Today we’d like to introduce you to Trinity Johnston.
Trinity started acting in Austin, TX when she was five years old and hasn’t stopped. Her passion for musical theater, TV and film has earned Trinity a Best Actress Award through the Austin 48hr Film Project and Best Young Adult Actress Award from Broadway World Austin for her role as Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden. At the age of eight years old Trinity was cast as Alice in a modern-day interpretation of Alice in Wonderland for a professional theater in Austin. She performed in over 50 shows and definitely got the acting bug. One of her favorite theater roles was when she played Fan in an Equity Musical Production of A Christmas Carol at ZACH Theater. Trinity enjoys theater but found her true love in film acting due to the extreme simplicity of movement and internal focus. She has been in 17 short films as well as played a recurring role for three years on a popular Youtube channel called New Sky Kids. Her latest short film, My Soul to Keep, is premiering in January and Trinity was truly grateful to play a role where she had to dig deep and completely focus on the intensity of her character who was dealing with mental illness.
During Covid Trinity started her own Youtube Channel to keep busy and continue her passion with several other teen actor friends in Austin. After spending a year filming fun challenges and vlogs, Trinity and her mom decided to write scripted content for her channel with a fun storyline that most tweens and teens could relate to. They called it Austin High and filmed eight episodes which have now all been posted on her youtube channel; Trinity Johnston. Trinity gets to play a sassy, popular freshman whose daddy is the Mayor of Austin. She runs for class president and hits obstacles along the way, including a new English teacher who knows how to push her buttons. Filming the series was an incredible learning experience for Trinity and she can’t wait to film Season 2 in January.
Trinity’s ultimate goal is to go to LA Film School and get a BS in Film Production and Directing. Trinity loves every aspect of filmmaking and sees herself acting as well as directing when she is older. Her passion is strong and her determination and drive will take her far.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The acting industry is not a smooth road. There is never a guarantee, no matter how hard you work. When I was eight, I got an agent and manager pretty quickly and started auditioning for huge projects like Disney, Nickelodeon and feature films with big name actors. We set up a backdrop with lights and I bought a nice camera so I could film my auditions from home. I train with an acting coach before every audition and constantly work on growing as an actor. It takes a ton of time and energy to be in this business. I don’t know if people truly understand how much actors put into their craft. I have done over 300 auditions now but still haven’t gotten my break. That’s why I have to celebrate the smaller successes. I have been in 17 amazing short films and several theater productions here in Austin. I have my YouTube channel now with a very cool scripted series called Austin High. I got to help write the project and play the lead role. It keeps me going because I love the art. I get a kick out of being on set or a stage and enjoy hanging out with the cast and crew. I just love it. I feel comfortable…like this is where I’m supposed to be. This is why I keep moving forward on this journey.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an actress with a goal to become a director when I get older. I’m known for being a part of a very popular YouTube series called New Sky Kids, booking the role of Alice for ZACH theater’s Alice in Wonderland Family Series, and winning a Best Actress Award for the Austin 48hr Film Project when I was eight years old. I also have a YouTube channel with a local Austin vibe. I work with seven other Austin teen actors and we make fun challenge and vlog videos. In 2021, we filmed a YouTube series called Austin High which is a high school drama. I play Aria whose dad is the Mayor of Austin.
I am proud of many projects I have done, but I have two favorites.
When I was eight, I auditioned for the role of Alice in Alice in Wonderland at a professional theater in Austin. They were looking for two 14 years old girls to double-cast because it was a demanding role and they needed someone with maturity. I ended up being one of the girls they cast because the director believed in me and said she loved my spunky attitude and energy. She felt like I could handle the challenge and be a strong lead. I had 52 shows in over three months and I ended up switching to a private school in order to make the schedule work. This role was the start of my acting career and helped me grow leaps in bounds as a performer. I’ll be forever grateful to the director for believing in me.
My other project that I’m super proud of is my latest short film called My Soul to Keep. My character deals with mental illness and I had to research and go super deep with this role. I was also very involved in this project from the beginning. I helped brainstorm the storyline with a few other creatives, was a part of the decision-making and scheduling, and worked closely with the director behind the scenes learning everything it takes to put a film together from start to finish. We are screening the film at Alamo Drafthouse Theater in Austin to 200 people. It’s an amazing feeling to be involved throughout the entire process.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Definitely, my drive and determination plus my work ethic is what has led to my success. I work hard! I have sacrificed a lot as a child in order to pursue my passion of acting. There are many times I have been invited to hang out with friends or go to parties and I cannot go because I am preparing for an audition or performing/filming in a show. I also get told NO way more than I get told YES, but it doesn’t matter. I realized early on that this industry will tell you NO even if you’ve done a great job. Most of the time you don’t fit the ‘look’…and there is nothing you can do about that.
I also work with acting coaches and have taken many classes and workshops in order to learn and grow with my craft. I shadow directors and continually put myself in situations where I am around mentors. If I’m in front of a camera, behind a camera, or on a stage, I’m in my happy place.
Contact Info:
- Email: trinityejohnston123@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.trinityjohnston.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinityjohnston123
- Facebook: Trinity Johnston
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TrinityJohnston
Image Credits
Ruben Caballero Isaac Rowry ABM Photography
