Entertainment
Years beforePoses Golden Globe-winning run, Michaela Jae Rodriguez nearly skipped a callback that would change her life.
Bustles Without This Woman is a series of essays honoring the women who challenge and change us.
Fredi Walker-Browne was theoriginal Joanne inRent.
I remember the first time speaking to her.
And I was like, But I wanna go out and have fun.
And she said, No.
Go home, relax, rest, because you have another day of work that you have to continue.
She helped me get myfirst opportunity off-Broadway, doingRentin 2011.
When I was in final callbacks, I was so nervous.
I was scared about going in front of the panel, and asked her if I should even audition.
She got on my case.
She said, What?
I got that audition for you, girl.
you gotta go!
And it hit me heavily, because no one had ever done that for me.
No one had ever stuck their neck out so far for me.
Rentis a story about ostracized misfits.
It built me up.
I was so grateful.
Thats what Fredi did.
She helped me change the trajectory.
You have to challenge yourself to push love as much as it’s possible for you to.
I like being a light, and I think thats the mentorship that Fredi gave me.
She had strong, very prominent views on how I should move.
It was the kind of mentoring I needed.
It also reminded me of my mother.
Though I havent spoken to her in a while, her impression still lands on me.
Without that woman, I most likely would not be where I am today.
Id still be Michaela Jae, but I dont think Id be positioned how I am at this moment.
As told to Leila Barghouty.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
