Interview by Carol Wright | Photos Courtesy of Butterfly Photography
Hawaii McLaughlin is an actress, model, and stunt worker who isn’t afraid to follow her passions. She has walked for both NYFW and VFW and recently filmed the movie Boneyard. McLaughlin talked to NYOTA about keeping herself creatively motivated, getting involved in stunt work, and her advice for aspiring actors.
What initially got you interested in acting?
I’ve always wanted to be an actor ever since I was a little girl. Maybe it was from all the movies and shows I watched when I was younger.
How did you find yourself trying out stunt work?
My uncle was the first one to introduce me to stunts and I thought that it looked fun and cool.
Is there a stunt you’ve mastered that you’re particularly proud of?
I wouldn’t say that I am a master at anything yet, but I do practice my martial arts and stunt fighting quite often.
Currently actors are striking and you were at the picket lines a few weeks ago. Can you tell our readers a bit about the strike and what SAG-AFTRA is fighting for?
The strike is for equity in the entertainment industry with wages, residuals, etc. When movies go to streaming platforms those platforms can make a lot of money from one particular movie but actors aren’t getting residuals that reflect the success of their movie and I’ve seen people get residuals as low as 10 cents. Actors used to be able to live off of the residual checks that they received and now it can’t even cover a gum-ball. The strike is fighting for actors to be correctly compensated for their work.
You’re also a model and in the past have been able to walk in shows for NYFW and VFW. Do you hope to do more shows in the future?
While walking in shows in NYFW and VFW has been so much fun and such amazing opportunities my main goal is to be an actress not a runway model. Although, I do have a huge passion for fashion so I will still be attending NYFW because it’s so much fun and I always love to see all of the designers. If a designer asks me to do a show I wouldn’t say no, I just am not going to be making my career as a runway model. I am always grateful for the opportunity to represent a brand that I love.
How have you been keeping yourself feeling motivated creatively during this time?
While some people might say that it’s hard to stay motivated and creative I disagree. I love to watch films, work on my craft, and try new things to spark my creativity and motivation. I am surrounded by so many positive and creative people who inspire me every day. It’s very important who you have in your space, it can affect you greatly.
What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
Stay consistent with your craft and don’t lose your passion. It might take some time, but your opportunity will come and you better be ready.