“Taylor Blackwell is in a league of her own”
Exclusive Interview by Michael Aaron Gallagher of StayFamous.Net
Actress Taylor Blackwell
When it comes to young Hollywood stars, Taylor Blackwell is in a league of her own with her beaming personality, quick wit, and the smile of a Disney Princess.
But what makes Taylor truly extraordinary is that her talent goes well beyond her engaging on-screen presence. At the age of 18, she is already an accomplished professional – an outstanding actress, model, screenwriter, journalist, children’s book illustrator and so much more.
Originally from West Palm Beach, Florida, Taylor began acting and modeling at a young age. It was in a local theatrical showcase that she says she first caught the acting bug. From there, she landed commercials for major brands including Universal, Olive Garden, Burger King, and Walmart.
As a child actress, Taylor had the unique opportunity to learn about the entertainment business firsthand from some of the industry’s top professionals, including the legendary Burt Reynolds.
“I’m really glad I started when I did. I have loved it from the very beginning,” Taylor said in a recent interview. “I think it has really prepared me for both life as an actress and life in general.”
Taylor’s positive attitude on set and dedication to her work has set her apart from many of her peers.
“Taylor’s strength is her willingness to work hard to achieve her goals,” her father said. “I love author Malcolm Gladwell‘s take on how to achieve mastery in a field. He talks about how it takes ten thousand hours of practice to really get good at something. Taylor is a great actor because she spends so much time working on her craft.”
With an impressive list of performances on her growing resume, Taylor has the exceptional versatility to go from playing a bubbly character in a television commercial to adopting more serious, dramatic roles. Over the years, she has appeared in episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, One Tree Hill, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Magic City, Army Wives, and Charlie’s Angels.
Taylor Blackwell poses for a portrait during a photoshoot. Photo by Larry Marano.
In addition to her work as a model and actress, Taylor has also amassed an impressive social media following for her work as a celebrity interviewer. The guests on her “CelebriTay” podcast (which is available for download on iTunes), is a “Who’s-Who” of young Hollywood. During her interviews with stars like Ciara Bravo (Big Time Rush), Elena Kampouris (My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2), Brec Bassinger (Bella and the Bulldogs) and Nolan Gould (Modern Family), she creates a comfortable dialogue that blends her natural ability for improv with an intelligent charm and wit, revealing a side of the stars that is genuinely entertaining.
“I think I’m really one of a very small, select handful of teens that have a podcast,” Taylor said. “You see, so often, young people being interviewed on the red carpet for three to five minutes, just these short, quick interviews and you don’t actually get to really know the person. But the fun thing about this is I can sit down and have a nice conversation that is very relaxed, and a lot of times it is more like listening in on a casual conversation with a friend.”
In recent months, Taylor has also become a budding YouTuber, getting in front of the camera, where she excels the most. Whether she is talking about her favorite music or answering questions from her fans, YouTube provides Taylor with a platform to showcase just how good she is on camera, while building an audience and growing her fanbase. Will we see her interview celebrities on YouTube? Will she debut her own webseries? Or will some of her famous friends make guest appearances on her channel in the coming months? There’s only one way to find out, and that’s to subscribe to her YouTube channel!
“I feel so lucky to be Taylor’s father and to be a part of her journey,” Mr. Blackwell said. “I am inspired by her love of life. She radiates positivity and joy wherever she goes and she makes me happy whenever I am around her. Her talent, determination and work ethic is also inspiring. She has been blessed with a lot of natural abilities, but what makes her so successful is her focus to succeed in whatever she does. She gets straight A’s in school, she already been a success in the acting profession, she illustrated a children’s book and she hosts a popular podcast. Taylor has a list of accomplishments most people would be proud of over a long lifetime.”
Although she has yet to be offered the breakout role that will catapult her to the Hollywood A-List, her outstanding performances to date and her enthusiasm for her work will undoubtedly attract the attention of casting directors and talent scouts in the coming years.
“My hope is she continues to be kind, caring and happy in her life,” her father said. “I have no doubt she will continue to succeed in whatever she wants to do. She knows there are challenges along the way in the journey. But every day is an opportunity to learn and grow. You can tell I am a proud father and I can’t wait to see what she will accomplish next.”
“Taylor Blackwell is in a league of her own”
Copyright 2016 by Michael Aaron Gallagher
Photography courtesy of Taylor Blackwell
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