Rising Star Taylor Ann Thompson On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Entertainment Industry
An Interview With Guernslye Honoré
Be patient, everything that is meant for you will not pass you by. To be honest, I still need to remind myself of this. I especially needed to believe this when I was a kid, going to hundreds of auditions, not hearing back from most, and getting so close to the finish-line but not making it for others. However, it’s true — everything happens for a reason, everything will work out in the way that it’s meant to.
As a part of our series about pop culture’s rising stars, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Taylor Ann Thompson.
Taylor Ann Thompson (21) is an American actress. She started her career at the early age of four, playing Jack Nicholson’s granddaughter in Rob Reiner’s “The Bucket List.” She then went on to appear in several television films and series; works include Lifetime’s “Liz and Dick” alongside Lindsay Lohan, “Amish Grace” with Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Amazon’s
“The Kicks” and “Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street,” and Showtime’s “Shameless.” This past year, she played the antagonist in Lifetime’s “Black Girl Missing” with Garcelle Beauvais. Most recently, she championed her first leading role in another Lifetime movie, “Ladies of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas,” alongside Linda Gray, Loni Anderson, Morgan Fairchild, Donna Mills, and Nicollette Sheridan. She is a recent graduate of New York University Tisch School of the Arts, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama. She has also participated in many theatrical productions at Lee Strasberg Institute of Film and Television in LA and New York, Playwrights Horizons Theater School in New York, and has also trained at Stella Adler Studio of Acting. She is passionate about Mental Health Awareness, speaking about the cause on the Podcast “Giving Back Generation” and generating a following on Tik Tok. She is based in Los Angeles.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
Thank you so much for having me!!
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, alongside my younger brother, Trevor. I was a very happy kid — all I ever wanted to do was build stories and play pretend with my brother, which makes so much sense now. We were both very creative, and as I started getting into acting, he started discovering his unbelievable talent in music — it felt like we were constantly creating.
Looking back on my childhood, the activity I remember most is watching movies. Both of my parents showed me so many films — and to this day, I’m a complete cinephile. I watch so much. When I was a kid, these films, in the best way possible, determined how I viewed the world, and they still have that effect, shaping my perceptions, teaching me lessons, educating me.
I started working as an actress at a very young age and started studying it seriously when I was a teenager. I found so much love and passion in studying acting, learning different techniques, trying to be the best artist I could be. I ended up going to college for drama too; I just graduated NYU Tisch Drama in May!!
I am lucky enough to say that all of these passions I had when I was a kid — playing pretend, creating, watching movies, wanting so desperately to be apart of them, studying acting — have all made me who I am, and what I love today.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
When I was four years old, I went out for an open casting call audition for Rob Reiner’s “The Bucket List” starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. I was very lucky to get the part. I had the honor of working with these legends, both of whom I have since studied and revered. After that, I just kept going for it — going on countless auditions a week, playing a few parts here and there, while trying to stay in school.
Like I said before, it was really the studying of acting and watching of movies that propelled me through. I didn’t truly understand what acting was when I was a child actor, but once I developed the knowledge that it was something I could work on, places I could go with myself, people I could transform into, I was hooked.
Funnily enough, there’s one distinct moment in my childhood where I decided that this was what I was always going to do. At the age of seven, I remember watching Winona Ryder in “Edward Scissorhands,” twirling around in the snow, looking up at Edward, and I thought — this is what I’m meant to do. I was so blown away by her ability to be truthful in the most beautiful, subtle way — and I wanted to make that type of art.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
Something that’s been happening since I can remember — and it’s quite strange — is that every character that I’ve played has predicted something happening in my life.
The first big role that I really focused on was a theatrical show I did when I was thirteen, about a girl going through something very specific in her life — and that same thing happened to me a few months after. When I was in college, I worked on a character for a long time who actually reminded me of someone close to me in my life — and before I knew it, that person was experiencing the same things the character had experienced — and overcoming the same obstacles.
