Check out our interview with actress Nadine Whiteman Roden who stars in the new and highly-anticipated comedy series Take Note on Peacock TV.
Take Note follows a group of contestants from across the country competing in a fictional reality singing competition. 14-year-old Calvin Richards has a wonderful, close-knit family who can survive anything as long as they’re together. Calvin was chosen to compete on a tween reality singing show – Take Note – and they’re going to spend the summer navigating the crazy ups and downs of new friendships and competitions, while being thrust into the national spotlight.
Nadine plays Drea Richards, the smart, strong, professional and no-nonsense mom to the Richards kids and doesn’t give a hoot about fame, fortune, and the flashy and fancy people in Hollywood. While she absolutely recognizes Calvin’s talent and supports his pursuits, Brenda is as fiercely protective as she is proud of him and her family.
Follow Nadine @Nadinerwhiteman
Hi Nadine, please tell us a little about you
Hey there, I am an actor and singer based in Toronto. I am also a self-proclaimed foodie and an animal lover.
Describe yourself in 3 words
Optimistic/Artistic/Loving
How did you get started into acting?
I have always wanted to be an actor, maybe even before I could put words to what it really was. I got my start like most kids doing school plays, singing in school choirs. In high school, if I wasn’t on stage I was backstage working a show. It wasn’t until my late 20s that I pursued acting as a career. I started doing community theater in my area and that led to me auditioning for larger shows, taking classes at Second City, voice lessons with private voice teachers and then I booked Mamma Mia.
How has this changed your life?
I started acting at a kind of unhappy time in my life. I was looking for something that gave me joy so I opened up the yellow pages looking for some community theaters in my area because when I thought back on the times that I was happy it was when I was on stage in high school. So I started doing shows which sparked joy in me and then started taking classes at Second City. I also took voice lessons with a lovely teacher in Hamilton, Ontario, and that kind of pushed me towards auditioning for more professional shows which then brought me to Mamma Mia. From then on, I haven’t really looked back. So I guess acting completely changed my life from doing a regular 9-5 job to doing what I’m doing now. This is going to sound corny but acting took my childhood dream to a reality.
What is the best and most challenging part of being an actor?
The best and most challenging part of being an actor I guess is to be creative everyday for your job. Your job as an actor is to create the art of finding a character, living that character and bringing that character to life. Sometimes that is easy and feels like flying it is a complete high. And sometimes it is hard work and the challenge of finding that creativity seems so far away from you.
Tell us about your work on the highly anticipated comedic series “Take Note” and about your role as Drea Richards?
I am so excited about this new show and I can’t wait for everybody to see it. Take Note is a comedy about a fictionalized tween singing competition a la American Idol. I play Drea Richards, mom to Calvin Richards who is competing in th. competition. The show is full of amazing music, some of it you’ve heard before, some of it which has been written especially for the show. It has a lot of comedy and heart, I think people are going to really love it. Drea was an awesome character. I really loved playing her. She is a fierce mama bear, a no-nonsense kind of mom who will do anything for her family. She is smart, funny, and loving. She is the type of mom that I would like to be. I think audiences can expect a show full of music, comedy, heart and a lesson or two wrapped up in all of that goodness.
What kind of roles do you like or would like to play and why?
OOOOOhhhhh that is a big question. I like dramatic roles and comedic roles. I love dramatic roles where I can drop a little comedy into them or comedy that I can drop a little drama into them. But honestly I like any role that I can stitch my heart to and be totally truthful and honest with. I also would like to play a superhero. I think that would be SUPER fun. See what I did there?
What is the most rewarding part of your work?
I think the most rewarding part of my work is being able to be creative every day. Every day with a new script is an opportunity to stretch my imagination to find something new, something different. Something that I made from my heart. As a kid I was always told how sensitive I was. It still kind of bugs me to this day when someone says that. But that being said my sensitivity, my vulnerability, my openness is kind of my superpower. Those are the things that allow me to step into these characters wholeheartedly. So I guess that’s the most rewarding part of my career. That the thing that felt to me like it was something to be ashamed of is now the thing that I rely on the most to do my job well.
What’s your advice for newer actors?
My advice for newer actors is that you have got to love it. You have got to love acting more than anything else because if you love doing anything else, you probably should do that. Because acting can be a really tough profession. There’s a lot of ups and downs. A lot of no’s before the yes. You really have to have confidence and faith in yourself deep down in order to do this because there’s going to be a lot of people out there who tell you you can’t do it.
How would your best friend describe you?
I asked her and this is what she said: (she is) Kind, generous, hilarious, talented with an infectious positive attitude and joy about life even in it’s hardest moments. Yup, I teared up when I read it….
What advice would you give to your younger self and why?
I think the advice that I would give to my younger self is to stop looking for that outside validation and to believe in myself to have the confidence to go for what I wanted, when I wanted as opposed to worrying whether or not I would get it “right” or if it would be perfect.
What’s next for Nadine Whiteman Roden in 2022?
Oh my goodness, I’m so excited about 2022!!! Besides the drop of Take Note on February 24th on Peacock in the States and February 28th in Canada on Family Channel, I have just wrapped on a Hulu series that I’m a huge fan of. I have two animations that will also drop this year and three movies that will also drop this year: The Swearing Jar, Stolen Hearts and My Loving Stalker. So there is a lot on the horizon. Check in on my social media channels and I will let you know as soon as they get release dates.
What is your favorite healthy food?
My favorite healthy food is probably a massaged Kale salad
And your favorite cheat food?
My favorite cheat food has to be pizza with a side of chips and some wine. Is that a little specific?
What is your own definition of happiness?
Stability, good friends and good food
If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?
Okay this is obscure but I am a big fan of ancient Egypt history. So this is going to be a bit obscure but I would love to meet Hatshepsut. She was a female Pharaoh. She wore a fake beard so basically dressed in drag and ruled Egypt. What kind of woman she must have been. I would like to meet her.
Best advice ever given?
I had an amazing voice teacher early in my career who said when I went in for one of my very first big auditions she told me that before I go in I was to spread my arms as wide as I possibly can and spin in a circle and remember that that was my space and that space was sacred. That has stayed with me all of these years.
Do you support any charities?
In the past few years I’ve been donating to the Daily Bread Food Bank. When I was young I did not have a lot of money but my mom was able to keep nourishing food on the table. I think it is a shame that in a country as affluent as Canada there is food insecurity. I try to do my small part to help that not be an issue.
Where do you see yourself and your career in 5 years from now?
I would love to keep doing the things that I’m doing now. Acting is my ultimate joy. I would also love to direct and produce at some point. Be able to give opportunities to other actors in things that I’ve created or helped others to create. So 5 years from now I’d like to step my game up a little and maybe get on the other side of that table. Be a producer, director, writer.
Favorite song? Why?
I have a lot of favorite songs, but I think the one that’s coming to me right now is I’m Coming Out by Diana Ross. I remember buying that album as a child and it was just pure joy to me and screlting ( a cross between belting and screaming) at the top of my lungs. I feel like when I hear that song that joyful way that Diana sings, I’m coming out. I feel like my ilife is right. I think that might be on the soundtrack of 2022 for me.
Where can we follow you?
IG @Nadinerwhiteman
Twitter @NadineRoden
Book: The Alchemist
Quote: Love is Love is Love
Movie: The Color Purple
TV Series: Friday Night Lights
Favorite Food: Pizza
Travel Destination: Italy
Sports Team: Raptors
