Original Coverage & Source Attribution: www.aol.com
ELECTRA (KFDX/KJTL) — From a small town in North Texas to the bright lights of Hollywood, Electra native Robert Craighead is showing that where you come from does not have to determine how far you go.
Craighead recently attended the Daytime Emmy Awards, decades after leaving his hometown at 18 years old to pursue a career in acting in Los Angeles.
“I know it’s probably a long shot to come out to Hollywood from Electra and do this, but I was determined it was something I wanted to do all my life. I started working and have just been persistent and continued to work,” Craighead said.
Since making that move, Craighead has built a career with roles in film and television, including appearances on several daytime soap operas.
“I have worked on probably every soap opera, every daytime show that’s out there, at one point or another. I was on The Bold and the Beautiful for three years. I was on Young and the Restless for a few years, and I think in Days of Our Lives, I was on there a few times. The only show I don’t think I’ve ever been on is General Hospital, but I’m working on that,” Craighead said.
His career has also given him opportunities to attend industry events like the Daytime Emmy Awards.
“It was a lot of fun; I hadn’t had an opportunity to go. And the opportunity came up, and I had a friend of mine, one of my dearest friends, Beth Maitland, was up for Best Supporting Actress. And so I said, well, I’ve got to go for this,” Craighead said.
While making it in Hollywood can seem like a far-fetched dream for someone growing up in a small Texas town, Craighead says rejection is part of the industry. He encourages aspiring actors to stay confident, keep pursuing opportunities and get proper training.
“Well, rejection is a big part of it. I still deal with it today myself. I lose out on jobs, but when one door closes, another one opens. So you just have to be open to that and you have to have the confidence in yourself. But I would say the number one thing that you should do to prepare yourself is to train. You need to train as an actor,” Craighead said.
He also encourages young people to be open to new experiences and opportunities.
“Always say yes, because you never know whenever that opportunity will introduce you to people that will provide you with other opportunities down the road,” Craighead said.
Craighead has several upcoming movie projects, including Blood Rush, a vampire western comedy starring Billy Zane, Danielle Bisutti and Henry Ian Cusick, expected to be released in 2027.
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