Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather McKinley.
Hi Heather, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Jersey girl turned Georgia Peach. I visited Atlanta in college and fell in love with the city. It took several years after graduating Seton Hall University to finally land in the A-T-L but once I did, I stayed and haven’t looked back for almost 25 years.
At this stage of my journey, I’m a mom, wife, screenwriter, and actor represented by BMG Talent. I have been in several feature films including The Front Runner starring Hugh Jackman, Through The Glass Darkly, starring Robin Lively, and Fatima’s Revenge.
For the first twenty plus years of my career, I worked for CBS 46, 11Alive and Fox 5 as a news reporter and producer. I also had the opportunity to guest co-host several episodes of ABC’s The View with Meredith Viera, Joy Behar and Star Jones. Barbara Walters was off that day but I kept her seat warm.
When I was 17, my high school yearbook quote read, “Good, better, best, never let it rest, until the good become better, and the better becomes best. See you at the Oscars”. That was 31 years ago. (Yikes! Did I just admit that?) I haven’t made it to the Oscars yet, YET, but I am still going after my dreams. I’ve learned it’s the journey that counts, not just the destination.
Speaking of dreams, Tyler Perry has been a huge inspiration of mine. He’s been in the middle of on my vision board for years. I’ve had the privileged of meeting and interviewing him when I was a reporter, but one of my dreams is to work on his shows and movies. I’m a huge believer of speaking things into existence and manifesting. So here I am, speaking and manifesting away!
On the family side of things, I am married and have five amazing children, four girls, ages 20, 18, 9, and 6, and one son who is 16. If you’ve survived teenage girls, you feel me?
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the biggest challenges I faced in my 30’s was getting divorced and being a single mom of three kids under the age of five. I was terrified. It was the most difficult time of my life, but somehow, I kept showing up, working on myself, keeping a roof over our heads, and being the best mom I could be. I was very lucky to have been a position where I could freelance as a reporter and still be around for my children.
That seems like a lifetime ago. I am remarried and have two more children with my husband, Jeff. Being a mom to five amazing children is my biggest blessing and accomplishment. But, having my last daughter in my 40’s lead to a heart condition called postpartum cardiomyopathy. Also known as “the silent killer”. I had surgery almost five years ago to fix the issue and my ticker is doing just fine now. I was so lucky to recognize something wasn’t right with my body and took action. Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the U.S. so please, listen to your body and get screened regularly.
Nothing beats a health challenge, but I do struggle with aging in the industry. I was so sure I would have “made it” by now and as 50 approaches I have to remind myself God’s timing is perfect and if the dream was put in my heart it will come to fruition. One touch of God’s favor can change everything. I have a full, beautiful life so when the chatter starts in my head, I remind myself of all I have to be grateful for and keep going!
Several years ago, one of my daughters said, “Mommy, I think you dream too big. You’re too old and I’m afraid you’re just going to be disappointed”. Her words sparked a fire in me like never before. I’m on a mission to show them you’re never too old and it’s never too late to go after your dreams. If I don’t show my kids how to dream big, who will?
I’m just getting started and the skies the limit.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have written a screenplay called All Love Matters, a story about a white suburban woman and black man from south Atlanta who meet and fall in love after attending a class for divorcing parents. The story addresses systemic racism and many issues our society is facing right now to create a more loving and inclusive world. By the way, I did have to take this class in Cobb County when I was going through my divorce.
During the Covid-19 lockdown, I attended several virtual film festivals and met some people I never would have had access to. My script received solid reviews and I have been invited by some industry insiders to attend Sundance with them in January and Cannes in May.
Prior to screenwriting and acting, I spent over 20 years as a news writer, reporter and producer. I am most proud of my hustle. For the first 20 years of my career, I never had an agent. I didn’t know I needed one. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. I went after and got every job on my own. I was one of only 20 women selected to audition live on-air for a then vacant co-host spot on ABC’s The View. I didn’t end up getting the job but I was thrilled to have the opportunity.
Throughout my career, I never stopped auditioning. I have been in several national print campaigns including The Ritz Carlton, Shell Oil, Natural Wear Magazine, The Bubba Keg and more.
I have interviewed world leaders and some of the biggest names in Hollywood including Tyler Perry after the premiere of Madea’s Family Reunion (a life-changing movie for me), Angelina Jolie, John Travolta, President Jimmy Carter, Cicely Tyson, and Governor Sonny Perdue just to name a few.
I have also had the opportunity to voice dozens of voice-overs and hosted corporate videos, both locally and nationally.
I began my television news career at CNBC in business and financial news and was part of the team to launch Fox News Channel in the ’90’s.
I absolutely love the theatre and am a proud member on the Board of Trustees for The Georgia Ensemble Theatre.
No matter what’s going on in my life, I am a huge fitness enthusiast. I spent many years in my 20’s and 30’s teaching step aerobics, high/low impact, and body toning. I ran the Atlanta half marathon but don’t love running as much as I used to. Right now, I am obsessed with Hotworx. Think of spin class in a 130 degree infrared sauna. I’m in the last year of my 40’s and not going down without a fight!
I am most proud of being a mother. Children aren’t for everyone, but for me, my life started when I became a mom. I have four daughters and one son who is going to best husband and dad after living with so many women!
I have to brag on my husband, Jeff. He supports me wholeheartedly and I couldn’t do any of this without his love and support.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love the sports and theatre in town. We’re season ticket holders for the Falcons and attend every game we can. And as I mentioned, I’m on the board of the Georgia Ensemble Theatre. GET has incredible shows and the talent here in Atlanta is just amazing! Come check us out!
My love of sports brought me to Atlanta my senior year of college to watch a basketball tournament. I fell in love with the greenspace, the people, the parks, the restaurants, the arts. You name it, we have it. We’re like a big city but still manage to have a small-town feel. It took me a few years after my career started to get here, but I knew this is where I wanted to be. I was working at Fox News Channel in the mid 90’s and just didn’t feel New York City was where I belonged. I knew if I could get down here, I’d land a job in television. You know the old Frank Sinatra song, “If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere”? I just needed to get here. I came down for a weekend, found a job in a little boutique called Moon Doggie in Phipps Plaza, rented an apartment, quit my job and headed south. My parents thought I was crazy to quit such a great job in NYC for a job in an Atlanta mall but I knew it was the right decision. Within a few months, I was freelancing at WSB-TV as an Associate Producer and then was hired at 11-Alive as a Field Producer. And the rest as they say, is history. Sometimes you have to go against what everyone else thinks is right and trust your intuition.
What do I like least about our city? THE TRAFFIC! Also, the traffic. And did I mention the traffic?
Contact Info:
- Email: livewithheatherwmckinley@gmail.com
- Instagram: @heatherwmckinley
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heather.w.mckinley
- Twitter: @heathrmckinley