Most recently, when I was shooting, “Ladies of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas,” we would joke that the film set was a vortex, that a lot that was happening in the movie, in terms of my relationship with the ladies, was happening off set too. In the movie, they act almost as “fairy godmothers,” who help my character transform into the strong woman she is meant to be. In the exact same way, these iconic ladies transformed me off set, providing me with the most valuable guidance and encouraging support, and by the end of the shoot, I was a much more mature, heightened version of myself.
I’m interested to see if this sort of parallel continues to happen :)
It has been said that mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Oh, boy. I have so many of these stories.
Around the age of fourteen, I had an audition for a very popular show on Disney Channel. For the audition, we had to prepare a song and a scene from the show. I was a nervous wreck. I came in with Bruno Mars’ “Count on Me” prepared — I had learned it on the ukulele, it was easy, simple.
My performance was painfully awful. Even I knew it was awful as it was happening. I was just a ball of nerves.
After I annihilated the song, they kindly asked, “Okay, um, do you have anything else prepared to sing?” After experiencing the most humiliating embarrassment, I drew a complete blank. It was as if I had never heard another song before. It then hit me — the perfect song.
With tears streaming down my face, I sang “Happy Birthday.” It’s safe to say that I never got a callback.
More than anything, that experience shed a layer of anxiety in auditioning that I needed to shed — it taught me to just have fun, prepare, and be myself in auditions — and, quite honestly, to not take them too seriously. It’s so important as an actor to go into every audition for the sake of oneself, and not to succumb to whatever you think is what they are looking for.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
I am very proud of a film that just came out — “Ladies of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas” on Lifetime. I had the honor of working alongside legends Loni Anderson, Linda Gray, Nicollette Sheridan, Donna Mills, and Morgan Fairchild. This film, to date, was my biggest on-screen role — I learned so much from this experience from both my lovely character, Nell, and the iconic ladies that consistently encouraged and supported me. It was truly one of the greatest experiences of my life and I will treasure it forever.
“Ladies of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas” chronicles the reunion of five soap legends of the ’80s, who come together to do a Christmas special, all arranged by their child actor-co-star, Alex, who produces the film. While the ladies hash out their own issues with each other and their own personal battles, Alex brings on Nell, his close friend from college, to direct — and romantic tensions rise. The ladies can’t help but meddle with the relationship and they take Nell under their wings, raising her up to be confident, mature, and expressive of her feelings. You’ll have to watch the rest to see what happens!!
As a rising star, you’ve likely faced challenges along the way. How do you stay motivated and overcome obstacles in your career?
More than anything, I believe that it comes down to my love and passion for acting and film. This industry can be tough, as there’s a lot of pressure and a lot of rejection, but I can’t imagine doing anything else — as this is the only thing I want to do. I have a deep desire to create, to be apart of something bigger than myself, to be a storyteller, the best version of myself I can be, and to eventually give back with my platform. What has always kept that fire burning is reminding myself of these things and keeping my priorities straight.
We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?
In my opinion, entertainment is one of the most important tools for education and understanding in our society. I believe that diversity and inclusion is important in Hollywood so people can see themselves on screen and know that they are represented, respected, and seen. I also think it is important for everyone to understand cultures and ideas other than their own to broaden their perspectives, make them think about things larger than themselves, and, from there, develop a sense of kindness, sympathy, and understanding for those around them. Film is meant to serve a larger purpose than just purely entertaining, it’s to shape and mold society for the better. Without diversity in media, that would be impossible.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why?
1 . Be patient, everything that is meant for you will not pass you by. To be honest, I still need to remind myself of this. I especially needed to believe this when I was a kid, going to hundreds of auditions, not hearing back from most, and getting so close to the finish-line but not making it for others. However, it’s true — everything happens for a reason, everything will work out in the way that it’s meant to.
2 . Acting is so much more than the beauty standards that the industry sets. There’s a lot of pressure for everyone in the industry to mold into a specific person and to look a certain way. I felt that a lot as a kid. But, in reality, acting is so much more than that — and I believe that the industry is changing, or hopefully will continue to change, to be more inclusive and tell stories and cast actors that resemble humanity, not an idealized, fake, unrealistic standard of beauty.
3 . Slow down and be grateful for everything that you have done and everything you are doing. Whenever I worked as a kid, it was so easy to anticipate when it was going to be over and to stress about when the next job was coming. Overtime, I learned to always appreciate what I was working on at the moment.
