Arianna Jones

Exclusive interview with actress and filmmaker Arianna Jones - She’s a star on the rise

Arianna Jones stays busy doing what she loves. Spring 2024, the actress starred in FireFlies, a Live Arts two-hander community theater production in Jones’ hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia. With several credits currently in postproduction, the New York Tisch School of Arts graduate has also backed her own productions.

Her professional acting career dates back to 2018 when she was cast in Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween. In addition, she has appeared in an episode of two true-crime original TV One television shows, For My Man and ATL Homicide.

Jones discusses her passion for acting and storytelling in an exclusive email Q&A with Idol Features.


GINO TERRELL: I read somewhere that you began your acting journey in middle school when you landed a role in a stage theatre play. What did you find was the key to landing that role?
ARIANNA JONES: I believe that landing that role was simply fate. I happened to be in the right place at the right time. The play was about three cheerleaders and I was an all-star cheerleader in real life. That is what compelled me to audition and my cheerleading skills, more than anything else, were most likely the reason I landed the role. Although it was a small production, I thank God that I did it. I often think about the fact that I likely would have never tried acting at all if I did not. I was blessed to discover my passion at a young age.
GT: What do you love most about acting?
AJ: Acting, similarly to any other art form, is ultimately a method of storytelling. What I love most about acting is that I am able to tell the stories of real people who may not have otherwise had an outlet to share their own stories. I am able to tell stories that resonate with a variety of individuals regardless of their backgrounds. I am capable of inspiring, educating, and transforming people through my performance.
GT: In what areas have you grown as an actress thus far?
AJ: Throughout time I have learned to be more grounded in the characters I portray. I believe the key to acting is, ironically, not to act. You do not want to act, but instead you want to be. The more you can truly embody the character, walking like them, talking like them, even breathing like them authentically, the better you can tell the story and honor that character.

GT: Is there anything you can tell us about your role in Netflix’s upcoming series Blood Money?
AJ: I am both acting and producing on this production! Blood Money is currently still in the final stages of post production and we anticipate on beginning our distribution process soon. Nothing has been confirmed yet. That being said, there is not much that I can share with you all at this time. However, I will be posting updates on my social media throughout the process.
GT: What was it like working with season 2 The Circle winner Deleesa?
AJ: Deleesa is one of the sweetest people I’ve ever worked with. I truly enjoyed being on set with her. She always brings such positive energy to the room. I’ve also enjoyed watching her beautiful family grow. Her three girls are adorable!
GT: Is it true that you are a NAACP member?
AJ: Yes. I became a member of the NAACP in 2022 after graduating from NYU. I grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia and the event that occurred in 2017, the Unite the Right rally, which hosted Neo-Nazis and Klan members in Charlottesville always stuck with me. It was eye-opening. All my life I studied American history and even experienced racism firsthand. I understood that it was still an issue. However, until that moment, I did not realize how prevalent it still was. We have come a long way but there is still a long way to go. I want to do my part in facilitating change and growth, not only in America, but globally.
GT: What stories are you looking to tell with your production company?

Deleesa St Agathe and Arianna Jones

AJ: As I said before, storytelling is so powerful. You would be surprised how much you can learn or discover just by listening to the stories of the people around you, especially the people who are different from you. You would also be surprised how much you have in common with, and how much you can relate to, people you deem to be different. I want to tell a variety of stories, particularly the type of stories that we do not get to hear everyday. However, there is no limit necessarily.
GT: In your recent collaboration with Live Arts you starred on stage in a theatre production titled Fireflies. In what ways did this project correlate with your “why” as an actor?
AJ: Working on Fireflies was such an amazing experience. Each night after the show, audience members would come up to me and congratulate and compliment me on the performance, and every night there would always be at least two or three people who came up and said, “thank you for sharing this story.” I cannot take credit for any of that. That simply attests to the powerful work of the playwright, Donja R. Love. My job as the performer was simply to bring his beautifully written words to life. But these are the types of stories I strive to create and share with my production company. Stories that truly impact and move the viewers.

Arianna Jones in the production of Fireflies. (Photo: Will Kerner)

GT: Throughout the process, what were some highlights of working on Fireflies?
AJ: I really enjoyed being a part of a production with a two-person cast. I was able to get to know my co-star, Simeon Brown, very well as well as getting close to the director, Ti Ames, and everyone in the crew. It felt good to be on stage again. In film you typically learn your lines on your own, show up to the set, shoot your scenes, and go home. In theatre you spend hours, days, months rehearsing and performing with the people in the production. You truly get to build a connection with each individual involved. I think that is what I loved the most about being a part of the show.
GT: In five to seven years, where do you see yourself as an artist and a filmmaker?
AJ: I see myself still creating, but also still learning and growing. No matter how much I learn and grow there will always be room for more growth and new things for me to discover. No matter how far I get I will always strive to get further and do even more. When you find something that you truly love and have a passion for, simply doing that thing is fulfilling enough. I am not chasing after fame or fortune, I genuinely love this art form and hope to be able to do it for the rest of my life. That being said, it is hard to say exactly where I want to be. I would love to win awards for my work someday. But I can honestly say that my main hope is just that I will be able to do what I love and what makes me happy forever.

GT: Is there anything about your journey that you have enjoyed the most so far?
AJ: I enjoy tracking my own growth. I enjoy looking back over the years at where I started and how far I have come since then. Sometimes we get so caught up in moving forward working towards a specific goal that we forget to look back at everything we have already accomplished and been blessed with. I also love the fact that I am able to meet so many amazing people, build meaningful and lasting relationships with them, and support and track their growth as well.


 

About the author

Website // More articles

Gino is a journalist, actor, and filmmaker. This photog's snapshot of Lauren Jauregui, published in Idol Features, placed third for Best Action Photography at the 2020 National Arts & Entertainment Awards (via LA Press Club). Telly 26 is where he directed and executive produced short film "Club City." He also starred in DROELOE's "Only Be Me" music video.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*