Deborah Barnes

08/19/2026

Ever wonder if that mighta been your last shoot?

Not talking about skill or ability here, just the nature of the industry...so much is out of our hands!

I don't worry about it...much! cuz worrying feels yuk and gets me nowhere good.😅

I've asked myself this question a lot over the last 4ish decades...through casting...craft service.

pretty sure I'm not alone?

Thought ever cross your mind that you could be looking in the rearview mirror?😅🤣😬🤣

would love to hear your thoughts!

07/27/2026

07/27/2026

Do you have to 'tamp yourself down' to get 'right' for some roles?
I do, and for Most roles.  
Rarely can I audition 'as is'.
In this instance, I'm talkin' about my hair.

I deal with it for almost every audition...in person or self-tape.

This is my hair today. Big. Unruly.  Frizzy.  Has a life of its own.
I love it like this, and good thing too cuz it is what it is!
Which brings me to today's post.

About 80% of the auditions I go out for these days are granny roles.
From being in the business all these years, I have come to understand who/what that is, and it's my job as an actor to give them my best version of that character they are looking for.

My hair is my stumbling block.
Even when I've got it all shrunk down and styled, it is still perceived as big and statement-making!   That's not usually what they are looking for if it's a granny with the family at Christmas, or the granny at the old folks home, or the granny who is 'sick' and needs some Medicine to get right!

So...it's already a stretch for me even when I've got 'er tight..
My Real hair, the hair I walk around in on the daily is easily twice as big, lacks definition and is livin' its own life. And I'm growing it Out which = More time gettin' it right! 

Ends up being what can be a pretty big undertaking to get myself looking 'acceptable' for the roles I am called out for.

Don't get me wrong.  It is not a problem - even if it is a bit of a hurdle, and it's something I am super willing to do to get that golden opportunity to book a job!

But I do find myself from time to time wondering... isn't there room now and then for a granny with a fakkin' big mother of an afro too?
A Black woman in her 70s, with big hair, living her biggest joyful life? (or even a sick one! lol)

I'm curious, do any of you have a bit of your natural self you've gotta go the extra mile to alter to fit into the roles you get called out for - specifically in commercials? (cuz the commercial world is its own thang!)

I am betting there's something!
I cannot Possibly be alone in this conundrum!  

Please share!  I'd love to hear and hopefully have some company!

 

07/27/2026

Do you have to 'tamp yourself down' to get 'right' for some roles?
I do, and for Most roles.
Rarely can I audition 'as is'.
In this instance, I'm talkin' about my hair.

I deal with it for almost every audition...in person or self-tape.

This is my hair today. Big. Unruly. Frizzy. Has a life of its own.
I love it like this, and good thing too cuz it is what it is!
Which brings me to today's post.

About 80% of the auditions I go out for these days are granny roles.
From being in the business all these years, I have come to understand who/what that is, and it's my job as an actor to give them my best version of that person they are looking for.

My hair is my stumbling block.
Even when I've got it all shrunk down and styled, it is still perceived as big and statement-making! That's not usually what they are looking for if it's a granny with the family at Christmas, or the granny at the old folks home, or the granny who is 'sick' and needs some Medicine to get right!

So...it's already a stretch for me even when I've got 'er tamped down.
My Real hair, the hair I walk around in on the daily is easily twice as big, lacks definition and is livin' its own life. And I'm growing it Out!! It is taking longer and longer!

Ends up being what can be a pretty big undertaking to get myself looking 'acceptable' for the roles I am called out for.

Don't get me wrong. It is not a problem - even if it is a bit of a hurdle, and it's something I am super willing to do to get that golden opportunity to book a job!

But I do find myself from time to time wondering... isn't there room now and then for a granny with a fakkin' big mother of an afro too?
A Black woman in her 70s, with big hair, living her biggest joyful life? (or even a sick one! lol)

I'm curious, do any of you have a bit of your natural self you've gotta go the extra mile to alter to fit into the roles you get called out for - specifically in commercials? (cuz the commercial world is its own thang!)

I am betting there's something!
I cannot Possibly be alone in this conundrum!

Please share! I'd love to hear and hopefully have some company!

05/12/2026

THANK YOU 💞🙏🏾💞

This is a sad goodbye and heartfelt Thank You to who is closing their doors forever due to the challenging times that are affecting small businesses these days.

Your brand paid attention to women of All sizes and shapes. Helped us to feel seen And comfortable.

My experience with you has been life changing. Being in your campaigns gave me an opportunity to embrace my body as it is. No small thing to do publicly! That choice, to finally let the ties that bound me fall away, has permanently altered the way I live in this world.

Less shame, more Here I Am!
Less restriction, more ease.
I will be forever in your debt.

I know I'm not the only one whose life you changed for the better.

We will miss you.
..and thank you Karl O'Reilly for making me feel so comfortable in front of your lens. And of course for championing me on!

🙏🏾💞⚘️

05/05/2026

Guess it wasn't that important after all!😅🤣🤣🤣🤷🏾‍♀️

04/25/2026

And all of a sudden I am aware

Aware of where I am sitting
Who I have become
The ease in my body and in my mind

It’s a moment in time
Revealed to me in a flash of crystal clear consciousness.

The words, the feelings, the opening of doors on my journaling pages.
Noticing how utterly perfect the moment is.

Look at me, I say to myself!
Sitting on your patio in your leopard print attire
Taking a photo of yourself for the instagram
While you drink in the heat of the sun and the brilliant blue of the fresh Spring sky.

Look at me, I think to myself.
How the Hell did I even get here?
Living THIS life.
THIS life filled with wonder, opportunity and joy and Contentment.

THIS life with all the perks I never knew I could have.
The Fluevogs, ha ha! A home that suits me perfectly.
Organic grass fed butter.
A ‘career’ that somehow has an engine of its own, keeping me engaged and debt free.
Old friends and wonderful wonderful new friends - a true sense of community on a very broad scale.

What I’ve always had is Hope, and a strong belief that things will Always work out.
Usually not the way I’d planned, but often in a way that I couldn’t possibly have dreamed.

Throwing all this down here quickly so as not to lose this wonderful feeling.
Sharing, because I want to.

How is Your day unfolding?

Deborah Barnes
Coach / Mentor / Life Strategist
Calm success, one step at a time.

Email: [email protected]

I acknowledge with humility and gratitude that I work and live on the ancestral, traditional and unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-waututh) Nations.

04/14/2026

5 Sides of the CX-5

Wonderful to be a small part of Mazda's 5 Sides of the CX-5 campaign.

A cool marketing campaign with 5 distinct short films. I think this is the longest of the bunch at 4 min 35 sec. Love it when a brand breaks out of the norm.

Directed by the phenomenal Paul Hunter and gorgeously shot by none other than Hoyte van Hoytema

was a force to be reckoned with. Not only is she a talented actor - she's a brilliant singer, dancer, stunt person. Truly inspired by her!

I learned something new. How to work a string mop. Maybe not the most glamorous role I've ever had, but man oh man was that corner of the diner CLEAN!!
Staff must have been wondering what the serious Heck when they went in to work the next morning!😂

Always grateful to get asked to come play. ❤️

04/11/2026

"Undercurrent"

Ever grateful to who understood the assignment.

I am a whirlpool.
A Vortex. A Maelstrom.
A lens looking both inward and outward.
Formidable.

You caught me Ian Redd! 💞
It’s a twist to see myself this way. 
Feelin' the Power. 
It’s givin’ me ideas.

MUA Goddess!👑💞