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston, Ellen DeGeneres, and Beyoncé has further solidified her status as a versatile and sought-after actress in the industry.
One of Reeves’ notable roles was in the movie Raptors, executive produced by Martin Lawrence. She also starred as Giselle Marks in TV One’s Media, opposite Brian White, Pooch Hall, Penny Johnson Jerald, and Denise Boutte. Her portrayal of Yvette Jackson in the TV movie Ward of the State, alongside Janet Hubert and Vanessa Williams, and her participation in BET’s groundbreaking project Let’s Talk, highlight her ability to tackle diverse and challenging roles.
Reeves has also been a prominent figure at various A-list events, such as the NAACP Image Awards, Kodak’s Oscar Gala, The Movieguide Awards Gala, and the Pan African Film Festival. Her advocacy for important causes has earned her recognition on global platforms, including the United Nations for World AIDS Day.
Beyond her on-screen achievements, Reeves has created the AAA Masterclass, where she serves as the lead acting coach. Through this platform, she mentors aspiring actors, helping them refine their skills, excel in auditions, and perfect their accents. Her dedication to teaching and advocacy has left a lasting impact on the industry, empowering the next generation of actors.
As she continues to evolve as an artist, Reeves remains committed to her advocacy work and personal growth. She emphasizes the importance of resilience, passion, faith, optimism, and living an expansive life. Her self-care routines, which include travel, spending time in nature, and maintaining strong boundaries, help her stay grounded and focused on her goals.
Jillian Reeves is a multifaceted talent whose work in Hollywood continues to inspire and impact audiences. Her dedication to her craft, advocacy for mental health, and commitment to fostering a supportive community make her a true trailblazer in the industry. As she prepares for the release of Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot, Reeves’ star continues to rise, promising an exciting future filled with meaningful projects and continued success.
To find showtimes for Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot at a theater near you, visit https://www.angel.com/tickets/sound-of-hope-the-story-of-possum-trot
Yitzi: Jillian, it’s so nice to meet you. Before we dive in deep, readers would love to learn about your personal origin story. Can you explain to us the story of your childhood and how you grew up?
Jillian: Yes, I was born in a very small rural town called Irmo, South Carolina. It’s the home of the Okra Strut, where they celebrate okra. So, it’s that small. I grew up in a really rural area with dirt roads, running outside and playing with my brothers, running through the woods. It feels like a different time, but even now, it’s still very similar.
My daddy was a preacher, and my mom was a beautician, but she also worked from home and stayed with us. It was a really good childhood. When I got to high school age, my father passed away, and my mom was working. Then I became pregnant with twins, which was fun and full of challenges. So, I did high school and grad school with twins in tow and came to California. I think we defied a few odds.
I like to share that part because I want to encourage people that no matter how you begin or what challenges come early on, if you have a goal, some ambition, and a little luck, you can follow your dreams. Those things don’t have to stop you. You incorporate them and keep going forward to end up with a great story.
I started acting in college. My first semester wasn’t the greatest, so I took some easy classes to boost my GPA. I took an acting class and got cast in my first play. Interestingly enough, at that same college, there were some other actors who are now doing amazingly well. One of them is a regular on Evil. So, this little town produced a lot of talent.
I started there and went to Chicago for grad school, doing a Master’s in Fine Arts. I worked with directors from the Goodman, and did a lot of theater, indie films, and commercial stuff. Now, places like Chicago and Atlanta are much bigger, and you can live there and have careers. But back then, Chicago was in the middle — you could work and do art, but being just an artist wasn’t in the cards.
After five years there, we came to California, and I started to work right away. I did a reality show for actors back in the day, which was interesting. That’s actually how I got my SAG card. I won the reality show, got my SAG card, and won a commercial, which began my Los Angeles career.
Yitzi: Amazing. You probably have so many interesting stories from all your varied experiences as a professional actress. Can you share with us one or two of your favorite anecdotes or memories from your professional life?
Jillian: Oh, wow. Well, when I started, I was doing a lot of commercials, which was great because I had two younger kids. You could work a couple of days and make a lot of money. I ended up working with a director who worked with a lot of big stars. Now, stars do commercials all the time, but back then, it wasn’t as common. So, I got a chance to work with Ellen and Beyoncé, which was amazing in my early days in L.A.
I also worked at the Laugh Factory, where I got to see so many people who are stars now, like Dave Chappelle and Kevin Hart, back when they were still grinding. It’s really interesting being in L.A. and being around people who are so driven and talented and getting to work with them.
One of my favorite experiences was working with George Clooney. It was such a random thing to say, “I’m going to go on set today and work with George Clooney,” but he was amazing. He was one of the most humble and sweet celebrities I’ve worked with. He felt the need to keep everyone comfortable and entertained. He didn’t go off into a celebrity corner; he was really engaging and told some funny stories. That was one of my favorite experiences, just because of how open, kind, and inclusive he was.
