Today we’d like to introduce you to Barkley Harper.
Barkley, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve always had a passion for acting, but I actually started out in musical theatre and opera. Growing up, I loved singing and my initial dream was to do that professionally.
After I was involved in an accident, I took it as a sign to leave my home state of Arizona and make the leap to New York City. I performed musical theatre all over the United States and Off-Broadway and started studying acting with Susan Batson, a prestigious coach known for working with names like Nicole Kidman, Bradley Cooper, etc.
Susan encouraged me to make the switch to film and television, and I immediately fell in love with the new medium for my art. I moved to Los Angeles to get deeper into the film/TV world, and after shooting a few films that did really well, I ended up in Atlanta and signed with one of the top agencies there.
It’s been an amazing ride, and I’ve loved finding new opportunities to express myself, and all of the travel and amazing art that I’ve been a part of along the way.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has DEFINITELY not been a smooth road.
New York was extremely difficult because I moved there with barely any money to my name, and not only was I auditioning full time for open calls, but I was also bartending full time to make ends meet. Even then, I still couldn’t make rent.
I would work until 4 AM, and then get off and ride the subway to sign up for open calls, and then go home for a quick hour or two of sleep before my auditions started for the day. Anybody that’s done open calls will know that’s a painful way to get a job in theatre.
On top of that, I had to spend a lot of time away from my family, and what hurt the most was missing the birth of one of my nieces, and not being able to visit my mom and grandma.
Acting is unique because for every one success you’ll see from me, there are 200 rejections I’ve faced to get there. It can be a challenge to stay positive in the industry and to have the desire to keep going at times.
What kept me going was faith that things would work out eventually, and a chip on my shoulder that’s always pushed me to dream bigger. I want to continue to be a role model for girls who grew up like me, and I want to continue to act and create art, and that means no matter how hard it gets, I continue to find ways to move forward and stay positive.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am an actor known specifically for my work in drama and improv comedy. My first few films that were extremely well received are in the LGBTQ horror space.
What sets me apart at the end of the day is that I’m a very emotionally open actor and I have a reputation for being able to play very demanding roles.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The film industry is at an exciting time due to all of the streaming services out there. The biggest thing happening is that more and more unique projects are being greenlit and produced, and more and more actors are getting opportunities to play roles with exposure.
What this means is better art for everyone to consume, and that’s a great thing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.barkleyharper.com
- Email: barkley@barkleyharper.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/barkleyharper
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/barkleyharperactress
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/barkleyharper
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5337480/
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