Featured Artist Conversation with Actress, Singer, and Songwriter, Amy Christine
Disclosure: The subject of this interview is represented by Mandisa Johnson through Disa J Management. Mandisa Johnson is also the founder and executive director of Atlanta Film and TV.
A few weeks ago, we sat down for a Featured Artist Conversation with Actress, Singer, and Songwriter, Amy Christine Ramsey.
Growing up, Ramsey’s parents knew she was talented. They invested a lot into her and dedicated and supported her because they knew she was both gifted and talented. Her parents would drive hours for classes, and took her to audition for American Idol and The X Factor. Amy’s mother would put her into all the church productions. She attended both the Dekalb Elementary School of the Arts, and for a short period of time attended The DeKalb School of the Arts. In college, she did background work in both feature films and TV shows.
“Later, I wanted to enhance my talents, so I decided to get a Talent Agent, and shortly thereafter I took a five-year hiatus. While on hiatus, I felt as though I gave up, and now I am trying to redefine myself by getting back into the entertainment industry.” - Amy Christine
Atlanta Film and TV: You’ve taken on some really interesting roles, from Alize on P-Valley to Reggie’s Stalker in THOT Therapy. What originally drew you to acting, and when did you realize this was something you wanted to pursue seriously?
Amy Christine: When I was younger, I loved and adored acting and didn’t want to pursue anything else. I loved animals and knew I did not want to attend veterinary school! I did, however, work hard and had tunnel vision because I was always focused on acting, singing, and dancing.
Atlanta Film and TV: You’ve played some very different characters. Is there a particular role you’ve done that challenged you or pushed you outside of your comfort zone?
Amy Christine: Playing Alize on P-Valley was challenging because it was my first on-camera speaking role on a huge network. The role itself wasn’t challenging; it was ensuring I was getting my lines right. All in all it was fun being on set, but it was a challenge and a little nerve-wrecking.
Atlanta Film and TV: You’ve worked on several short films, including It’s About You, Remembering Momma, and THOT Therapy. What do you enjoy about independent films that might be different from working on a television production?
Amy Christine: From my experience, doing supporting roles on National TV and comparing it to doing independent films, with independent films you get to be more free. The filmmakers allow you to do your own thing with the character you’re portraying - which I love. However, bigger production companies probably allow you to do the same thing, but I have yet to experience that.
Atlanta Film and TV: As a singer and actress, you have two creative lanes that you can pursue. Do you see them as separate parts of your career, or do you ultimately want to find ways to bring the two together?
Amy Christine: Early on, I wanted to keep music and acting separate because I had dreams of becoming a pop star and be in movies. I also found ways to bring the two together. I was in the feature film Kadence, where I played a singer, where both acting and singing was brought together. For about eight years I was a part of a band and acting tied in because we did creative music videos where I was able to express my acting skills.
Now, I wouldn’t mind meshing music and acting together, which would make me happy because I don’t care about separating the two anymore.
Atlanta Film and TV: You’ve stepped away from the industry for a period of time. What made you decide that now is the time to come back full on?
Amy Christine: I am 31 and I am at a place in my life where I am settled down. I am married, and right now I work at a bar as a manager and its very lucrative, however I don’t want to work behind a bar for the rest of my life. I do, feel like something is missing because I feel like I am not using my god-given gifts, which keeps me up at night. I feel like god gave me these gifts, and I need to be using them. I do, however, want to break my shackles of fear, and the outside noise telling me I’m not good enough or I can’t do something. I am at the age where I am saying ‘its now or never!’ Now is the time. I am in my 30’s, and I am more confident than I’ve ever been and ready to take on the entertainment industry!
Atlanta Film and TV: Coming back isn't necessarily about starting over. What do you feel you bring to the industry now that you didn't have earlier in your career?
Amy Christine: I bring patience and faith and with these two things I am more mature. God does things for a reason and if things would’ve went the way I wanted them to go, I wouldn’t have been ready because of how impatient I was. Before, I was quick to speak, and quick to anger along with being jealous. I am not that person anymore and I feel like now I am wiser and feel like now is the perfect time to come back into the entertainment industry.
Atlanta Film and TV: What kinds of roles are you really hungry to play at this point in your career? Are there genres, characters, or stories that you feel particularly connected to?
Amy Christine: At this point in my career, I am hungry to play more darker-femme roles or thriller roles which would include playing either a witch or vampire. I would also like to act in crime, or suspenseful thrillers or comedy-horror films. This is because I am a huge fanatic of all three genres.
Atlanta Film and TV: If we have this conversation a year from now and you're exactly where you want to be professionally, what has happened between now and then?
Amy Christine: What I would like to have happened between now and next year is having a bigger network of folks in the entertainment industry, believing in myself, as well as putting myself out there. I’ve realized that no one can believe in me as much as I can believe in myself, which means putting myself out there and working on my craft.
You can connect with Amy Christine on Facebook and Tik Tok at Amy Christine, and on IG @amy.christine_
To work with Amy Christine contact Mandisa Johnson at disajmanagement@gmail.com
Comments