Today we’d like to introduce you to Cynthia D. Barker.
Cynthia D,, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was THAT kid. That sensitive, introspective, curious kid who was always singing, dancing, imitating. It was clear very early on that I was a performer. Growing up in the Baptist church then the primary talent of mine that was first recognized was my singing voice. I sang in the choir at church and the choral groups from elementary through high school. I wanted to be a singer.Then, in the 11th grade, I was presented with the option to elect taking a drama class. The only problem was that Varsity Choir, the second highest ranking choir, was at the same time as the Acting 1 class. I’m not sure what encouraged to take the risk, but it was the choice that changed the course of my life. I took acting and I was good, I liked it. A Lot. I ran into a Senior acting student, who is now one of my dearest friends, and he said the drama teacher Ms. Brenda Perryman mentioned to him how good I was. He inquired about my interest to audition for the musical Dreamgirls (I was already planning to). I auditioned, got the role of Lorell, heard the audience react to something I said for the first time and I was hooked. From that moment on, I wanted to use my gifts and talents to move people.
I attended undergraduate and graduate schools, pursuing degrees in theatre and acting. In May of 2008, I earned my MFA in acting. 4 months later I was driving my silver hatchback Ford Focus named Curtis down 75S to Atlanta. I had very little and I knew less than that about the journey on which I was embarking. My car was packed with clothes, a television, my laptop, bible and… my sister. Ha! It was September 2, 2008. I was confident I was going to book this job customer service job I had an interview for at the W Midtown. I didn’t. Then I got my first bill from Scana energy and it hit me that the last 7 years of studying was me deciding to make a living as a professional actor. Honest to God that reality didn’t hit me until I was staring at “balance due” on my monthly statement.
From that moment on, I had a new level of commitment to my craft (that I did not have as an immature grad student). I began auditioning using the website atlantaperforms.biz. Very early on the Atlanta Theatre community was quite gracious to me. Doors opened, I worked, I formed great relationships, I found community, I made myself a new home. For the past 13 years, I’ve been living and working in Atlanta as an actor, a teacher, a coach and a director, but here have been other dreams that have lay dormant in me until the pandemic hit.
When the pandemic hit in March of 2020 and shut the world down, I, much like the rest of the world was forced to sit down. As I sat there and sat there and… sat there I remembered that I not only wanted more, but that deep down under a shit ton of self-doubt I knew I could do more. Very slowly over the past year, I’ve begun to embrace my activism, my writing and to breathe life into another dream of mine, my LLC Creative Confidence, a community designed for women and girls on an intentional journey of self-love. It’s not fully realized yet, but I made a pretty cool start last year when I produced a virtual dialogue using the funds I was awarded from a Fulton County Arts and Culture grant.
As the world re-opens and theatres resume live productions I have a couple shows on the horizon. I’m also continuing to audition for film/tv, which I’ve had a love’hate relationship with for years. But, mostly, my heart is most drawn to getting my projects out of my journals and into the world.
Yeah… That’s me. HA. That’s my story.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Ya know? Looking back on the last 10 years it’s really easy for me to see how all the pieces came together. I can see how I never had anything to worry about. In the moment? Hell no the road wasn’t smooth. Being an artist (mostly full time, doing mostly theatre) is so incredibly unpredictable and damn near impossible to make a living. Like a real one where you can pay bills, save, travel and feel like a grown-up. That’s the part I didn’t know I was choosing when I said yes to a dream. That I’d also be sacrificing financial stability, consistent health insurance and the freedom to show up for milestones in life. I’ve missed countless births, funerals, weddings, holidays, vacations either because I was broke or I was busy trying not to be broke.
I got really resentful about that at the beginning of the pandemic. I felt like I dedicated my life to something that gave me very little in a tangible sense in return.
What’s hard now is starting over, I guess? I’m 38. At time where most people (in my mind) should be settled and getting promoted, etc and here I am transitioning to a life that I hope brings me more autonomy and HOPEFULLY more money eventually. I’m so not used to being the boss. No one gives me a schedule for the next 6-8 weeks or a call time. That’s reeeeeeaaallly not easy for me to motivate myself days. I do it though. I find my way doing it MY way as best I can.
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’m an actor. I’m a professor. I’m a director. I’m a writer. I’m an activist. I’m a burgeoning entrepreneur.
I’m most known as an actor though.
I wrote all of those roles down on a blank piece of paper that is taped to a cabinet over my desk. It’s not so much that I can say I have experience/credit in each of those roles and I can spout them out in an interview as it is that I somehow, time and time again, find the courage to DO them. I have plenty dreams, but my lack of confidence and belief that I can actually manifest my ideas and become the person I feel inside challenges those dreams. Like a straight up, lunch money stealing, meet me after school bully. BUT… I do it. I am so proud of myself for overcoming myself.
My heart, My heart is what sets me apart. It’s not my degrees, my resume, my skill set; it’s my heart. I have an incredibly empathetic, passionate, vulnerable heart. It’s my gift. It’s that indescribable maybe not even readily visible thing that makes me a positively person in the best way and it’s what influences every single thing I do.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Do it all. Everything you can do, want to do; do it. You don’t even have to be fearless. Most things I’ve done I was scared. And I did it anyway.
“Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.” -Dr. Benjamin Spock
As a younger creative I wish I had financial literacy and business savvy. I’m learning even now, but if you can come out the gate with that? Good stuff.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @cynthiadbarker
- Facebook: Cynthia D. Barker
- Twitter: @cynthiadbarker
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/b7KZ4EmHtcs
Image Credits
Brian Jones Photography
Casey Gardner
Tyrrell Harrell
