Today we’d like to introduce you to Crys Washington.
Crys, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
As a child, I always had a love for the arts. My love started when I was eight years old and saw the movie Annie for the first time. I related to her in so many ways. Growing up in foster care and being taken in by my Aunt and Uncle made me realize that there can be a happy ending to such a sad story for a girl so young.
That’s when I said to myself, “I want to do that.” I wanted to be able to move someone in a way that could change them in a more positive aspect and give them hope. To have them see themselves in the story and know that everything will be alright. Since there were no theatre classes in my middle school, I joined a dance group instead to fill in the gaps until I found a theatre class.
So once I entered high school, I started doing drama. I directed and starred in my first play. I also started modeling for a few and even was a backup dancer for my sister’s local girl group until I tore my meniscus. I also auditioned for the Baltimore School for the Arts and was asked to come back for a second audition.
Unfortunately, my mom wanted me to focus on a more stable plan for my future. So, I left my dream of being an actress behind that day or so I thought. The dream still remained in my heart so I starting writing stories. When I was 18 years old, I had my daughter and my life changed drastically. I took the next couple of years to focus on her and build a stable life as my mom suggested.
It wasn’t until I met my wife in 2007 that I realized dreams really do come true. My wife graduated from Howard University with a BFA. Being with her was like living in a movie. I had experiences that I only dreamed about and never thought would be possible. I attended red carpet events, album release parties, VIP backstage passes at Rihanna’s Diamonds Tour Concert and even got to mingle with Rihanna’s backup dancer’s on their tour bus. However, my career really did not start until 2009 when my wife kept encouraging me to try background acting as a way into the business. I started doing background acting in music videos and several local projects. It wasn’t until I worked background on Netflix’s House of Cards that I truly knew without a shadow of a doubt that this was my life. It had to be because I felt right a home. But in order to get it, I knew I had to make major changes to achieve it.
In August of 2017, my wife and I packed our family up and drove across the country to relocate to San Diego, California to follow our dreams. It was a bit of a rocky start for the first few months. Eventually I got into acting classes and started performing in dozens of plays at the local theatres along with shooting a pilot. I also tried my hand at directing in the North Park Vaudeville Playwright’s Festival. The play I directed won best play of the festival and the playwright was so delighted.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Definitely not a smooth road at all, especially when you’re traveling off the beaten path. Nothing worth having comes easy and if it does you better beware. I’m in one of the toughest industries where you have to have thick skin, perseverance, and dedication if you’re going to succeed. I’m originally from Baltimore, Maryland and it was tough growing up there. So I know I got what it takes to make it in this industry.
When my family and I arrived in San Diego, we were staying in a motel. We literally relocated with $1,800 that’s it. Some of my friends and family thought we were insane to relocate with no major plan and no money saved but I knew God had a plan. When you act on faith, everything falls into place. We were in the motel for about a month, then went to stay with my wife’s family for a few months until we got our own place. We certainly were not prepared for the cost of living that’s for sure. We had our own place for almost a year until things took a turn for the worse. We lost our apartment and became homeless.
For about six months or so, we slept in our cars with our daughter and two dogs at a safe lot (A Safe Park Program). Let me tell you I wanted so many times to drive back to Baltimore and give up. We were now homeless and paying for two storages one back home and one here. But I never did, I just couldn’t something in me wouldn’t let me abort my mission. Even though I was dealing with such a heartbreaking situation, I still went to my acting class, met with my scene partners in the park to rehearse and performed in my class showcase. I was determined to keep moving forward. We eventually were able to get back on our feet and are finally stable now. To all those young women or anyone out there just starting out, my biggest piece of advice would be to NEVER give up and trust God has a plan for you. You have to go through it to get to it. Sometimes our biggest failures lead us to our greatest success. My motto is sow good seeds and they will flourish into miraculous things!
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am an Actress, Model, Creator, Entrepreneur, etc. I wear many hats. I love doing many things that I am passionate about like creating YouTube videos for my channel, directing and modeling. However, my main focus is acting but I do all those other things during my downtime when I’m not performing. Currently, I have been doing tons of local theatre but looking to transition into TV and Film. That’s what I’m working on now.
I’m most proud of my work ethic and perseverance. When I recently performed in the production Hall Pass, which was a part of the La Jolla Playhouse W.O.W Festival, those things were truly challenged. During the last week of rehearsals and the entire week of performances for Hall Pass, I was sick with walking pneumonia caused by a sinus infection. Which meant I had to take antibiotics and have steam treatments multiple times a day, along with other medications.
We had 12-hour rehearsals on that Saturday and Sunday that went straight into the week’s dress rehearsals and performances. The last two days of Hall Pass, we had two shows on Saturday and two on Sunday. I had to work my day job then go straight to rehearsals and performances that entire week all while sick!
In this business, there are no sick days, so you have to find that balance to rest and take care of yourself all while getting the job done, which I did between performances, at home, and during breaks. It wasn’t easy and I thank God for being with me and allowing me the strength to finish the show! I knew God wouldn’t bring me to it, if he wasn’t going to see me through it. No matter how I was feeling, I still gave 110% every performance and you would never have known I was sick unless I told you! That is what it takes to be a professional actor in the industry amongst many other things and for that, I’m so proud of myself!
That’s what sets me apart from others. Every second counts and I don’t take any for granted. It’s also important to take some time for self-care. I always have 1 hour of downtime when I shut off all the screens, and relax, pray, etc.
Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
My most important piece of advice is to be fearless, believe in yourself and don’t listen to anyone that says you can’t do something. If you are truly passionate about that thing, then do it. We only live once and you never know until you try. If I would have listened to those people telling me I was insane for moving to California. I wouldn’t be here today telling my story.
I was scared out of my mind to move across the country, let alone a place I’ve only seen on TV and google maps. I mean, I’ve never even been anywhere on the west coast ever, so to just up and leave my whole life behind was hard. But I conquered my fear and did it. As you already know or are probably even experiencing it today, your friends and family will not always support your decisions or success. Don’t sweat it! I’ve lost tons of people on my journey. Did it stop me? No! Did it hurt? Yes! I just changed my perspective to everyone can’t go where God is taking me and those who can are already with me. Remember that and you’ll be well on your way to that blessing!
Contact Info:
- Website: cryswashington.com
- Instagram: http://bit.ly/CrysInstagram
- Facebook: http://bit.ly/CrysFacebook
- Twitter: http://bit.ly/CrysTwitter
- Other: http://bit.ly/CrysYoutube
Image Credit:
J’koabie Diamond
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