Today we’d like to introduce you to Arianna Jones.
Hi Arianna, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am an actress, a writer, and a dancer. I am also a part of the NAACP and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and I do a lot of activism and philanthropy work. I was raised in Esmont, Virginia, a very small town with a population of about 400 to 500 people total, located just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. Growing up, I loved art. I loved to draw, paint, and I always enjoyed performing. When I was in middle school, I began all-star competitive cheerleading. I traveled around the country to different cheer competitions and performed with my team in front of thousands of people from state to state. That’s when my passion for performing grew stronger. I remember my last year of middle school, my middle school drama program held auditions for a play called ‘So You Wanna Be a Cheerleader’ and of course, intrigued by the title, I decided to audition and I ended up getting cast as the lead! It was the first time I had ever acted on stage and aside from dance and cheerleading, it was the most exciting thing I had ever done. I went on to perform in more plays and eventually got into film after going on to high school.
Coincidentally, my first time on a professional film set was when I was cast again as a cheerleader in the feature film Goosebumps 2 in 2017. 2017 was also the year that the Unite the Right rally took place in Charlottesville, Virginia. Witnessing that rally take place truly changed my perspective on a lot of things. Of course, growing up in the south, I had experienced racism a number of times and in various forms but I was devastated at the sight of hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan marching freely through the streets of my hometown at that time, in 2017! I realized that there was a lot of work to be done, not only in Charlottesville, not only in the United States but around the globe. It was then that I decided that I wanted to use my art for more than just my own fun and pleasure but also to educate and inspire others and to advocate for change where it was due. I went on to attend New York University where I joined the Tau Epsilon chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho and graduated from the Tisch School of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a double-minor in psychology and sociology. Shortly after graduation is when I became a member of the NAACP.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I believe one of the biggest struggles I faced, simply put, was finding the courage and self-motivation necessary to emerge into the industry. My family was never very wealthy. My grandparents and my mother lived in a small trailer in Esmont, Virginia and that’s where I spent a majority of my childhood. Growing up not having much taught me to be very humble and grateful for even the most simple things. However, like many other black kids who grow up in poor neighborhoods, it wasn’t always easy to find motivation simply due to the fact that, given my circumstances, it was sometimes hard to envision myself achieving all that I dreamed of. When I was younger, being a poor black girl from the south, I didn’t see many other girls like me on television or doing the things that I dreamed of doing. I had to learn how to self-motivate and allow myself to be ambitious and dream. This is why I believe that representation in all realms alike is crucial. If African American children consistently learn about their ancestors being enslaved and oppressed but never learn about their many achievements on the other hand, it is damaging. I strive to make art that encourages all people to embrace and celebrate who they are, where they come from, and their unique stories.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an actress, dancer, screenwriter, and poet. However, I am most known for my work as an actress. Since being cast in Goosebumps 2 back in 2017, I have been blessed to perform in three other feature films and five television series. A lot of my earlier work falls under the categories of horror, thriller, and true-crime. These include series such as Swamp Thing (DC Universe 2019), ATL Homicide (TVOne Network 2021), and For My Man (TVOne Network 2019) in addition to the upcoming feature film Roadkill by Warren Fast, set to premiere in late 2022 or 2023. In addition to these genres, I have recently done more work within the drama and action categories including the feature films Dope King by Ron Elliot and Raveland, both set to premiere in 2023 as well as the micro-series Come Together by Joshua B. Alexander (2022), and my most recent television series, Blood Money, written by Angelia Jackson and directed by Michael A. Pinckney. I am beyond excited for the projects in post-production that are set to come out soon. I’m very proud of the fact that I have been granted the opportunity to play such a wide range of characters and to tell a variety of different stories. What sets me apart from other artists is simply my unique background and experiences which are reflected in my work. Every artist has a unique story to tell and a unique way of doing so.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I believe that risk-taking is crucial for change and that change, ultimately, is essential for growth. Many people fear uncertainty and the unknown. However, I believe the more you become comfortable with the idea of not always being in control, the more in-tune you become with the things you can control. It is important to set a goal and create a plan for achieving that goal. However, it is equally important to understand that things are not always guaranteed to go according to plan. You must learn to be flexible and adaptable while, at the same time, not allowing your fear of change and lack of control to prevent you from taking the initial steps toward your goal. As for me, I did not know how I would afford to pay back the money it took to attend NYU or how taking on a career in acting would play out. However, had I allowed the fear of the unknown to keep me in Virginia, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.AriannaJones.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/ok.ari
- Other: IMDb.me/ariannajones
Image Credits
John Reese Joshua Lanier Thomson Nguyen
