Today we’d like to introduce you to Haley Drane.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started acting at Caster Studios when I was three years old. My mom reached out when the studio was just getting started and inviting families from the community to get involved. Earlier that year, I had filmed a Better Bites commercial and received a lot of cookies, so I was very motivated to keep acting!
Soon after, I joined Gus Plus Us. I turned four on set, and the Caster Studios team made my birthday incredibly special. I have now appeared in all three seasons and the Christmas special. Without them, I might never have discovered this talent that I love and continue to grow.
My acting journey began with Pastorini-Bosby Talent in Houston, and I am now represented by Collier Talent in Austin. Both agencies have helped me get where I need to be to thrive. I have worked in commercials for brands including Whole Foods, Favor by H-E-B, Halo Luxe and Georgia Natural Gas. I also train weekly at On Stage Ready because acting takes practice and it truly takes a village. I am very grateful for mine.
My first movie roles are in upcoming projects with Julia Barnett and Rolling Reels Productions. They are creating exciting films right here in Austin, and I cannot wait for people to see them later this year. As the Texas film industry grows, I am excited about the future and I would especially love the opportunity to work on a Taylor Sheridan project one day.
My conservation journey began when I was seven and traveled to Kenya with my mom, Anne Drane, the founder of the nonprofit SAWA SAWA. I visited villages with her, fell in love with Africa’s wildlife and was saddened by how few resources were available to protect animals that are quickly disappearing. There is nothing like an African safari to give you perspective on our place on this planet and our responsibility to protect its most vulnerable creatures.
At eight, I began training in Kenya with Big Life Foundation’s all-women ranger team. It was girls passing knowledge to girls. I learned to track wildlife, safely coexist with animals, respond during a dangerous wildlife encounter, recognize an injured animal, use ranger equipment and know whom to call for help. I returned for more training in 2025. At Ol Pejeta Conservancy, I studied rhinos, encountered the Big Five and met Najin and Fatu, the world’s last two northern white rhinos.
Now I bring my acting, conservation and storytelling together through Wild with Haley. My first book, Chelonians: Tortoises, Terrapins and Turtles, is coming this fall. I hope my books, films and wildlife adventures show other children that we do not have to wait until we grow up to protect animals. We can start learning, speaking up and making a difference right now.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not always been a smooth road, but I am grateful to have family, friends, teachers, coaches and mentors who support my adventures. Nothing meaningful is completely smooth. It takes work, consistency, discipline, sacrifice and bravery.
In acting, one of the hardest parts is putting myself out there for every audition. I have to prepare, give it my best and be ready to hear “no” when I am not the right fit. Sometimes I receive a callback, get very close and still do not get the part which can be even harder. I continue training every week to sharpen my skills because success happens when opportunity meets preparation.
Conservation required a different kind of bravery. During my ranger training, I walked approximately 20 miles across the plains of Amboseli, surrounded by elephants, giraffes, buffalo and other wild animals while hoping I would not become lunch for a lion or leopard! Walking among herds of zebras in the Serengeti ecosystem is a memory I will carry forever. I cannot wait to return next summer.
Writing a book has also required much more work than I expected. I want to share everything I have learned in a way that helps other kids understand wildlife and recognize that we all have a role in protecting it. Sir David Attenborough taught that children must grow up knowing and appreciating nature; otherwise, they will not understand or protect it and if they do not protect it, who will? Dr. Jane Goodall expressed the same powerful idea: “Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, we will help. Only if we help, we shall be saved.”
Attenborough and Dr. Goodall have inspired generations of conservationists. I hope to become a National Geographic Explorer someday and continue working in conservation throughout my life.
My first book, Wild With Haley: Tortoises, Terrapins and Turtles, is the beginning of what I hope will become a whole series. I also share my work on social media at @haleydrane, creating an open space where junior rangers can learn and share their own conservation work.
We are the adults of the future. The sooner we begin, the more we can learn and the better prepared we will be to protect what matters.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a kid actor, conservationist, author and storyteller. My work brings together two things I love: performing and protecting wildlife.
As an actor, I specialize in bringing curiosity, confidence and personality to every role. I began acting at three years old and have since worked in television, commercials and film. I continue training every week because acting is a craft, and there is always something new to learn.
As a conservationist, I explore wildlife, learn directly from experts and share what I discover with other children. I have trained with Big Life Foundation’s all-women ranger team in Kenya, tracked animals across Amboseli and studied endangered rhinos at Ol Pejeta Conservancy. I also explore wildlife closer to home, from terrapins in Texas to under water exploration of marine animals at Monterey Bay Aquarium in California to Oregon Zoo, Austin Zoo and anywhere I can find wildlife.
I am now turning these adventures into the Wild With Haley book series. My first book, Tortoises, Terrapins and Turtles, introduces children to chelonians and shows them simple ways to help protect wildlife. I also share conservation stories and junior ranger adventures through social media at @haleydrane.
I am most proud that I have been brave enough to learn in the field and then use my voice to teach others. What sets me apart is the way I combine acting, conservation and education. Acting helps me tell better stories, while conservation gives me important stories to tell. I also bring a Kenyan-American perspective to my work, connecting the wildlife and communities of Kenya with children and families in the United States.
I want kids to see that conservation is not only for adults, scientists or people who live near famous wildlife. Every child can observe nature, ask questions, share what they learn and take action. You do not have to wait until you grow up to begin making a difference.
I also love school! It’s my favorite place. The teachers and friends in class make my days beautiful. My sports activities change every year and every season. This year, I’m enjoying training and competing in volleyball and Sailing classes.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I am only nine, and my mom is very strict about internet access and screen time, so I get much of my knowledge from books the old-school way! Any book filled with nature, animals, mysteries or adventure will capture my attention. I love reading, researching interesting facts and making up stories of my own.
My dad found hundreds of old National Geographic magazines dating back to the 1900s. They are some of my favorite resources because they feel like time machines. I can see how wildlife, landscapes, cultures, photography and conservation have changed and how many things have stayed the same. The magazines also remind me why documenting the world matters. The photographs and stories allow me to experience places and moments from long before I was born.
I also learn by going outside, visiting zoos, national parks and aquariums, exploring new places and listening to people who work directly with wildlife. Rangers, conservationists, animal keepers and local communities carry knowledge that cannot always be found online. I bring a notebook, ask plenty of questions and pay close attention. This Summer I visited Arches National Park, White Sands National Park among others.
Nat Geo, Sir David Attenborough’s nature documentaries and Dr. Jane Goodall’s work among many other Conservationists and story tellers also inspire me. They show how powerful storytelling can help people understand and care about animals. The best resource, though, is curiosity. If I discover something I do not understand, I keep reading, observing and asking questions until I learn more and then I turn what I have learned into a story I can share with other kids.
Pricing:
- Wild with Haley Book Series – $4.99
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/haleydrane
- Youtube: https://Youtube.com/@haleydrane
- Other: https://Tiktok.com/haleydrane
