Today we’d like to introduce you to Rosha Washington.
Hi Rosha, 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?
Well, I’ve always wanted to be an actor as long as I can remember, but I started to pursue it professionally about 6 years ago. I had just graduated college and a friend of mine was doing background work in the area to make extra money and I was like why not?! Besides doing a few plays in high school I hadn’t any on-camera experience or acting experience in general. The first movie set I was on was ‘Free State of Jones” with Matthew McConaughey, which was a pretty cool experience with it being a period piece and I was chosen to be a featured extra as one of the family members so we were treated like royalty. I sat in the balcony and watched the actors work and collaborate with the director and I was bit by the acting bug at that very moment. I talk to one of the actresses on set and she told me to get into some classes and just go for it, that’s exactly what I did. I was working as an accounting representative at a bank in New Orleans and would frequently request off to do more background jobs and take acting classes. From there I networked doing lots of indie and student films in the city and traveling here a lot to Atlanta to work on small projects to build my resume. I signed with my agent Louisiana Talent Agency in 2016 and left the corporate world for good and started my day job as a hotel night auditor and have not turned back since. Took me about four years to actually start booking jobs and join the union, but they were right when they said ‘when it’s your time it’s YOUR TIME” I haven’t stopped working since.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
A smooth road?! I think not!! Lol, Some of the main struggles was giving up my full-time job and working day jobs here and there to make ends meet and living with family members along the way because I couldn’t afford to live on my own was probably one of the biggest struggles for me. Of course, life was still happening along the way, but thinking that I couldn’t go back to my 9-5 and pursue my acting career was by the far the biggest most consistent struggle. Many times going months with no auditions and no bookings are always hard too. Sofa hopping for years is no fun, let’s just say that, but I just knew in my heart I was meant to be in this industry. My faith in God is the ONLY thing that kept me going. Every time I would say ok that’s it I’m giving up, I would get an audition IN THAT VERY MOMENT. I was crazy I know, but soo true. Another hard thing for me was seeing so many of my friends around me booking up a storm. I just couldn’t understand what I was doing wrong, but little did I know it had nothing to do with what I was lacking and more of it just wasn’t my time. Those same casting directors are booking me like never before now.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
So I consider myself an all-around actor. I do mainly Tv and film, but I love to grace the stage from time to time as well. Currently, I’m working with Nic Ashe who’s directing “Choir Boy’ by Tarell McCraney, a Broadway play that he’s putting on in New Orleans where I’m playing “Bobby” one of the lead characters. I just booked my first Disney project that I can’t share much information about at the moment, but ill be shooting that this month as well. This summer I have my first feature I shot in New Orleans back in 2019 that will be hitting theaters called ‘Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon” directed by Ana Lily Amirpour, starring Kate Hudson and Craig Robinson. I was super excited to shoot this one because I got the share the screen with Craig Robinson who was amazing to work with. I actually haven’t seen it yet, but hopefully, I will soon as it’s making its premiere at a horror film festival in New Orleans this month as well. A project that is near and dear to my heart, I had the honor of playing DJ Screw in a biopic produced by IYO Visuals in 2020, which is now in development for a full-length feature film with Sony Pictures. I prepared for the role for over a year and we shot it in for a year and a half before releasing a 30-minute visual tribute that you can find on YouTube titled “All Screwed Up” so go check that out. My biggest project so far I just wrapped a movie with Universal pictures called ‘Renfield” starring Nicholas Cage, Awakifina, and Nicholas Hoult, where I play Trevante’. I really can’t give a lot of details about this one, but it does come out in April of next year sooo excited for it. And yes I have scenes with Nichola Cage haha. God has really showed out these last few years and I can’t wait to see what my future holds for the rest of 2022.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
A mentor is definitely needed in every area of your life. I have a spiritual advisor and career mentors. It’s very difficult when breaking into a field where you can’t really go to family or friends for advice about how to pursue it or when hard career decisions come up. My acting mentor/big brother is Jaren Mitchell. A New Orleans powerhouse when it comes to this tv and film stuff. Most importantly he is WORKING. Many might know him as “Benny’ on Queen Sugar. One of many projects he was worked on. So many people seek counsel from people that aren’t actively working in their field and I think that’s a huge mistake. My spiritual advisor is the first lady of my church and also my therapist. Tranecia Hebert is more like a second mom to me, I can call her and talk about anything and she always gives me the best advice but more importantly, she keeps me motivated and encouraged to take on the world when I’m at my lowest moments, Love her. What I can say for certain is I wouldn’t be as far along in my life and career if it wasn’t for the guidance of these two people.
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