We had the good fortune of connecting with Daphne O’Neal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daphne, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?

Well, I really I didn’t seem to have much choice. I tried other pursuits, but the arts kept calling me back.

Even my first journalism jobs involved writing about the arts, i.e. theater, dance and opera reviews.

I gave up writing theater reviews because I felt criticizing people without understanding the job they were doing was unfair. I thought I would try to do the job of being an actor and see for myself.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I came across a video recently of the late Alan Rickman, advising folks who are interested in acting to first visit museums, go to plays, see other kinds of performances, to kind of ground themselves in the world of the arts.

Ever since I was a second grader, I’ve enjoyed museums. My mother took us to children’s opera and to the symphony even before I started kindergarten. I loved every minute of it. And of course, I started music training at five and ballet at age 9. So I feel like I’ve been on the path he advised all along. Nothing is more important to me than the arts. I’m excited now to be learning a lot more about the visual.

As to shifts, I spent a good number of years in San Francisco doing mostly corporate videos. If a TV or film production came to town, I would often be involved.

Los Angeles is like a different world. The professionalism is at such a level that it was quite an adjustment. But I found wonderful coaches and acting career teachers to guide me, to explain how it all works. An acting career is two-pronged: There’s an art side and a business side, and you really do have to balance the two.

I created a limited podcast series about three years ago, in which I said, “In Hollywood, they try to make high art out of TV and film.” Now that I’ve lived here a little longer, that sense is reinforced. It’s easy to dismiss television because it’s so accessible and ever-present. People love to put it down as “just television.“

But now that I’ve made the adjustment, what I am most excited about is the degree of professionalism that goes into creating a television series. From planning and project management to selecting actors and crew to all the care taken on set by directors, showrunners and writers. To see this web of talented people, all at the top of their game, functioning together as a unit is awe-inspiring. It’s even more thrilling when there’s a strong sense the piece will turn out well.

Just this week, I shot my first role in a European TV series.  I did a string of TV movies in 2022 and was looking forward to moving into series in 2023. I could not have anticipated the extraordinary events of this year. Still, I felt I would book something before December came to a close.

The show is a political thriller called Conflict and is being produced for Finnish television. I play a talking head on a CNN-style news program. The showrunner wrote and directed the Netflix hit series Rebellion. Conflict will air sometime in 2024 and may appear on one of the major streamers as well.

As to lessons learned, when I was a child at the piano and in ballet class, I thought life was all about “getting it right.“ One of the wonderful things about acting is that there’s so much freedom to make choices. I now feel life is about developing to your fullest and expressing every bit of your true self. Maybe I couldn’t have gotten to this place without living through the strictness and discipline of the classical. But I am thrilled to be here now.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

Well, my very favorite museum in the world is the Norton Simon in Pasadena. So we’d have to make a stop there. Then we could head over to Hastings Ranch for some shopping and a bite to eat.

Back in LA proper, there’s the Magic Castle, fun for a meal and more. Not far from there is the Hollywood Walk of Fame, an endless source of delight to visitors.

On the west side, we can stop in at the Academy Museum for its curated exhibits, then step into elegant Fanny’s Restaurant and Café for a drink and a bite. And while we’re at it, we might as well visit LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) which is right next door. If there’s time, we can take in UTA Artspace in Beverly Hills, where fresh contemporary works from artists the world over are sure to be on view.

Finally, I’d have to take my guest on a drive to appreciate the natural beauty of Los Angeles. It’s ’s not just about beaches and sunsets. Of course, there are designated spots, like Elysian Park which, while it’s just steps from a baseball stadium, boasts magical views. Popular Griffith Park even offers an equestrian center and swimming pool.

Farther afield in LA County, in spots like Rowland Heights and Diamond Bar, the hills and forests are just stunning. And even some of our much-maligned freeways proffer soothing sights. We’ll witness stunning mountain vistas, incredible cloud formations and lush, hillside vegetation.

Truly, there is beauty everywhere….

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

Shoutout to my first piano teacher, Mrs. Emeline Clawson at the Cleveland Music Settlement (formerly Music School Settlement). I didn’t realize it at age five, of course, but she really taught me what it is to be an artist. It seems things are coming full circle: I have a new acting teacher (also born in Ohio!) who is similarly gifted and dedicated. In class, I feel like I’m back with Mrs. Clawson, That feeling of trust, security and dedication to the art.

Website: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm1830036/#

Instagram: https://instagram.com/thedaphneoneal

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/daphneoneal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/daphneoneal

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutOhio is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.