4 . Everyone is on their own timeline — don’t stress so much about making it too early. This is something that I still need to tell myself — there’s often a lot of pressure in this industry to hit success when you’re young. But the truth of the matter is that everyone has a different story and a different path, and as long as I am passionate and happy doing my job, that’s all that counts. It is all about the journey, not the destination.
5 . Focus more than anything on grounding yourself and giving back. At the end of the day, the true purpose, in my opinion of life, is truly paying it forward. In every way possible, it is so important to spread kindness, love, and support. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in your own problems, especially in this industry, but keeping a good head on your shoulders and giving back to those with less is the most important lesson that I’ve learned of all.
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
Make sure you love it. And if you do, constantly immerse yourself in it. When you’re not working, watch every movie you can. Read plays. Take classes. Write. Study different techniques. Go see shows.
Also, find an outlet for yourself. Find something that will ground you amidst all the chaos and lack of control. It could be something as simple as walking or a single song. Find something that tethers you back to you and brings you a sense of peace!
And more than anything, get to know yourself. I am still on this journey myself. When you know and understand yourself, what you need, what your strengths are, it helps you prioritize you and perform better. Always find your way back to you.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
There are so many things I hope to accomplish. Firstly, as someone who has struggled with their own mental health, I really seek to spread awareness about mental health and all the ways in which we, as a society, can de-stigmatize it.
I think that help should be accessible for everyone, and it should be encouraged. I also believe that it starts with people opening up publicly about their experiences, in order to create an environment in which the rest of the world is more comfortable talking about their struggles and their experiences. I am honored to have spoken on a podcast called “Giving Back Generation,” where I discussed my journey, and to have had a platform on Tik Tok, where I documented my journey. What I learned from these experiences is that people want to feel heard and seen, and if someone has the courage to be vulnerable, others are more likely to follow suit.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
I have so many people to thank — it’s actually impossible to pin point one person or instance. Everyone in my life has contributed to where I am and who I am today in a multitude of ways. My mom drove me to every audition as a kid after school in rush hour traffic. My dad has always been my mentor and guardian angel in the business. I have had amazing acting teachers throughout my life who encouraged me to keep going and constantly inspired me. I have had extremely supportive friends, my roommate, Bella, has filmed every self-tape with me. My brother has been a constant support system, watching everything I’ve been in. I am so lucky and so grateful.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
My favorite musician of all time has to be George Harrison — and as simple as this may sound, “all things must pass,” both his song and the expression, is something I consistently live by. I think that these words have an infinite range of interpretations. When dealing with something difficult, the expression “all things must pass” has encouraged me to see the light at the end of the tunnel, to see the lessons I am learning from the strife and tribulations. When encountering something wonderful, “all things must pass” encourages me to appreciate the moment and not take anything for granted.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)
My answer for this changes everyday of my life, I am constantly inspired by new artists and visionaries.
But…at this point in time, I would choose Bradley Cooper. I am in absolute awe of his creative genius. I believe he is a once in a lifetime, multi-faceted, artistic revolutionary; not only does he completely transform in his roles, but he builds an entire universe through writing, directing AND acting.
In addition to acting, I love writing, and I would also love to direct — so learning of his creative process would most definitely be life-changing. I would also use this breakfast to convince him to cast me in his next project. :)
How can our readers follow you online?
My instagram is @tayannthompson !! That is really the main form of social media that I use.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
Thank you! It’s been such a pleasure. ❤
About the interviewer: Guernslye Honoré, affectionately known as “Gee-Gee”, is an amalgamation of creativity, vision, and endless enthusiasm. She has elegantly twined the worlds of writing, acting, and digital marketing into an inspiring tapestry of achievement. As the creative genius at the heart of Esma Marketing & Publishing, she leads her team to unprecedented heights with her comprehensive understanding of the industry and her innate flair for innovation. Her boundless passion and sense of purpose radiate from every endeavor she undertakes, turning ideas into reality and creating a realm of infinite possibilities. A true dynamo, Gee-Gee’s name has become synonymous with inspirational leadership and the art of creating success.
