Pussy Power Post #7-Kedren Spencer
Kedren Spencer has one of the biggest, brightest, most beautiful, truly infection smiles I’ve ever seen in my life. You look at that smile and instantly feel happy. It’s as if she’s got Black Girl Magic oozing from her pores.
It is this magic and contagious joy that has held my attention as I’ve watched her grow and courageously make a major career change in efforts to follow her artistic dreams.
Meet Kedren…actress, singer, and hospitality and tourism ambassador of Wakanda.
I’ll start with a very LA-esque question. What exactly is it that you do?
I am a classical actor and singer from Maryland. I am currently based in New York, where I work professionally in plays and musicals. I'm hoping to expand more into film, writing, and directing in the near future!
What inspires you?
-Strong Black women living their best, most joyous lives, without apology.
-Women uplifting other women.
-Acts of resistance in moments of everyday life.
-Seeing brilliant theatre…most recently I saw ‘The House that Will Not Stand’ by Marcus Gardley at the New York Theatre Workshop. I was vibrating for days.
Give me an abridged version of your journey.
I was born in DC and raised in Maryland…though as a family, we moved around a bit on the East coast. My mother made sure from a very young age my brother and I were exposed to the arts. That’s how I caught the bug, though it remained dormant for quite some time.
I grew up playing competitive sports, and fell into Special Education while studying Psychology in undergrad. I continued teaching for about two years after I graduated, before I made the leap to pursue acting full time.
This past Spring I graduated with my Master’s degree in Fine Arts from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. Including my recent training, I have been acting for a total of about six years.
What’s your biggest accomplishment thus far?
I feel both blessed and accomplished to have finished my Master’s degree, and to be actively pursuing my dreams. It sure ain’t easy and is unstable as hell. But I am incredibly proud of the path that I’m on, and all of the work I’ve done in my short career so far.
What’s next for you?
I just finished my first contract/gig post-graduation. I am now beginning the process of getting settled in my new Home in New York before my next gig in the Washington, D.C. area this Holiday Season!
Name one major goal for the future so your sistren can manifest that with you.
I want to create change and inspire action with my art. A major goal I have for myself and my work, is to be surrounded by likeminded, women and artists of Color to collaborate and make this change with. I really want to cultivate that community; a strong village to grow with and be challenged by.
Name: KEDREN SPENCER
Age: 29
Location/Region: These days I’m proudly reppin’ the BK!
Industry: Performing Arts
Theme Song: At the current moment, ‘She’ by Laura Mvula, ‘Americans’ by Janelle Monae and (cuz I like to keep things steamy) ‘Unravel Me’ by Sabrina Claudio.
Favorite Place to Travel: Can I cheat and say any place outside of the U.S.? I feel incredibly safe, and strong, and alive…and most connected to other humans when traveling outside of the States. I’ve been blessed enough to have traveled quite a bit in my short life. I’ve been to two countries in Africa (Namibia and South Africa) and it’s an incredibly spiritual and powerful experience. I feel very rooted and grounded there, in a way that’s unlike anything I’ve experienced before. I’m hoping to get to do a LOT more exploration there…also Spain. I LOVE SPAIN!
Best Book You’ve Read in the Past Year: Rupi Kaur, The Sun and Her Flowers
If You Were A Color You Would Be: A Copper, or Bronze
Best Piece of Advice You’ve Ever Been Given: JUST DO THE WORK. Don’t worry about everything going on around you, or what other people are doing. Just keep your head down and do the work. Do YOUR work.
Favorite Article of Clothing: I love a good scarf. Large and bright in color, so I can wear it on my head, wrapped in my hair, as a dress, as a top…the possibilities are endless!
Biggest Fear: Not fulfilling my potential…letting my fear cripple me from stepping into my destiny, and stepping unabashedly into Love that I actually deserve.
#1 on Your Bucket List: I can't wait to create a body of work that will ultimately influence and inspire the way Black and Brown girls and women are viewed (and view themselves) in the world. #1A on my list is playing George Washington in ‘Hamilton.’
Fictional Character You Most Identify With: This is so hard! Perhaps Nova from Queen Sugar or Joelle from Dear White People.
Daily Affirmation: “With every breath we take we have the opportunity to Begin Again.”
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