Actress Laura Meadows Pursues Her Love Of Acting
Laura Meadows is known as a scream queen and passionately pursues her love of horror and all things fantasy. Also known for her mane of blazing red hair, she has often been compared to Marilyn Monroe and Anna Nicole Smith. She has also been called a real-life Jessica Rabbit. Laura began her acting career in Dallas, Texas, on Oliver Stone's film Any Given Sunday. After catching Mr. Stone's eye, Laura was immediately bumped up from background to Ann Margret's stand-in. With his encouragement, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting.
Laura is a native of St. Louis. Since moving to Los Angeles, she has appeared in numerous film, television, and digital projects encompassing comedy, drama, and her greatest cinematic passion, horror. She has worked with Rob Zombie and Darren Lynn Bousman, among other notable directors. Laura has also appeared in multiple music videos, including The Rope by the Foo Fighters, where she ran into the freezing cold ocean in a bikini. Laura's range as an actress is extensive. She's played moms, detectives, doctors, lovers, villains, and fantasy characters, and has done voiceover work.
Laura also has a long list of modeling credits, including red carpet couture for noted designer Pol Atteu. She has appeared in full-page print ads in magazines such as Star, Women's World, and Life & Style, among other notable publications. Laura is the 2019 Ms Infinity Aquamarine International title holder and formerly Ms. Carson US 2018; Ms. Long Beach, Southern California 2018; and Ms Infinity Culver City and California 2018.
Laura is a noted visual artist, with extensive credits in fine art, fashion, and commercial art. Her textile designs have appeared internationally and been worn by Miss Finland Universe, Kristy Swanson from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer film, and many others.
The daughter of a University professor/musician father and a mother with a Ph.D. in education and a writer, Laura holds a BFA in Fine Art from the University of Missouri Columbia, where she also studied music and dance. Laura is attending the University of California and studying acting.
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor?
I always had a dramatic flair with my mannerisms, my art, my clothing and people just couldn’t stop watching me. Ask anyone I went to school with or worked with. It was actually kind of annoying; I would even get in trouble for being too flamboyant at work and distracting others. So acting was a better choice. However, my other occupations were also in the arts. I was too dramatic for visual art or fashion, so acting put it all together for me. Also my love of music and dance has afforded me the pleasure of working in music videos.
Who are your biggest influences?
One of my biggest influences was my mother. She would allow me to stay home and watch horror movies. I told her which ones I wanted to see. She didn’t think school was particularly creative and since she had a Ph.D. in education she felt she could train me at home. Truth is, we moved around so much nobody really knew what school I was supposed to be in anyway.
When I was in school I remember we had an assignment to make up a story and I made one up and then I acted with a couple of other people in the class, and they were spellbound by what I was doing. I was rather surprised by that, because I didn't know I could have that effect on others.
I also loved to play with my Barbie dolls and I made up stories for them and homes for them to live in. I made their furniture and their clothing and played with them all the time, so I believe that was the beginning of my interest in acting, set decorating, and clothing design. Later on I went to Mizzou, the University of Missouri, with the likes of Brad Pitt, Tom Berenger and Sheryl Crow. There, I studied visual art and minored in music.
Also I was frequently asked if I was related to actress Jayne Meadows, because people would say I looked like her and I had the same name. Jayne Meadows went to a Meadows family reunion in Virginia and my relatives visited with her, but since she is from a different generation, I don't know much about her.
In addition to all of that, my mother had been a high school English teacher and also a drama coach and she directed and wrote plays, one of which was called "Here Comes the Campbells". This was a very popular play in Springfield, Missouri, and also very similar to what later came out as The Beverly Hillbillies. However, it’s never been established that there was any relationship between the two.
What is your main strength as an actor and model?
I can cry on command with very little effort, which is a great skill to have. I can also easily put myself emotionally into the place of different characters, feel what they’re feeling, and transport myself into another world. My imagination is very active and it’s a place where I love to live. I don’t get distracted easily; I like to stay in character to think about what I'm doing. I have a very single-minded focus. However, I really enjoy the camaraderie with everyone on set and the cooperation and kindness that we show to each other as a creative community. It’s the best community to be a part of, at least for me.
How difficult was it to establish yourself in the film industry?
First of all, I don’t think of it as something separate from myself, but more as being myself and seeing how I fit in. In other words, I don’t have a definite plan; I go with the flow. Yes, I do have goals, but I find that when you work with a group of other creative people with lots of different ideas, it’s important to enjoy the process, rather than worry about the outcome. Do what you love and the rest will follow. Every new day is a new opportunity to make a difference. Meet new people and start a new project that makes your life enjoyable and meaningful to you and those around you. Enjoy the journey and see where it takes you.
What’s your dream or your ultimate goal? Do you feel like you’re on the path of this goal, or that if you’ve already achieved it?
My dream is to be able to attend different awards shows, such as the SAG Awards, and be up for an award, or being on an award-winning show. I want to continue learning and establishing myself and working on bigger and better projects in film and television. Aim high and then see where the arrow lands. There’s no point in aiming low because that’s exactly what you’ll get. You need to know that you tried your very best, and that you’ve done all that you can do. Then you can feel good about yourself.
I don’t see how you could ever say that you’ve achieved your ultimate goal. In acting, you can continue working for the rest of your life. There is a need for a character of every age, every type and every group, because stories are about people and there are all kinds of people in the world. I don’t know what’s around the corner, so it’s not possible for me to know if I have achieved my ultimate goal. Concerning my short-term goals, I am looking for representation right now.
What’s your message to all your fans?
Thank you and I love you. Without you, none of this would be possible. For those of you who want a career in the arts, believe in yourself and nurture yourself. That’s what will make you the happiest. I love to hear from my fans and learn what they think about my work and what they would like to see, so feel free to write to me on my social media.
Photo: Evan Whiteley
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Laura Meadows
Email: rhiannonlaura@yahoo.com
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