From ‘The Wire’ to ‘Fear Street,’ Darrell Britt-Gibson Hasn’t Lost Sight of What Matters

The following Career Dispatch essay was written by Darrell Britt-Gibson, who can currently be seen starring in Netflix and R.L. Stine’s “Fear Street Part 3: 1666.”

Acting is fun. Seriously, it really is. Yet, I think there are times when those of us who do this for a living lose sight of that. I was recently on the phone with my mom, griping about the challenges of an upcoming role. She stopped me and said, “Do you have any idea how many people would do anything to be in your position? You get paid to play make-believe. Every role introduces you to a whole new world. You’re living your dream.” She was so clearly right that we both cracked up at how silly I sounded.

The first audition I ever had was for the critically acclaimed TV series “The Wire.” I knew how incredibly lucky I was to even get an audition—and I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I went in there, shot off a couple lines, and left. Thrilled that I’d actually gotten to read for an actual role, I decided I didn’t care if nothing came of it. When I was fortunate enough to book that one-day, two-line co-star role, I arrived on set with a gigantic grin on my face. I mean, I was having fun. 

When I finished filming that day, I had no idea if another opportunity would ever come my way. So when “The Wire” called me back for another audition, I thought, “Wow, this is really cool!” I was so hyped during the audition, I leapt over a table as described in the script, landing so close to the casting director that I clearly terrified her. I figured, “Welp, you had a good run, but you’ll never act again.” But hey, I was cool with that because it still felt like fun. A few weeks later, I got a call that the producers liked me so much they wanted to create a character for me. WOW! Throughout the run of the show, I never got over the miracle that somehow, I was on a freaking TV show—and a quality one at that! I never got over what a gift it was meeting actors, producers, and crew who’d become my lifelong friends. And I never once lost sight of the fact that I was having major fun.

It wasn’t until I moved to Los Angeles and started auditioning more that I stopped having fun. I started worrying about all of the wrong things, got in my head too much, and even talked myself out of roles. This went on for several months, until I made the career-changing promise that’s become a permanent part of my world view: Have fun, Darrell. You are so blessed to be doing what you love!

That promise has absolutely made all the difference. I figure that every role that I don’t get isn’t meant for me, and I send true love and blessings to whoever does get it, because the universe intended it for them. Outside factors remain outside factors. Disappointment only rents time in my head because I’ll never give it permanent residence. Hey, we all naturally go there, but I refuse to live there. And I work at being kind to myself, because I deserve to be loved wholeheartedly by myself. Beating myself up doesn’t serve the angels watching over me and doesn’t serve me.

So if I had to tell my younger self one thing I’d say this: Like every human being, you’re a beautiful rendering of God’s creation. So be you and only you. Enjoy every minute of it because nothing lasts forever. And most importantly, have fun, kid. You deserve it.