Edwina Findley, a native of Washington, DC, is a rising star in Hollywood who portrays powerful, vivacious women in a variety of shows. She gave me the incredible chance to ask her about her future projects, and how her faith has significantly influenced her profession. She took me on a trip through the origins of her passion for acting, and the importance of relationships in her career. 

Entertainment Profile
Edwina Findley
Actress
Current Project: “The Power” on Prime Video  
Recent Projects: AMC’s “Fear of The Walking Dead,” The CW’s “Black Lightning,” FOX’s “Shot Fired,” HBO’s “The Wire,” OWN’s “If Loving You is Wrong,” and Warner Bros. Get Hard are a few notable examples of noteworthy past projects. 

Cox: Edwina Findley, I’m eager to discuss “The Power,” your most recent endeavor, with you. I’d like to learn more about this DC native before we discuss that subject, though. What inspired you to pursue acting? What do you enjoy most about it? 
Findley: One of my earliest recollections of performing was when I was when I was five years old. I actually began singing and dancing in church plays and musicals. My mother discovered I had artistic talent at a very young age, and she was the one who pushed me to join in activities like dance, music, and creative writing. As a result, I ended up enrolling in Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, and then studying theatre at NYU. 

Thank God for my mother, who truly encouraged my artistic side. 

Cox: You’ll need faith to get you through your acting career. 
Findley: It’s true! My whole career, I’ve just keep praying, because faith is such an important part of my life. As a senior in high school, I used to pray and ask God, what am I supposed to do with this love and passion I have for acting? Should I pursue a profession in law, medicine, or one of the more secure fields? God was still pushing me to pursue the arts, I could sense it. Even when I was terrified, He continued to open doors for me. I thank Him for his blessings, and continue to do so. 

Cox: Have you ever been the kind to insist that a door shouldn’t be closed? 
Findley: I’m just that way by nature. I’m almost always going to challenge a closed door, and refuse to accept no for an answer. However, as I’ve matured, God has taught me how to distinguish between what is meant for me and what is not. I’ve had moments when I believed that something would be an incredible opportunity for me, but God has shown me that He had different ideas. Some pathways He strategically allowed to close, so I wouldn’t miss the other opportunities He had providentially prepared just for me. 

Cox: What else matters to you when navigating this industry besides your faith? 
Findley: Relationships and mentoring are crucial. I have always been the kind of person who values attaining knowledge and wisdom from others, and I’m so grateful for the veteran actors in my life who have shared their hard-won wisdom with me. I’m constantly pouring out knowledge on the next generation of artists as well. We don’t have to work exhaustively hard to earn and learn everything, if we embrace positive mentors and guides along the way. 

While living with Viola Davis and her husband Julius Tennon, I received an incredible knowledge of what Hollywood looks like, both in front of and behind the scenes. They adopted me as their own, and demonstrated to me how to move about the business and with integrity. Through them, I also received amazing insight into how to sustain a healthy marriage in Hollywood as well. 

Cox: Why do you believe producers and filmmakers like the compelling personalities you’ve portrayed in your fantastic roles? 
Findley: That’s a compliment! (laughs). While I was in school, I studied Shakespeare a lot, and immediately began performing in classical plays when I graduated. So, it’s funny that playing a female gangster alongside Omar on “The Wire” was my first major TV role! I can still recall feeling self-conscious when I started filming the show, since I am personally so unlike this specific on-screen persona of mine. Filming scenes where I’d be holding guns while dangling out of moving automobiles, and thrust into huge shoot outs, often times I was secretly trembling in between takes. What is it about me that they think qualifies me for this job? I wondered.  

However, I believe that my dedication to the role was rooted in me truly wanting to be honest. I always want to bring authenticity and honesty to my characters, no matter what her walk of life has been. It’s my job to always take my character’s side, and represent her truth, her flaws, and her dreams to the best of my ability. By doing lots of research, creating intense character biographies, and conducting interviews with people from various walks of life, my goal is always to bring multiple dimensions to my characters and to my work. I’m committed to finding out about more about their ideologies, worldviews, and culture and bringing that to my performances. 

Cox: You came to Los Angeles because of your background in theater. 
Findley: The irony is that most actors come to Hollywood in search of film and television possibilities. I actually came to perform in a play, hailing from New York. The play was set during the Civil War in Liberia, West Africa, where my family is from, and was written by Danai Gurira (Black Panther, “The Walking Dead”). I knew right away that I had to be a part of this production and loved every minute. 

Cox: I want to discuss “The Power” now that I know more about you. 
Findley: Even for me, starting this endeavor was enlightening. I believe it illustrates the velocity of history we are now seeing. We observe a society in which the gender gap narrows and women occupy positions of authority. You see, women as a class in this society, are too often accustomed to being mistreated and assaulted. Many of us are trained from a young age to be scared, but thanks to “The Power,” we no longer need to be. Those who get this power, that is. 

In the show, we get to watch how society reacts negatively to disenfranchised women gaining more authority. In this new reality, girls no longer have to be terrified of everyday occurrences like going on a nighttime stroll alone. Now that the roles are reversed, it is adult males and boys that become terrified of adolescent girls. 

This enlightens us on the issue of how we cultivate compassion and empathy for one another, and forces us to ask the question of what you would do if power suddenly shifted in your favor. How would you handle it, for good, or for destruction? 

Cox: What about the show do you love? 
Findley: I adore how popular the program is all around the world. London, Nigeria, Moldova, and Seattle, Washington are the locations explored within the series. With this show, we get to meet so many people from all backgrounds. It offers us the possibility to encounter various cultures, and we can now clearly understand our true unity. I want people to adopt more universal kindness as a takeaway.  

Cox: Tell me about your character? 
Findley: I play “Helen,” who serves as the Seattle mayor’s chief of staff. She has several duties, including managing the mayor’s professional life. There is a global calamity taking place as soon as the show begins. Everything is ablaze, and we are investigating the cause of the city’s current fires. “Helen” reminds me of “Olivia Pope” in that she manages things with authority behind the scenes. “Helen” serves as “Margot’s” personal crisis coordinator. 

Cox: Is there anything about “Helen’s” on-screen development that you find exciting? 
Findley: I’m excited that “Helen” finds her own voice and strength throughout the series. I think many women and men will be able to relate to that. I sure do! 

Photography Credit: Sarah Krick