FITCHBURG — Fitchburg native Mikayla Sooni Campbell came to Hollywood to pursue her dreams of performing arts. That action paid off in a big way.
The 34-year-old recently finished filming Ryan Murphy’s new series Doctor Odyssey, which will air on ABC and Hulu. She landed a big guest star role (the official industry term is “Top of Show Guest Star”), and the episode she appears in will air on Thursday, October 10th at 9pm on ABC and streamed the next day on Hulu. It is scheduled to be done.
Campbell is in good company. The show also stars veteran actor Don Johnson as the ship’s captain and “Dawson’s Creek” alumnus Joshua Jackson as the cruise liner’s new doctor, and includes the Broadway hit “Hamilton” and its subsequent 2020 live performance. -Philippa Soo, who played the original Eliza Hamilton in the stage recording, will appear. British actor Sean Teale.
“I think it’s a really creepy, super fun hybrid of The Love Boat and Grey’s Anatomy,” Campbell said of the show, which premiered on September 26. “My episodes are fun and I really hope people laugh and laugh.”Enjoy the entertainment. ”
Fitchburg native Mikayla Sooni Campbell, pictured at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, is making a name for herself in Hollywood as an actor and producer. (Courtesy of Mikayla Souni Campbell)
She first caught the acting bug in sixth grade, attending what was once called Museum Partnership School, an artistic extension of the now-closed B.F. Brown Middle School on Elm Street. I remember that. There, she began appearing in musicals and was cast in the lead role in “Annie.” The rest is history.
She grew up in Fitchburg, where her family still lives, and attended Fitchburg schools through the 10th grade before transferring to Walnut Hill School of the Arts in Natick as a theater major for her final two years of high school. Campbell then successfully completed four years of university in just over two years, earning a Master’s degree in Film Acting with honors from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London.
Since then, her resume has grown significantly. Campbell has appeared in numerous television shows, including a recurring role on AMC’s “Monogamy,” as well as films such as “Little Women,” “Chateau,” and the lead role in “Atilla.” Her Korean and European/Greek backgrounds reflect her ethnic ambiguity well, making her a versatile actress.
In what she described as an “unexpected turn of events,” Campbell landed the producing job 10 months ago and is currently serving as an executive producer on “several exciting A-list projects.” She attended the premiere of The Cut, starring Orlando Bloom, John Turturro and Caitriona Balfe, at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, where she is currently credited as a producer. It’s one of the things.
“I have a list of new projects that I’m working on, but for now I’m really looking forward to getting ‘Doctor Odyssey’ on the air,” Campbell shared of his recent focus.
Fitchburg native Mikayla Sooni Campbell premiered her film “The Cut,” starring Orlando Bloom, which she executive produced, at the Toronto Film Festival last month. (Courtesy of ABC)
As we all know, breaking into the acting and entertainment business in Hollywood can be difficult. When asked what her own experience was like, the talented performer said, “There was a fine line between determination and delusion.”
“I think you have to have an inherent nativity when you choose a profession where the criteria for success is subjectivity, trends, culture, popularity, and very little about talent or ability,” Campbell said. “I think the most fascinating and profound discovery I have made in over 10 years in this industry is that I can train and take all the classes, workshops, shoot short films, and produce plays. When you look back, what that time really meant is what you really are and who you have become.
“An artist’s journey and pursuit is much deeper and more evolved than simply not giving up,” she continued. “It’s about discovering ourselves through tests, adversity, challenges, mistakes, and ultimately adopting the perceptions we choose to carry us through that struggle. The closer we get to our unique authenticity, the faster we I feel like the more we can evolve and own it with confidence and acceptance and wash away any external expectations or need for validation, the closer we move the needle.”
Mikayla Sooni Campbell, 34, of Fitchburg, is making a name for herself in Hollywood as an actor and producer. (Courtesy of Mikayla Souni Campbell)
Wise words for women who maintain a strong connection to their roots and whose roots keep them grounded. Campbell travels home as often as possible, especially during the holiday season. Because, to her, “there’s nothing like Christmas in a quaint New England town.”
“It’s always so comforting to go back to where you grew up, with your family and loved ones,” she said. “This is a great piece of work that reminds us what we really need to prioritize in life. Los Angeles/Southern California is a beautiful place, but it’s also very large and chaotic, and it’s easy to get lost or get caught up in the chaos.” I enjoy slowing down and savoring the healthy things that really nourished my childhood.”
Campbell has a large fan club in her hometown, and those she cherishes and appreciates include her parents and a wide range of friends.
“I’m very lucky to have a wonderfully supportive family and parents, especially those who always encouraged me to fly,” she said. “They followed my lead and did everything they could to support this absurd and unstable dream. They saw something in me. I am forever grateful.”
Of course, parents Bob and Susan Campbell are incredibly proud of their daughter, and rightly so. Bob was active in his hometown community, including a long-time member of the Fitchburg East Rotary Club, and his mother said they always believed that “acting has to be in your soul. “I cannot endure such a difficult journey,” he said. The rejection and never-ending disappointments that you have to deal with on an ongoing basis can certainly discourage even the strongest of hearts. ”
Their daughter certainly has resilience and strength, traits that will come in handy when pursuing a career in Hollywood.
“We are so proud of our daughter for many reasons, but first and foremost that she is a very kind and caring human being who remains humble considering her accomplishments. That’s true,” the couple said. “We are in awe of the grit, determination and dedication she showed in pursuing this extremely difficult profession. In many cases, it would have been much easier to quit. Acting, like any other profession in the arts, is very subjective, so it’s very difficult to navigate like any other profession. She’s certainly not quitting all the time. She told us, “I either succeed or die trying,” and she made it clear many times that there was no other career for her. ”
As for her friends, they are equally supportive of Campbell and her dreams.
“I have a very strong and select circle of friends who are like-minded in important ways and who are always encouraging, uplifting, collaborating and inspiring,” she said. “Friends are the family you choose. I would be lost without them.”
Fitchburg native Mikayla Souni Campbell came to Hollywood to pursue her dreams of performing arts. That action paid off in a big way. (Courtesy of Mikayla Souni Campbell)
She has a long list of plans and goals for the future, including continuing to be both an actor and producer, and where those journeys take her.
“I hope to continue this upward trajectory, both as an actor and as a producer, wearing hats and switching hats as often as possible,” Campbell said. “The unknown can be daunting and scary, but it can also be very magical and full of unknown possibilities beyond our imagination. I keep dreaming. Is it delusion or determination? It’s a fine line, but I will always be an actor and an artist, and I will always prioritize connection through storytelling, compassion, and unity.”
For now, she is happy to be able to focus on the projects she is involved in and is motivated to continue sharing her gifts with the world.
“I really enjoy how art brings people together through evocation,” Campbell said of her creative outlet. “It’s just entertainment at the end of the day, but emotions are very powerful. As an actor/performer, when you can get to a place where you create emotion in someone else, it’s a powerful outlet to potentially bring compassion and empathy through empathy.” It’s all about relationships, for yourself and for the audience. It’s the energy of bonding and sharing through human emotion. It’s magical and it’s incredibly powerful.”
