Adrienne Rose White stands out as a beacon of creative innovation and fearless storytelling in an industry where authenticity often takes a backseat to conformity. Known for her ability to weave humor and heart into compelling narratives, White has emerged as one of Hollywood’s most versatile talents, wearing multiple hats as an actress, writer, and producer. Her latest venture sees her sharing the screen with Amy Adams in the highly anticipated Searchlight Pictures feature Nightbitch, which was released in theaters earlier this month and premieres on Hulu on December 27.
From bringing the endearing Straight-Laced Bestie to life in the critically acclaimed series Quirky Female Protagonist to securing groundbreaking deals with industry giants like CBS Studios, White’s journey is a masterclass in carving one’s own path in entertainment. Her creative prowess has garnered attention from major media outlets, with HuffPost and IndieWire celebrating her work, while Elizabeth Banks’ WhoHaha recognized her as a Comedienne to Watch in their 2020 Comedy Call-Out.
We had the opportunity to chat with White, and she spoke with us about navigating the complexities of Hollywood, the art of balancing multiple creative pursuits, and the importance of staying true to one’s vision. As women in business increasingly seek to make their mark in male-dominated industries, White’s insights on breaking barriers, embracing authenticity, and building a sustainable career while maintaining creative integrity offer valuable lessons for ambitious professionals across all industries.
Check out our interview with her below!
Your new film Nightbitch with Amy Adams is generating a lot of buzz. What can you tell us about your role and experience working alongside such an established actress? By the way – I loved the film – one of the best dark comedies of the year!
Adrienne Rose White: Thank you! I play Sally – she’s smart, upbeat, maybe a little naive, and has a great eye. She’s a curator at a top art gallery, a job she took over after Mother (Amy Adams) had a baby. Sally knows everything about the art scene, and almost nothing about motherhood, and she represents the life that Mother has left behind.
Acting opposite Amy Adams during her iconic monologue was extraordinary. We had already run the scene several times before capturing her close-up, so I thought I knew what was going to happen. I was wrong. Amy brought an unparalleled rawness and vulnerability that left me on the verge of tears right in the middle of her take. That woman is truly at the pinnacle of her craft. Working with her was a masterclass in acting. And she was so kind and chill and easy to work with!
Growing up, what was your first memorable encounter with acting or storytelling that made you think, “This is what I want to do”?
Adrienne Rose White: I went to a theater camp in Los Angeles when I was seven. I remember I learned the song “Edelweiss,” and I think I had a monologue in the camp show, and I just loved the whole experience. The owners of the camp were impressed, and asked my parents if they could put me in a professional production they had coming up.
That was when I learned that acting was a whole real job, and I knew it was the job I desperately wanted! But my family was moving to Missouri at the end of the summer, so my parents said no. I was devastated at the time, but looking back I’m grateful. I got to Missouri, and I told my parents in no uncertain terms that when I grew up, I was going back to LA. And I did.
From writing and producing Quirky Female Protagonist to starring in dramatic films, how do you balance different creative roles in the industry?
Adrienne Rose White: For me, acting comes first. I got into writing and producing so that I could act in the roles I wanted to. I’m so glad I did, because writing and producing give me more creative control over my voice and work. I truly love all three, but acting is my favorite.
To balance them, I create containers of focus – I’ll block out 6 weeks to work on a draft of a feature script, or 8 weeks to prep and shoot an acting role I’ve booked. It helps me a lot when I have a set container of time where I’m focused on one project or role.
I might still work on other things a little bit, or a time sensitive opportunity might come up and change my plans. But knowing my number one priority on a given week has been the key for me to complete milestones, make progress, and move my career forward instead of spinning my wheels on 20 things at once.
Can you tell us about your creative process when developing new projects, particularly when wearing multiple hats as writer, producer, and actor?
Adrienne Rose White: It’s so fun writing something that I’m going to act in. It feels like I did all of the character work while I was writing, so when I’m acting I really just get to play. To start writing, I reflect on what’s been on my mind lately. What’s bothering me, what haven’t I seen that I want to see? I’ll spitball on a premise that’s specific to me, that only I could tell. And when I find something that’s specific, distilled, and has an unexpected twist, then I know I have a show or film I can develop. Then I dig into characters, and I ask myself:
- What are their strengths and insecurities (what wound are they trying to heal, what hole do they want to fill inside)?
- What is their problem? (the external problem they’re facing in the show),
- What do they want, or what motivates them? (this can be connected to insecurity)
- Why do we care about them?
- How will they change?
- Are they related to or romantically connected to someone else?
