regarding faith and how it guides one’s
life. Some have been agnostic, some have
been spiritual but are “unchurched.” No
one has ever ridiculed my beliefs, even if
they are skeptical. Many people I find are
seeking answers and actually appreciate
an opportunity to discuss these matters.
I also have several actor friends who
are active in their respective faiths. One
is a soloist for Evensong in her Episcopal
church. One is Jewish, and always gets
an understudy for performances which
coincide with High Holy Days. Another
invited me to celebrate her birthday at a
party thrown by her church. Yes, you can
be religious and an actor.
...NO, BUT I PLAY
ONE ON TELEVISION
gia, and Decatur, Alabama. My route to
Los Angeles was a bit convoluted. I was
working as a pharmaceutical salesperby Gregory Norton
son in St. Louis when my company was
Los Angeles residents are used to
bought out. Being found to be “redunsidewalk sightings of celebrities and
dant,” I decided to take a shot at acting
movie stars. But the ranks of Westwood’s as a career in New York. In New York, I
Chancel Choir may not be among the
started working with a theater director
most obvious places to look for one of
and his production company. When he
Hollywood’s working actors. Janet
came to Los Angeles, he encouraged me Q: What do you think is the public’s
Hoskins’ IMDb page lists credits rangto come out here and work. I followed the biggest misconception about working
ing from independently-produced ‘shorts’ advice in 1999, and here I am.
in television?
to well-known network television shows
Unfortunately, the current trend
like The Office and Law and Order. If you Q: Are there ways that your faith and
in reality TV has fostered the impreslike to watch television, maybe you’ll be
your work as an actor overlap?
sion that you can become instantly
surprised to find one of
Through the years, I
famous. But even reality show stars had
our own Layleaders in a
have contributed my acting to audition for their shows and had to
scene!
skills to the churches where be approved by a network or production
I have belonged. I have
company. When working as a casting asQ: How did you get
directed small skits for
sistant, I have met people with no acting
started acting?
worship services, and have experience who were auditioning because
My first job after coldone a number of readings “it would be fun to be an actor.” It is fun,
lege was in Jackson, Tenand reader’s theater. There but it is a job. You have to show up on
nessee, a small city with
have been several plays
time, know your lines, and do the job.
a very active community
through the years in which And it’s not a nine-to-five job, either. On
theater group. One F????fR&VV?6?VBF?6????R6??r?v?&?VB????6??F??R?F?P?F?W&Rv2??F?6R??F?P?G&?'WFR????2?"67&?GW&RF??Rf?"?RF?6??RF?v?&??v2b????W"F?BF?W?vW&R?g&VF??w2&?&?FRF???B?F?B??BvWBF?F?R6WBV?F??"????rVF?F???2f?"&?F?R?FW&??????FS???WN( ?27V6??2F?Rv???W"?b????v??B?GV7F????b?V??6????( ?2F?Rv??BF?7F?"?f??6R6?&R?V&B??vW7Gv??N( ?2vVV?????B?W7B6VV?F?R????%2?6??6R??6W&????F67G2?B??f&??W2f?FV?????F???rV?6S???Bf?F6??VB&?WB&V??r?7F?"6??6R&?GV7F???2?&V?WfR?B?"??B?7F??r?2'B?b??p????VB?'2?6?F6?W2??F?R6V6??@??f?V?BvW7Gv??BT?2?v?V??f?'7@?w&FR??vV?B?BVF?F???VB??v?B'B???2?B?76?&?RF?&R( ??WN( ?2W'6??6?RF???g&?V?B?B?RG&?fR???F??F?BF?R6??r?BF?R'Vr&?B???bf?F???????v??C??VF?F???2F??V&??v?&?V?B?gFW ??F?????B?2???^( ?2f?F?ffV7G2??^( ?0??VF?F?????6?F????6?vR6?P??v?W&RF?B??Rw&?rW?v?@?v?&??6??f?F??2?v?2ffV7FV@?&6?f?v??6??&R&?V?Wf&B?F?W&R?6p?'&?Vv?B??RF???2?vV?W3??F?F?Rv????6V?6?F?fR?FW&??????F??2&VWF?gV?6?W&6??v??6?GW&?VB?W@??w&WrW??7F???6?GF???v??FF?F??????fR?B6??RfW'???FW&W7GF?&R?WF??F?7B?6?RF?R?W?B7V?F??FV??W76VR?v?F?6???W&?2??&??R?vV?"???r6??fW'6F???2v?F?7F?"g&?V?G0??B?7F?VB?F?Bv2?????P??