Rising Stars: Meet Nicole Moore-Joseph

It’s easy to see ourselves as the heroes of our own stories in our own minds. Living it is much harder.

I was involved in almost every talent show and play from elementary school to college. High school is where I started writing poetry. The best poetry often comes from heartbreak. High school broke my heart, so it was very fitting.

After studying acting in college, I went on to film school in New York. I directed community projects, film camps for teens, acting classes, and church plays (including original work), and I was always in an acting class. I studied Meisner at The Ruskin School of Acting in L.A. w/ John Ruskin. While in NYC, I studied with various teachers for a handful of years. Most recently, I studied Method Acting w/ Jeff Cole at Conti Studio in Atlanta.

I love to learn. I love to learn and intertwine what I’ve learned into deliciously complex written characters that others can live through. That’s what actors do too. Our motives are often similar, actors and writers.

But none of us do it the same way.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No. It’s not even a road. At least, I don’t think so. You travel through life the best way you know how. Sometimes, you float, jump, fly, kick, or even sleep your way through. I’ve had a lot of: “wake me when we get to the other side” segues. I don’t recommend that form of passage by the way.

The hardest part of my journey was finding out that all the childhood trauma and exposure to sex way too young, developed a cycle of addiction in me that I was completely unaware of.

In 2015, I was diagnosed with Fantasy Sex Addiction. FSA is one of 10 different types of sex addiction. It is when you are unable to enjoy sex with your partner without fantasizing about someone else. For the first 12 years of my marriage, it was impossible for me to have sex with my husband without fantasizing about someone else to reach a climax. Unhealed trauma robs you of real intimacy. Fantasizing about someone else during sex isn’t uncommon, but the way you know you have an addiction is that it’s making your life unmanageable. Fantasizing was ruining my life. It started affecting my work, my relationships, my career, and worst of all my marriage. I was not only fantasizing in bed but all day and night. My brain didn’t have a moment to breathe; it didn’t matter where I was – I found a way.  Over time, I augmented a greenhouse in my mind of sexual fantasy.

I started therapy, finally, in 2018. By 2020, I decided to take my power back and put my true story in a fictional tale, ‘Here Lies the Red Bird.’

Synopsis: A black female fantasy sex addict’s perception of love and intimacy is challenged by the only man that’s ever truly seen her. A white cop.

I am honored to play the lead in this film, it took a lot of therapy and prayer to get here. This is my baby. I’ve written a short film as a proof of concept to raise awareness about my story and resources for the film.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m focused on valuing people. Unfortunately, most people lie as a way to protect themselves from the judgement of others. It can be as small as their body language or as “big” as a spoken lie. Myself included. So, I do my best to recognize the authentic needs of people when I meet them. I believe that’s what makes me a great storyteller and director. People need to know that they are loved, heard, valued, respected, and appreciated.

Every person on set is a valuable asset to the project. Period. The PA is no less important then #1 on the call sheet. Everyone pulls weight with respect and kindness for everyone else on set.

My most recent work, directing ‘SOLOMON’S MOOD’, and having it officially selected into the BronzeLens film festival of 2023 is by far my greatest achievement as a director.

Every film that I’ve directed has been selected by film festivals around the country, and I am in awe. Not in awe of myself but in awe of the gift that God placed in me to make all of this possible. To think that He handcrafted me with this storytelling gift in mind makes me feel like I’m His favorite daughter. No one can tell a story like me. That’s true for every storyteller. Our ability is the metaphorical fingerprint.

Part of my fingerprint is creating characters that I, and others, want to play- and then letting us play them. Why give them to the big names? We are all of equal value. Provided the actor is trained and ready, I want to give them the chance to stand in the shoes they can fill with Grace.

I hope to be known for beautifully complex character work: who I write, who I play, and who I cheer for.

What are your plans for the future?
My plans are to tell the true stories of the silenced, the freaks, the weirdos, the weak, the masculine, the feminine, the young, the old, and every fraction of humanity in between.

I am a writer. That’s how I plan to do it. Through my writing, acting, directing, and producing. As I continue to make connections and build powerful stories while telling my own, opportunity will show up as I prepare and stay ready.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/iamnicolemoorejoseph
• Instagram: Hereliestheredbird
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@HealingPrettyPodcast?si=O_afqy0rKxUTlThe

• Other: Instagram.com/iamnicolemoorejoseph