Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Anastasia Washington

There’s no limit to Anastasia Washington’s talent. She’s an award-winning actress, comedian, director, model, podcaster, singer, and writer. She’s using her platform and craft to make a powerful statement with humor. Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to chat with Anastasia about her multifaceted career.

PC: How did you discover your passion for storytelling and the arts?
Anastasia: I started acting pretty young. It was mainly because I wouldn’t stop singing and dancing. My mom was like, “This is her passion. Let’s make this happen for her.” I was lucky enough to have a mom that really saw that in me and let me audition and perform at a very young age. As I got older, I decided to take the reins of my career a bit more. That’s when I started filmmaking and writing because I didn’t really want to stick around waiting for a phone call. I wanted to make my own content and pave my own way.

PC: There are so many different facets to your talent and career. Does one come more naturally to you? Is one more challenging?
Anastasia: I definitely love comedy and acting. I feel like that’s my comfort zone. I feel like over the years I’ve had to struggle a bit at singing and writing, which I think is funny because it’s probably what I’ve been most successful at. I’m not the most confident when it comes to singing and writing—I had to learn to be confident in those things—yet those are usually the things where people say I stand out. It’s so weird that they’re the facets I’m least confident about, but I’ll do them. Over the years, I’ve gained confidence in them, but it’s definitely been a journey, especially with writing. When I was a kid, I was the last to learn how to read because I’m dyslexic, but then once I started reading, I read at a higher level than everybody in my class. I feel like there’s a struggle there, but there’s an appreciation there as well. I had to learn that confidence.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success throughout your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out to you?
Anastasia: One of my favorite moments of all time is when I was a kid and I was on the first Addams Family set. I will always treasure those moments on set. When I feel bad about my career, I just remember those memories on that set. It was that feeling of being a part of something so big and so fun with all these talented people. That’s what it’s all about.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Anastasia: I’m very lucky to have a mom who has been so supportive. When my mom was a teenager, she danced for Whisky a Go Go. She danced with all these amazing bands and was on Soul Train. I can’t thank her enough for understanding my passion.

As far as celebrity influences, I love people that have a statement to make but do it in such an elegant way, like Roy Wood Jr. or W. Kamau Bell, because they have something to say that’s powerful and impactful in the world, but at the same time they have you rolling and quoting them later. That’s my ultimate goal as an entertainer: to start conversations but also to entertain at the same time. That’s what my inspiration is.

PC: You’ve used your platform to bring awareness to causes and issues that you’re incredibly passionate about. How did you discover your voice as an advocate?
Anastasia: As a biracial woman, I wanted to talk about these things and protect my family. It was later in my life when I realized I could combine my passions together—that as a woman of color I could combine my passions for activism and for making my community stronger and better with what I write and the comedy I make. I found that out in my late twenties. It was when I started making content and started finding my own voice and became unafraid to say what I needed to say. That comes with confidence. The more I put my work out there, the more I was like, “This is how I feel. I can do this in a creative way.” That came with the confidence I received from making my own content.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Anastasia: I’m a huge Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan. There’s no guilt there.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Anastasia: You’re Next.

PC: Favorite book?
Anastasia: The Jungle.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Anastasia: I’m a big Book of Mormon fan. I listen to it a little too much for sure. I’m also a Camelot fan.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Anastasia: Richard Cheese.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Anastasia: Mariah Carey.

To keep up with Anastasia, follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Photo Credit: Ben Cope