Inspirational Women In Hollywood: Why And How Dancer, Singer, Songwriter and Actress Mette Towley Is Helping To Shake Up The Entertainment Industry
Failure is a part of the process, but every time you overcome it, you’ll feel more resolved in your vision and purpose. I think it’s best to embrace the struggle and reframe it as fuel.
We had the pleasure to interview Mette Towley. Mette is a professional dancer, singer, songwriter and actress who rose to fame after being featured in N.E.R.D. and Rihanna’s 2017 “Lemon” music video. METTE performed in the 2019 drama ‘Hustlers’ alongside Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu. She also starred in the 2019 film ‘Cats,’ where she played the role of Cassandra.
Thank you so much for doing this with us Mette! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
For the most part, I grew up in rural Minnesota. My mom enrolled me in dance when I was a pre-teen, and later in musical theater summer groups. I spent most of my time strategizing how to build a career for myself in a big city, dancing in front of audiences. I was obsessed with the first Step Up Film, which brought a bit of culture to my small town cinema. . . a few years later when I went to University, I studied Modern dance. After graduation I knew that Los Angeles would be the perfect destination. . . that time doesn’t seem so long ago even though it’s been nearly 8 years.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
I remember begging my Mom to get me a microphone and amp so I could sing acapella on our back porch. . . Singing to the birds and animals that is. I had several friends in the neighborhood who would join in and we’d put on shows for our families in the summertime. I always felt like creativity and performing gave me something to believe in. . . narratives of heros and brave people, adventurers or dancers who weren’t bound by bone and time. I love the limitless nature of performance, how it constantly redefines what I know, performance after performance.
You have been blessed with great success in a career path that can be challenging. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?
Failure is a part of the process, but every time you overcome it, you’ll feel more resolved in your vision and purpose. I think it’s best to embrace the struggle and reframe it as fuel.
What drives you to get up every day and work in TV and Film? What change do you want to see in the industry going forward?
I’m driven by the passion and pursuit I’ve had since I was young. I’ve always known that performing brought me joy and brought me closer to people around me. Going forward, I hope to see the industry invest in stories that fill grey spaces and challenge perceptions. I think the best film and TV leave me seeing the world as a brighter place, or calling me to action to make it so.
You have such impressive work. What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? Where do you see yourself heading from here?
Yes! See here. I’m so thrilled to have partnered with Tanqueray for this spot! Working with the brand and the Ridley Scott Agency to create a video inspired by the House of Gucci film was incredible fun. The clip is inspired by the perfect Tanqueray Martini with a Twist, and mirrored the feature film’s motifs of love and revenge. My experience on set with the team was effortless, and we had a lovely time bringing the story to life and creating a world of glamour.
As for what’s next, I’m excited about the future, yet never forget to appreciate the present. I’m looking forward to more acting opportunities and continuing to make music. In all honesty, every day that I’m able to do what I love is a beautiful one… and on a special occasion; when the future I imagine for myself materializes, I’m sure I’ll be toasting with a Tanqueray Martini with a Twist!
We are very interested in looking at diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture and our youth growing up today?
It’s important for people to see themselves represented in culture, and expressed through the lense of the entertainment industry especially. The platform is enormous, and the reach is boundless. . . folks seeing themselves or a version of themselves represented allows them to feel less alone and more empowered. So many of the emotions and phenomenons that make us human often dissolve in the media, but with representation folks see themselves as less alone. I believe representation and opportunity affect the youth immensely.
If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
The “forever” movement of live performance is one that I hope to step back into . . . venues are hallowed ground, where people gather to watch their favorite acts and performers mirror the human experience. It’s such a joy to be among thousands of heartbeats singing the same song, or directing their attention toward the same intention. I’ve had the opportunity as a dancer to perform in those spaces, and I miss them so much because the energy that exists there is almost indescribable. It’s the energy of belonging and community, people of all walks of life coming together, wrapped in a passion for music and dance.
Is there a person whom you would love to have lunch with, and why?
I’d love to have lunch with Oprah in her gardens. I have a modest garden myself, and drool over her Instagram during harvesting seasons. I’m always inspired by phenomenal people who also have passions to create outside what they’re known for, and those that look for new adventures.
This was so informative, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
Inspirational Women In Hollywood: Why And How Dancer, Singer, Songwriter and Actress Mette Towley… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.