Raquelle Wallace, an actress and writer from Orlando, Florida, now calls Los Angeles home as she carves out a growing career in the entertainment industry. Her journey, though rooted in a deep love for storytelling, took an unexpected turn when she discovered acting in high school, a passion that eventually led her to pursue a BFA in the craft.
Raquelle recalled her childhood as a time when she was shy and reserved, even around family.
“As a kid, I was a goofball, but only after you knew me for a certain time. I was super shy, even around my family sometimes,” she said.
Raised in a Trinidadian family, Raquelle found their openness a bit intimidating, making it hard for her to step into the spotlight. However, in her senior year of high school, she took an elective in theater, which became a turning point.
“Something clicked,” she explained. “I shifted my major to acting, and I can’t imagine doing anything else now.”
The path to overcoming her shyness was not immediate but rather a process of gradual exposure therapy. Raquelle compared it to her approach to roller coasters, where she faced her fears head-on.
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“I was terrified of roller coasters. So, I went to Bush Gardens and got on the biggest ride there,” she explained.
“I did the same thing in acting, raising my hand first in class, whenever the professor asked ‘who wanted to go first’ and I just pushed myself through.” This exposure therapy worked wonders, as she became increasingly comfortable in front of an audience.
Her training in the Meisner technique, which emphasizes the repetition of lines with a partner, further deepened her understanding of acting, not just as a craft but as a way of living. “Meisner has made me so much more present,” Raquelle said. “I used to plan everything out, but now I focus on being in the moment, noticing changes in people’s body language and tone.” This shift in perspective allowed her to connect with her characters on a deeper level, leading her to embrace spontaneity.
Improvisation has also become an important tool in Raquelle’s acting.
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned from improv is not to judge yourself in the moment,” she shared. This approach also informed her writing. Raquelle wrote and starred in her debut short film, “Manifest,” a 10-minute comedy, which was the product of a prompt that Raquelle’s accountability writing partner assigned: write a 10-minute film with no more than three characters, set in a single location.
She embraced the challenge of writing within specific boundaries, coming up with outlandish scenarios, like the main character’s agoraphobia as the reason the entire film takes place in one room.
“I learned how much I love to write,” she revealed. “There’s nothing like taking an idea and putting it down on paper.”
Looking ahead, Raquelle is working on a new short film with a darker, more dramatic storyline. Her experience with “Manifest” taught her the value of structure and limitations, but now she was exploring more complex themes.
“It’s about a woman who falls in love with the augmented reality version of her ex-boyfriend, and then they meet in real life. And then, things ensue,” she teased.
For Raquelle, storytelling was at the heart of her career, both as an actress and a creator. She believed that everyone has a story to tell, whether on stage, in film, or in everyday life.
“Storytelling is all there is,” she said. “It’s your job to tell your story, and I’m lucky to be able to do that through my work.”
Raquelle’s career had already hit key milestones, including a breakthrough role in a university play and multiple commercials that solidified her experience and reel. She is now diving more into film and enjoying the creative freedom it offers.
“I’m really happy with where I am,” she said. “I’m living the dream and just need to keep pushing until I get more access to the resources I need.”
With the support of her family, especially her mother, who emigrated from Trinidad, Raquelle is excited about what the future holds.
“My mom’s perspective is that she came to America and worked so I could have these opportunities,” she reflected.
Looking ahead, Raquelle is determined to continue telling stories that matter and working with like-minded, passionate individuals.
“I want to work with scripts that make me feel like ‘this has to be made.’ I just want to tell the best stories I possibly can.”
Stay aligned with Raquelle via Instagram: @raquellewallace and watch her short film, “Manifest” on YouTube.
