Cynda Williams

I’ve been acting professionally for over 32 years in plays, commercials, film, and television, and I’ve been fortunate to work with amazing directors and award-winning actors throughout my career. Right after graduating from Ball State University with a theatre degree, I moved directly to New York City. Within three months, I was performing in my first Off-Broadway musical, and shortly after that, I landed my first major motion picture. I credit that early success to the mentorship, support, and introductions I received from people who believed in me and encouraged me from the very beginning.

I’ve never pursued this career for the money—it’s always been about the love of the work. Acting, singing, and performing have never felt like “work” to me; it’s simply play. I believe that success looks different for everyone. Whether someone is performing in community theatre while holding a day job or working on a major film, if they are doing what they love and enjoying it, that is success. For me, the joy of creating, connecting with people, and experiencing new things has kept me going in this industry. The financial rewards have always been secondary to the fun and fulfillment that this career brings.

In addition to acting, I also sing and perform live, and I’m currently completing the music for a television series I wrote. In 2016, 220 Publishing released my first self-help memoir, Pink Pantie Confessions. Today, I continue to write and produce original content for film and television while performing, singing, and mentoring others. My focus is always on creating joy, meaningful connections, and unforgettable experiences, both on stage and off.

The best career advice I’ve ever received has really been more about the people who believed in me and helped guide me than any single piece of advice. I want to start by highlighting my uncle, James W. Williams. He was the reason I started on this path and why I became a singer. He taught me to sing at a very young age—four or five years old—and always recognized the gift in me. His encouragement and guidance had an incredible impact on my life, and I’ll always be grateful for that early influence.

I also want to acknowledge the teachers who nurtured and challenged me along the way: Nancy Krauss, Beth Turco, and John Winning. They recognized my potential, encouraged me, and provided the instruction and mentorship I needed to prepare for a professional career. Without their belief, support, and guidance, I don’t think I would have been ready or able to achieve what I have today.

Ultimately, the best advice I can share is to pursue work that you love, let your creativity lead you, and make career choices rooted in integrity. A deep love of creating, combined with commitment to work that brings joy and connection, has shaped my career. Mentorship, early opportunities, and the people who invest in you can make all the difference.

If you want, I can also condense this into a third-person version for LinkedIn or a press bio that captures the essence of mentorship, joy, and integrity. Do you want me to do that?

If I could give advice to young women entering this industry, it would be to focus on building your own presence and creating your own opportunities. The entertainment world has changed so much since the ’80s—today, it’s less about celebrity and more about relationships, self-marketing, and being able to showcase your work independently. Learning how to use social media effectively, producing your own content, and mastering the tools for self-produced audition material will give you the freedom to shape your career on your own terms.

While it may feel like a challenge at first, there’s tremendous freedom in this approach. You can design your own path, create your own experiences, and define success in a way that aligns with your values and lifestyle. Along the way, I’ve been inspired by my family, mentors, and the creative people I’ve worked with, and I hope to encourage other women to embrace their passion, take initiative, and trust their instincts.

Ultimately, I want to share my experience and knowledge to uplift and empower women, both inside and outside of entertainment. By being proactive, building connections, and investing in your own growth, you can create a career that’s authentic, rewarding, and uniquely yours.

One of the biggest shifts in the industry right now is the move toward social-media-driven opportunities. Hiring decisions increasingly take an applicant’s online presence and following into account, which means artists are now expected to be marketers as well as performers. The challenge is learning how to navigate that landscape effectively, but the opportunity is significant—it gives creators more freedom to shape their own careers, build their own audiences, and produce work on their own terms.

Creativity, joy, connection, holistic wellbeing, integrity, and mentoring are the values that guide both my work and personal life. I love engaging with people through social media, whether it’s sharing insights on health, spirituality, or career in my weekly live show, Live and Direct with Cyn and Friends, or through my blogging and content creation. Being able to inspire, educate, and connect with others worldwide brings me tremendous fulfillment.

I’m also extremely proud of my production LLC, which I co-founded with a partner. Through it, I write screenplays, perform in bands, and produce content that allows me to explore all aspects of my creative expression. Balancing this work with family life is important to me—my children inspire me daily, and I aim to motivate others to find their own niche in the industry and in life.

In all that I do, whether acting professionally in plays, commercials, film, and TV for over 32 years, singing and performing live, or writing books like my memoir Pink Pantie Confessions, I strive to live by these values. They shape the work I create, the connections I build, and the way I engage with the world around me.