Overview
Carolyn is an Actress, Educator, and Producer originally from Washington DC. She received her BA in Theater Performance from Fordham University at Lincoln Center, and later received her post-graduate degree in Drama from Juilliard.
As an Actress, Carolyn is currently starring on the Paramount+, award-winning series: 鈥淭HE CHI鈥 (Seasons 5 and 6) as DEJA, as well as the forthcoming Season 3 of HBOMAX series: 鈥淎nd Just Like That鈥. Select TV credits include: 鈥淩ussian Doll鈥, 鈥淗ouse of Cards鈥, 鈥淟aw and Order鈥, 鈥淟uke Cage鈥, 鈥淗ow to Get Away w/ Murder鈥, 鈥淭he Oath鈥, 鈥淣otorious鈥 and 鈥淐herish the Day鈥. Film credits include: 鈥淗e鈥檚 Way More Famous Than You鈥, directed by Michael Urie, 鈥淩eboot Camp鈥, 鈥淪unny Daze鈥, and 鈥淭ankhouse鈥. This Fall she stars in the premiere of independent feature film 鈥淔amiliar Touch鈥 directed by Sarah Friedland. As a producer she currently has a feature in development with FandoModo Films in Los Angeles.
As an Educator, Carolyn has recently served as Co-Director of Lena Waithe鈥檚 Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab in Hollywood leading a cohort of emerging BIPOC actors, writers, and creative execs. She has led and developed curriculum for Harlem School of The Arts, Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory, and The Shakespeare Society in NYC to name a few. Guiding actors through audition technique and performance, Carolyn now operates AspireHigher Coaching Services, Inc. providing one-on-one and on-set coaching in New York and LA.
She is a founding member of the Juilliard Black Alumni Association (JBAA), providing support to current black students in the Juilliard Drama Division, as well as recent alums, and coaches actors privately through her company AspireHigher Coaching.
As the entertainment landscape shifts, Carolyn Michelle Smith guides from the intersection of artistry, empowerment, and antiracism, drawing from her rich Trinidadian heritage and her commitment to elevating diverse voices.
