Check out our interview with Macedonian-Canadian actress, singer and dancer Brittany Charlotte Smith who can be seen next in The Wedding Rule, a sweet romcom film, as well as The Naughty Nine for Disney+ coming out this December. With a background in comedy, I trained at The Second City Toronto and was cast in their House Company.
Brittany’s past credits include I Won’t Let You Go (Lifetime), A Recipe for Joy (It’s a Wonderful Lifetime) a series regular on CBC series According to Kids, Suits (NBC) and Deadly Influencer (Lifetime).
Follow Brittany @brittanycharlottesmith
Hi Brittany, please tell us a little about you?
My name is Brittany Charlotte Smith, I’m a Canadian-Macedonian actor, singer and dancer who trained at Toronto’s The Second City and was cast in their House Company. I am currently dividing my time between Los Angeles and Toronto. I have some exciting projects premiering this year, including The Naughty Nine on Disney + and The Wedding Rule this spring/summer. Other projects you may have seen me in: I Won’t Let You Go (Lifetime), A Recipe for Joy (It’s a Wonderful Lifetime) Suits (NBC), or as a series regular on the CBC series According to Kids. I’m also a writer and producer currently developing multiple projects with my partners at Monday Morning Media. When I’m not working, I love collecting antique teacups, playing exceptionally beginner acoustic guitar, and performing unnecessarily intense tarot card readings for friends and family.
Describe yourself in 3 words?
Sassy, sweet and sensitive.
How did you get started into acting?
When I was 8, my first singing teacher let me sing ‘In My Own Little Corner’ from Cinderella. Prior to that she was teaching me a lot of classical songs, which were beautiful, but I didn’t connect with them as much… probably because I was a child and my musical palette consisted mainly of the Spice Girls! I wasn’t just singing this song, she encouraged me to act it. I loved it. I began to enjoy acting around then, which naturally led me to musical theater, and then film and tv.
How has this changed your life?
Through my years of studying, performing, and creating characters, I have actually learned more about myself. It has challenged me to be playful, and vulnerable. It taught me when to fight and when to surrender. It has been a huge gift and I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to do this professionally. I don’t think I’d be the person I am today if I didn’t pursue acting.
How do you prepare for a role?
I’ll start by reading the script, to get a sense of the story. Then I usually do a lot of detective work, break everything down, it’s fun! Creating a back story, figuring out my character’s point of view, then playing around in my rehearsal. Anything to get to know the character and have it feel like a part of me. Then when we get into production it becomes more collaborative, with wardrobe, makeup, direction, the cast.. Every element adds more clarity as to who this character is.
Tell us about your work in Disney+ “The Naughty Nine?”
It was a blast! The cast and crew were lovely to work with. The story is so cool, and our wonderful director Alberto Belli created such a magical world – I can’t wait for audiences to see it. It’s a Christmas movie like no other!
And about your supporting lead role in “The Wedding Rule?”
I loved it – I play Evie, an outgoing and spunky party planner trying to help her best friend achieve her dreams. Working with director Alpha Nicky Mulowa was such a great experience, and she really gave us room to play in the scenes. This whole project was so much fun to be a part of, and with this cast and crew there was never a dull moment.
What other projects you have been part of?
My other recent acting projects have been I Won’t Let You Go (Lifetime) and A Recipe for Joy (It’s a Wonderful Lifetime). I write and produce as well so I have a couple short film projects on the go too. I recently wrapped on a comedic mockumentary with director Gavin Michael Booth. I have an dramatic short film called The Care Giver that has been making its festival run and has been selected to screen at Black Bird Film Festival on April 28th!
What kind of roles do you like or would like to play and why?
I am usually drawn to comedic characters with big hearts, and you can find those characters in both drama and comedy which is great. I’d love to work a period piece someday, something like The Great would be such a fun show to work on. Anything with an ensemble cast like Ghosts, The Office, Friends, or New Girl. Getting to live with a character for a couple seasons and growing with them and your cast/crew would be a dream. Stage wise; I’d love to be in the musical Chicago, Cabaret, Into the Woods, Moulin Rouge, & Juliet, A Chorus Line… Anything where I can do a battement and a jazz hand or two.
If you weren’t acting, what would you be up to right now?
My husband says I would probably be a psychologist, and he’s not wrong. I love having deep conversations with my friends (and sometimes strangers). Uncovering why people do what they do, getting to the bottom of an issue, understanding how the brain works, certain behaviors – I find it so interesting.
Which fictional character would be the most exciting to meet in real life?
That’s a hard pick.. probably someone with a superpower of some sort, like Sailor Moon, Gambit from X-Men, or the Genie (or the Carpet) from Aladdin. I don’t know why I want to meet cartoons… but I do.
Can you name 3 actors/actresses you would love to work with?
Only three? Absolutely not. In no particular order – Steve Carrell, Viola Davis, Taraji P Henson, Toni Collette, Michelle Yeoh, Michaela Coel, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Kathy Bates, Goldie Hawn, Gary Oldman, Sterling K Brown, Jane Fonda, John Cleese, Ke Huy Quan, David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Coolidge… this list is never ending….
What is the most rewarding part of your work?
Being present. When everyone comes together on a set, stage, anything, to create one vision. That’s actual magic.
What’s your advice for the newer actors?
Be compassionate with yourself. Sometimes it is “1-step forward 2-steps back” and it will feel frustrating. But remember you will be in a constant state of growing and there is an opportunity to learn in everything you do. I used to think there was a destination I could arrive at as an actor, so I wasn’t enjoying the journey because I didn’t feel like I arrived yet. Just remind yourself you are exactly where you need to be. What will be yours, will be yours and if it isn’t, it wasn’t meant to be.
What would say are the greatest lessons you learned so far in this business?
-Don’t wallow in your mistakes. Do celebrate your wins. If you fail, learn, and move on quick! Don’t punish yourself. It just holds you back. Also, find time to celebrate your wins. Those don’t come by as often as we wish, and you deserve to acknowledge them!
-Stay malleable. In this industry there are a lot of things out of our control. Be prepared to let go of all your ideas of how something is supposed to be.
-Don’t give up on yourself. It’s easy to throw in the towel when things get hard, but that’s where the best personal growth lies, and that’s where the magic is.
What’s next for Brittany Charlotte Smith in 2023?
I’m in post-production with my comedic mockumentary which will be heading to festivals at the end of the year and I’m currently pitching a pilot with my partners at Monday Morning Media. Auditioning and moving into new projects as well, but I’m excited for upcoming the premier of The Naughty Nine and The Wedding Rule!
Best advice ever given?
My dad once said – ‘If success were easy, everyone would have it.’
Where can we follow you?
On Instagram @brittanycharlottesmith or look for updates on my website brittanycharlottesmith.com
Book: Tiny Beautiful Things – Cheryl Strayed
Quote: Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us. – Marianne Williamson
Movie: The Fifth Element
Tv Series: FleaBag
Favorite Food: Acai Bowls
Travel Destination: Italy
Sports Team: Any Toronto team, Raptors, Blue Jays, Maple Leafs.
Photo Credit: Calyssa Lorraine @calyssalorraine
