Today we’d like to introduce you to Racquel Townsend.
Racquel, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am from Chicago, IL, I moved to Georgia five years ago to pursue acting. When moving here all the plans that were made before the move ended up not working out and I ended up homeless for about two months, when staying at a family’s residence didn’t work out I stayed in my car until by the grace of GOD I got an apartment of my own.
All while still attending classes and doing little gigs like voice over jobs for people if they needed it or even mixtape drops just to make extra cash. The next year my brother moved here to Georgia to get out of Chicago and things were working out ok until 2017. I was in a bad car accident, had to go to physical therapy and nerve therapy for about three months and then found out I had a brain tumor that was growing. 2017 I became depressed, I had no car and as much as I tried to stay positive it was extremely hard to see any hope, not to mention, I wasn’t able to act at all, Which has always been my type of therapy. Plus, my financial debt was piling up because I didn’t have health insurance and I got to the point where I wanted to give up, it was suggested I get a dog and that what I did. As crazy as it might sound she gave me hope when I didn’t have any for myself. In 2018 I got health insurance and then was able to get radiation treatment for the tumor, but at the beginning of that year, I vowed to embrace fear, do the things I’ve always wanted to try/do, and to enjoy the moments. I’ve never stopped fighting for my acting career and never will.
Recently, my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer and because for the last five years I’ve had my ups and downs I know she will get through this! I don’t ask myself Why me anymore. I have a talent, one that will affect the world and I only got there through my experiences and challenges. I have accomplished so much and intend on doing so much more in the years to come. Currently, I am looking for an agent but I look forward to also helping others through some teaching of performing arts in my company, ACTWORKX, LLC.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
EASY!? Don’t make me laugh. Acting is not a career that many of us, actors, choose. We honestly get tired of running from it or begging God to take away the need for it. As cliche, as it sounds, acting, chose me. I know you have heard the saying; be careful what you wish for because the only way to get to it, is to go through it. Like I mentioned before, I’ve had Many challenges in my life. I’ve only discussed the challenges that I have had since I’ve moved to Georgia but when I was younger, my father and my mother had a relationship that wasn’t the healthiest. My dad and I are close now, but my dad was on drugs growing up and that made it hard to build a Daddy-daughter relationship.
I then got in my own physical and mentally abusive relationships. To come to Georgia and experience homelessness, physical/health issues from a car accident, brain tumor, depression, suicidal thoughts, even unsupportive family and friendships all of which puts speed bumps, sometimes craters along the road. I say all of this, but I do not think I can become the actor I want to become without experiencing life, the good, the bad, and the ugly.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am an actress, model, VO artist. I specialize in drama and bringing the raw and realness to the characters I portray. I like for the viewer to relate to me as a person and see them in all of my work. People normally watch tv or movies to be entertained. I want that woman or little girl, maybe even man to see my work and be touched. It might just be that day that they need to see that they are not alone, there is someone just like them. I feel… I know that might not seem like much to some people but as an actor that can mean the world.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, although I may have seen things I shouldn’t have, I was carefree. I was very outgoing. VERY BOSSY! My mom would let me plan the family outings and trips, so let’s blame that on her! I loved to make people laugh and still do. I also loved to write. I used to always write stories, I wrote poetry all the time and would always get trapped up in fantasy books. My whole family has the artistic bug, there were many days that we would take a trip to Micheals and then come home and do arts an crafts. I loved it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Racqueltownsend.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mz_wonderwoman
Image Credit:
Josh Daugherty (Door-D Photography), Jacqueline Carlton Portrait, JzR Images, Felipe Jimenez
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