Yitzi: Beautiful. It’s been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Do you have a story about a humorous mistake that you made when you were first starting and the lesson that you learned from it?
Jillian: Oh, my gosh, I make mistakes all the time…even today, even right now. Trying to pick one mistake is hard. When I came to L.A., I met so many amazing people who really wanted to mentor me. I think it was hard to understand the business at first, and I shied away from some of those opportunities. I don’t know if I would call them mistakes, but probably.
It’s kind of cool coming full circle with some of those same people now. They’re so excited to see that I’ve succeeded and that I’m working and doing things. It’s hard to just pick a single mistake, though, and I try not to think of things in those particular terms.
I mean, having kids young was not my intention, but now it’s great because they’re older and super excited to see me work. This business is a series of missteps, seemingly missed opportunities, and audition flubs. You mess up and think, “Oh my gosh, are they ever going to invite me back?” But then you realize that all of this is part of the journey. There’s no mistake that you can’t come back from. In general, people really are rooting for you to succeed.
Yitzi: OK, so Jillian, you have so much impressive work. Can you share some exciting projects that you’re working on now? Please tell us about why we have to see Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot.
Jillian:, Absolutely. Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot is going to be in theaters on July 4th, with pre-screenings all around the nation on July 3rd. It’s an amazing true story. This is the first time I’ve played a real person who is still around today, so no pressure there.
It’s about an incredible community in a little town called Possum Trot, Texas. The congregation there is led by Bishop W.C. Martin and his wife, Donna Martin. After Donna’s mom dies, she feels a calling to save children at risk and in the foster care system. They rally their community, and 22 families adopt 77 children, wiping out the foster care crisis in their town. It’s incredible.
The film shows the true nature of what it takes to be a foster and adoptive parent. It doesn’t sugarcoat the difficulties but highlights that with a strong community, bearing each other’s burdens, and lifting each other up, you can do incredible things for children. My character, Diann, is a single mom who already had a daughter and took in three boys. These are people of very little means; Diann worked in a poultry factory. This rural town didn’t have a stoplight or a McDonald’s, but they had huge hearts for these kids.
This story is about phenomenal people with the most open, loving hearts. They’re still fighting for kids in America who don’t have homes. Our goal is to create a piece that moves people, shows the reality of these children’s lives, and hopefully stirs something in people’s hearts. We want them to think about how they can be part of the solution, whether that’s fostering, emergency fostering for a day, or supporting struggling families to keep kids out of the foster care system.
Everyone has a part to play. This film isn’t just a movie; it has an amazing message. It’s rare to have both in Hollywood. I’m really excited about it. Everyone who sees it is touched and moved. It shines a light on the most vulnerable among us and calls us to think about how we can help.
Yitzi: Beautiful. How would you compare and contrast your personal character, Jillian, with the character you play, Diann? How are you similar and how are you different?
Jillian: Well, it’s funny because I didn’t meet Diann until we were halfway through filming. I actually play her much differently than she is in real life. She’s so quiet and so sweet, and I gave her a little bit of my rambunctious energy. So I sort of merged us. It’s her big heart and vulnerability, combined with some of that energy I felt you’d need to deal with three boys and your own daughter. That’s just incredible.
As a single mom myself, I can imagine the heart, compassion, and faithfulness you need to do that. It’s incredible. They are amazing people, and I’m in awe of them. I’m humbled to play her and hope I did her justice. We’ll see what she thinks.
Yitzi: What’s the main message or take away you wish viewers walk away from the movie with?
Jillian: For me, the main takeaway is the power of community and that we are stronger together. There are so many forces that try to divide us and highlight our differences, but I love that everyone in this town came together with a heart for the children to create a better circumstance and worked together to make that happen.
So, I think it’s twofold. One, the power of community and coming together. And two, how you can make a difference in the lives of the people who have the least, who need the most, and who are the most vulnerable. Interestingly enough, the foster care system feeds so many other systems. Kids who don’t get adopted often end up homeless, in jail, sex trafficked, or with mental health issues. Many societal problems start from the foster care situation, which is ground zero.
I think it’s empowering for people to know that they don’t have to just sit back and wonder why these things are happening and who’s going to fix them. We can all do something to fix it, and that’s an exciting place to be.
Yitzi: Amazing. Is Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot like a prequel to The Sound of Freedom? Is it that if we don’t address foster care, it leads to sex trafficking, which is the focus of The Sound of Freedom?
Jillian: You know, Angel Studios, who did Sound of Freedom last year, really saw this film as sort of a follow-up. Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot addresses how we can intervene at ground zero. Foster care is the starting point for many issues we all want to fight and fix. If we can save these vulnerable children from situations where they might be exploited or victimized further, we can stem many other problems.
So yes, in that way, it can be a solution to a lot of these issues, whether it’s trafficking, homelessness, or the prison system. If we can stem the tide at the foster care level, we can change the future.