Knowing those answers as a writer fuels the story that I write, and the choices I make as an actor. And when I’m producing, I just re-read everything I wrote, while thinking about how to do it on a budget!
When you’re developing a character, either as a writer or actress, what’s your process for making them feel authentic and relatable?
Adrienne Rose White: I let myself really take on the perspective of that character and imagine their past. What experiences did they have throughout their lives, so that whatever they do in the story makes sense to them? I use my imagination to create memories, and that makes the choices feel authentic.
Looking back at your journey from Harvard to Hollywood, what would you tell your younger self about pursuing a career in entertainment?
Adrienne Rose White: I would tell myself to seek good advice, but don’t feel obligated to follow it. And that failure is part of learning, and the faster I accept that, the more fun and success and sustainable progress I’ll have. It’s the opposite of what we learn in school: it’s bad to fail in school, and when you follow all of the directions you get an “A”. But life in entertainment is different.
Very smart, experienced people have given me very good directions and very good advice and very thorough notes; sometimes they were right, sometimes they were wrong. Following directions did not guarantee success. But when I follow my own instincts, cool magic tends to happen. Even if it doesn’t work out, I’ll learn a really important lesson or take a step in the right direction. My biggest leaps have come from doing things my own way. So I would tell myself to stop trying to “do it right” according to someone else.
What advice would you give to actors who are trying to break into both television and film while also pursuing other creative endeavors like writing or producing?
Adrienne Rose White: Find a good advisor or mentor so that you can learn from their successes and mistakes. Then go make your own mistakes and successes. I have had some really great coaches and mentors over the years, and now I coach and mentor creatives through my course, “How to Actually Sell A TV Show, Organically.”
It’s so expansive to see what’s possible and get into the nitty-gritty of how it happened. Once you believe it can happen for you, and you see how it happened for someone else, you have so much more power and influence over your own creative career.
How do you handle creative blocks or moments of self-doubt, and what strategies help you push through them?
Adrienne Rose White: There’s a book called The Gap and The Gain that I often come back to – it says that a lot of high-achieving people often focus on the distance between where they are and where they want to be. That’s hard because there’s almost always a gap, and living in the gap means constant dissatisfaction.
A more accurate way to self-assess is to look at the distance between where they were previously and where they are now, and notice all the ways they’ve grown, and changed, and what they’ve accomplished. So when I feel doubt, I look over things I’ve done before that light me up; I’ll re-read a project I’ve written, or watch a scene I acted in.
When I feel blocked, I move my body, I go outside, I talk to people I like. And most of all, I do work from this online program called To Be Magnetic: I journal to get to the root of the block. What’s the story I’m telling myself, and what do I need to learn from it?
Outside of the entertainment industry, what hobbies or activities help you recharge and stay creative?
Adrienne Rose White: Manifesting is my favorite thing to talk about. Playing with and training my dog is a big one! I love to mix mocktails with fresh juices and herbs. I’ll go on walks and hikes with friends. And cooking with fresh ingredients – I like to improvise and see what I can create.
Looking ahead, what types of stories or roles are you most excited to explore in your career?
Adrienne Rose White: I’m a big fan of Denis Villeneuve. I’m excited to explore projects like Dune: Messiah. I read the book and I’m dying to play Lichna, a kinswoman of Chani (Zendaya) who is later impersonated by an assassin. What a treat to play that innocent woman, and then play this sly, nuanced assassin pretending to be that innocent woman. The layers!
I also love telling stories about breaking old patterns, magic, and manifesting. I’m developing a feature film about manifesting: Luci ghostwrites epic wedding toasts for her clients, but her love life is trash. When she’s hired to ghostwrite a book about manifesting true love, she must confront her own bad relationships. The goal is for Zendaya to play the lead, and me to play her sister. It’s the movie I wish I’d seen when I first started dating!
Lastly, is there a specific mantra, quote, or affirmation that you hold close to your heart (This will be for a graphic we use on social with your photo)
Adrienne Rose White: “When you create work that’s authentic to you, you attract the opportunities that are aligned for you.”
Be sure to check out https://adriennerosewhite.com/ for more information about Adrienne, and follow her on Instagram at @adriennerosewhite.
Emily Sprinkle, also known as Emma Loggins, is a designer, marketer, blogger, and speaker. She is the Editor-In-Chief for Women's Business Daily where she pulls from her experience as the CEO and Director of Strategy for Excite Creative Studios, where she specializes in web development, UI/UX design, social media marketing, and overall strategy for her clients.
Emily has also written for CNN, Autotrader, The Guardian, and is also the Editor-In-Chief for the geek lifestyle site FanBolt.com
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