Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Cooper.
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?
When I was younger, my first-grade teacher won Miss Tennessee. After months of begging, my mother hesitantly let me follow in her footsteps and do pageants. My favorite portion was always the talent portion because I loved to sing. After a few years, my mother suggested I get involved with local musical theatre companies. My love for singing, dancing, and acting blossomed from there.
Only recently have I switched from stage acting to screen acting. I was in music videos and a few television shows when I was younger but was not as interested in screen acting as I am now. Every time I see an open call anywhere in Nashville or the surrounding areas, I submit my headshot and resume as quickly as possible. I am thankful for every audition and every booking I get. It has been a rollercoaster, but I know the younger me would be amazed at what I have accomplished!
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?
It has certainly been a bumpy ride. I was always interested in screen acting when I was younger, but I was so focused on and involved with musical theatre that I never had a chance to explore outside of my bubble. Eventually, I stopped doing as much musical theatre to focus on school and college, but I found myself being drawn back to screen acting. After getting involved, I realized how rigorous the work was and how dedicated I had to be. Whenever I would receive sides for an audition, I only had a couple of days to do an in-depth analysis, memorize the lines, and film my audition.
Many times I would receive multiple auditions and had to push myself to get them all submitted in time. I also realized how difficult the industry is. I would get callbacks and come so close to booking a role, only to find out that I didn’t book it. This definitely took a mental toll on me in the beginning, but I had to remind myself to push forward and that I had amazing people supporting me every step of the way.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an actress, doing both live theatre and screen acting. I am currently more focused on on-screen acting, however, my love for musical theatre will never go away. I started singing when I was very young, so that will always be an important part of my life. I started dancing at the age of two and have continued to dance throughout my whole life. I eventually started acting somewhere around sixth or seventh grade, which turned into screen acting this past year. I think I am most proud of a commercial I got to film in Lexington, Kentucky this past winter.
I booked a holiday Christmas commercial for Commonwealth Credit Union, and that was the first time I got to see myself acting on a screen. I remember being so thrilled and showing all my family and friends, who were incredibly proud of me. The best part was the feeling of accomplishment that I felt, knowing that my hard work resulted in something positive.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Personally, I am an overthinker. I always debate the outcomes of possible choices and if the end result will be worth it or not. I took a big risk recently and chose to go back to university, where I am majoring in broadcast journalism. I knew this would slow down my work in screen acting, but I also knew that I would have a steady job and career. Some risks are worth taking, though.
For example, whenever I get an audition that I don’t necessarily relate to or am completely comfortable with, I throw myself into the work and give it my best shot. Some auditions you’ll think you nailed, and some you will feel so unconnected with the character that you don’t even know where to start. Taking risks can give you the chance for something life-changing. Sure, it can be stressful and worrisome, but it can definitely be worth it in the end.
Personally, I think taking risks can be an amazing thing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.agencyprotalent.com/taylorcooper18
- Instagram: @tay_l_c
Image Credits
Madison Wolfe and Snow Wolfe Productions, Sumner County, YMCA Commonwealth, and Credit Union
