Today we’d like to introduce you to Drew Stephenson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
It all started with extra credit. I took acting as an elective while at savannah state university. My acting instructor offered extra credit for those who auditioned for the school’s annual play “before it hits home” by Cheryl west. I went out on a limb and booked the role of junior. Through exceptional guidance and many late nights of practice, I became zoned in for showtime, and that is when I started to fall completely in love with acting. Once on stage, I lost track of the audience and felt the freedom of completely letting go – and that’s when the acting bug bit me! Since then, I have been featured and starred in several tv shows, including the vampire diaries and, most recently, dynasty, to name a few. However, I am most excited about my latest project, “one heart,” with an all-star cast and crew and phenomenal storyline that will pull tears out of anyone.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Of course, this path is anything but smooth. One instance that stands out to me the most was a difficult time I had in New York City. While there training at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, I lived with my grandmother. I had no job and neither me or my grandmother had much money. The apartment we lived in was roach-infested. I remember spraying roaches off of the shower walls before taking one before acting classes. I had many times where the material was a need for a class that I couldn’t afford without sacrificing food for a meal or two that week. I had a few very intense nights crying and asking why this was happening to me. I thought God loved me and wanted me to be an actor. I felt in my heart that this was where I needed to be. I couldn’t understand why he made it so difficult for me at times until I finally moved back to Ga. NY gave me very tough skin and a battle-tested mindset that could not be moved. That period of my life and this journey prepared me for my future and I am grateful for it all.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Aside from acting, I work as a software engineer painting on digital canvases. I consider myself to still be an artist at heart, but my concerns are not so much the words on the page but using words to draw pictures on a screen. I’m most proud of some of my work for GaTech Research Institute that was sold and provided invaluable assistance to care providers. I am also proud of my company, Prolific Blueprint that has been helping African American business owners gain access to technologists, like myself, at a discounted rate. I do this to help minimize the barrier between our community and the tech community. My future plans include teaching engineering and acting to hopefully help excite the creativity that feels suppressed in today’s world.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Never take anything personally and focus on what you can control. There are so many factors that affect everything around us. Sometimes a no simply means not yet, or not this role. The right on will fit you like a glove and you’ll be glad when it comes. However, we often sabotage ourselves emotionally by taking these things personally. Over the years, I’ve found it better to use my downtime for personal development that I can contour over self-doubt caused by things I can’t.
Contact Info:
- Email: Info@itsdrewstephenson.com
- Website: www.itsdrewstephenson.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/iamdrewstephenson
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/drewstephensonacts
- Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DrewStephenson
- Other: IMDb.me/drewstephenson
Image Credits:
Darnell Wilburn Photography – black and white image.
The others are BTS of me and others for the movie “One Heart.”
