In Conversation With Millicent Simmonds

Millicent was photographed by Daniel G. Castrillon; interview by Alison Engstrom; makeup by Tina Turnbow.

Congratulations on finishing your run of ‘Grey House’ on Broadway. Take me back to when you first  stepped onto that stage. How would you describe your first performance?

Oh my gosh. It's all such a blur now. I remember pacing in my dressing room and truly feeling like I was going to faint. The anticipation of finally performing in front of a live audience and not knowing how it was going to be received was really daunting. I remember getting a text from my mom who was in the audience and it said "breathe".  The minute we all got on stage, I think muscle memory and adrenaline kicked in and we got through it. The crowd loved it, we got a standing ovation and I'll never forget that feeling. 

I’m curious about your artistic process performing on stage. Did you find yourself honing your craft with each show or were you pretty set in what you wanted to achieve once you’ve rehearsed a few times?

I think once the cast nailed it down in rehearsal and we all had our notes from the writer Levi and the director Joe, we all tried to deliver that same feeling or performance every night. I don't feel like I varied a lot from rehearsal as far as my performance.  If anything I became more at ease at performing in front of a live audience every night. But every performance is a chance to learn and hone your craft.  It was surprising to me how much we rely on the audience and what they bring to the performance as well. 

After a show or even two shows in one day (!) how do you recharge for the next performance?

I would get massages as often as I could.  I feel like a good massage resets me both physically and mentally. I would also try to do some kind of Physical Therapy during the week. Production brought in a therapist that was available for us once a week and I tried to take advantage of that as often as I could. Sleep is also the best recovery so I would sleep in as late as possible. 

I read how you want to inspire others to not be held back or limit themselves in their quest to pursue their dreams no matter their life circumstances. I truly love that and I couldn’t agree more.  I think that takes bravery and courage. How have these two concepts played into where you are now? 

Bravery and courage are essential, and I think what goes along with those two is risk. Being willing to jump when you don't have the confidence yet is just as important. I think a lot of my courage and bravery has come from just doing the work, even when I didn't feel ready. I had no idea how to tackle Broadway. It's not a thing you see a lot of deaf actors do. But when you dive in and trust the universe to catch and support you, good things happen. 

You’ve been an advocate, since you started in the industry, to address representation surrounding disabilities. What do you think is one area that needs more attention in entertainment and just across the board?

I think we're still really behind in captioning and making things accessible to the deaf community.  Everything from Broadway performances, movies, announcements in airports, podcasts, emergency preparation, breaking news, government and hospitals...we're still very much left out when it comes to content.  I think with the technology that's available we could and should be captioning a lot more. 

Do you have a life motto or mindset that you refer to often?

The Latin phrase, Amor fati. I love the idea of not just accepting our fate, but loving it. Good and bad, joy and suffering.  Being present and grateful in every moment.

Are you someone who had a list in their mind about roles, collaborators, opportunities you’d like to have, or do you go with the flow and see where life and each new opportunity takes you?

I definitely have goals and things I aspire to do, but I don't feel attached to them. I like not knowing what's around the corner and I like challenging myself. I think if you tie yourself to outcomes as opposed to experiences you set yourself up for disappointment. 

Outside of acting how do you stay inspired? Do you have any other hobbies or passions the inevitably fuel your professional work?

I love staying active and working out as often as I can. I love reading. I love learning. I love traveling. I love being around people I love. 

I know that the strike has placed things on hold, but once everything is resolved, I’d love to know what’s next for you? Do you think another Broadway show is in the cards? 

I have a few projects that are on hold for the moment that I'm pretty excited about. They're all very different, but the kind of stories I want to tell. I would definitely be open to another Broadway show! I could never say no to living in New York. I love it here. 

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A special thank you to this team, WK PR, and Rachel Neville studio.