Yitzi: Unbelievable. Let’s go to our signature question that we ask in all of our interviews. So Jillian, you’ve been blessed with a lot of success now. Looking back to when you first started, can you share five things you need to create a successful career in Hollywood?
Jillian:
- Right. You need resilience. You need to be able to hear “no” a thousand times and “yes” once, right? So you need resilience.
- I think you also need passion and love for what you’re doing because why would anybody want to hear a thousand “no’s” and one “yes” if they didn’t love what they were doing?
- I think you need faith. Faith in God, faith in your higher power. I think faith sustains you through the most difficult times. It’s always a place to check in and say, “Okay, am I going in the right direction? Send me a sign.” I definitely think that’s a huge part of it.
- I think you also need optimism. You always have to believe that things are possible. You have to know your gifts can make room for you.
- And I also think, let me think of how to say this, embracing a full life. I don’t know one word for that. But what I mean is that Hollywood isn’t your center. You have family, you have friends, you live an interesting life. So when you are called to play these different characters, you have all of this experience in your own life to draw from. I have to think of one word for that, but it’s like that expansive nature of life, living life and not making it all that you do. Every day is time. Every day is the journey of our lives. As you pursue your dream, you also want to live a life that you’re proud of and a life that feeds and sustains you. You need an expansive life. A multi-experiential life. I think then you can create the most interesting characters. If you’re only in your bubble, only dealing with the same people, and only focused on auditions, what are you drawing from to create?
Yitzi: Can you share with our readers some of the self-care routines that you do to help your body, mind, and heart thrive?
Jillian: Oh, I love that. I am very big on self-care. I’m actually creating a “Thrive with Jillian” element to my portfolio. The whole point is to help people, especially after difficulties, grief, and loss, to really restore and rejuvenate because it’s so important.
Travel is a big part of what I do. It allows you to get away from all the noise and really get in touch with yourself. I love travel. I was in Bali for four months last year, and that was so centering and amazing. I think getting outside, even if it’s just for a walk around the block, is essential. Even if you’re exhausted or life feels heavy, being in nature, breathing fresh air, and moving your body is crucial. Sometimes rest is important too — phones down, computer off. You need to take moments to just be with yourself.
Those three, along with carving out space where self-care is non-negotiable, are key. Having strong boundaries is important. Knowing when to say no and how to keep those boundaries is crucial. You can plan to travel, walk, and drink water, but if you don’t develop strong boundaries, it’s easy to get lost in daily life. So, strong boundaries, getting outside, travel, and cutting off electronics are essential.
And honestly, developing a support system of friends and family is vital. Places like L.A. are so transient. People come and go, and many are super focused on their careers. We have a lot of people who are a bit self-centered. Developing a supportive group of friends is essential. You don’t want to do life alone. We all need someone to lift us up, and we need to lift others up too. If I had a fifth thing, it would be to develop a really strong support system, even if it’s just a couple of people.
Yitzi: This is our final question. This is our aspirational question. So, Jillian, because of the great work you’re doing and the platform you’ve built, you’re a person of enormous influence, if you could spread an idea or inspire a movement that would bring the most good to the most people, what would that be?
Jillian: I think that would be creating more true love in your heart so that when you look at your brother, they’re not your enemy. They’re not someone to fix or change. They’re someone you see with compassion because then we can join together and fix those bigger problems. I am a big mental health care advocate and I see the same thing there. A lot of times people walk past homeless individuals or people speaking to themselves and don’t see the humanity in them. But they are somebody’s sons or daughters, fathers or brothers. There are people who love them, who are frustrated and don’t know what to do. If we all just have the heart to show each other more compassion and grace and really focus on what we can do together rather than what we disagree on, it’s the beginning of solving a lot of our problems.
Yitzi: How can our readers watch the film? How can they follow any of your other work? How can they purchase any of the modules or courses that you’re offering?
Jillian: Thank you. Well, The Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot is going to be in theaters nationwide on July 4th. You can actually start watching it the day before on July 3rd in many theaters. We definitely need you to come check it out, especially on opening weekend. Opening weekend is super important for the run of films in theaters.
You can follow all of my updates and everything I have coming up on my website at JillianReeves.com or on Instagram @theonlyjillian. We have some mental health programs coming up next month for Minority Mental Health Month. You can definitely learn more about classes and our upcoming venture, Thrive with Jillian, which I’m really excited about. So stay tuned and follow me for all of the updates.
Yitzi: Jillian, it’s been such a delight to meet you. I wish you continued success and blessings. You’re going to be a superstar one day. You already are. I hope that even when you’re a superstar, you’ll still accept to do an interview with me next year.
Jillian: Well, I appreciate you so much. I love your energy. It’s really, really amazing. I can definitely feel your heart for what you’re doing. So I’m really humbled and thank you so much for having me.
