Christine Horn Is Lifting as She Climbs

Christine Horn is an empowered artist empowering other artists. An actress, career coach for actors, and author, she has led by example with a flourishing career that spans 22 years and counting. With experience in Broadway, film, and television, she has compiled an extensive resume. As we sat down for an inspirational discussion, Christine Horn, better known as the “booking magnet,” peeled back the layers of acting, her current roles, career coaching, and the significance of being a beacon of light.

Who is Christine Horn? Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, of Jamaican and Bermudian descent, she is the daughter of a caring, driven single mother who nurtured her dreams. Horn’s exposure to the arts began early as a tap, jazz, and ballet dancer. Her mother also introduced her to Broadway and off-Broadway plays, further influencing her passion. The off-Broadway play that changed her life was a show called Mama I Want to Sing. Horn watched in awe as a young talented Black actress who looked like her sang her heart out under the bright spotlights. This was the moment that solidified her desire to act.

“I never forgot that. It was truly embedded in my brain. So, I always wanted that to become my reality,” Horn said.

Atlanta, Georgia, eventually became her home after the birth of her two siblings, and it was there that she began sharpening her craft. She attended one of the state’s top performing arts high schools, Tri-Cities Performing Arts High School, in East Point, Georgia. This institution also bred gifted entertainers Kandi Burruss, Outkast, and Kenan Thompson.

At this time, Horn’s mentor Freddie Hendricks, who owned a youth theater company, entered her life, instilling wisdom that she has carried into adulthood. He taught her hard work and humility and that she was only as good as her last performance. Confidence was vital, but it was important to remember that she was continually bettering her best. Horn’s caliber of exposure and training shaped the trajectory of her path, and at age 16, she started performing professionally in theater.

“The training and exposure that I got changed my life and set my standard for where and how I operate even in the industry today,” Horn said.

Horn joked about working two or three jobs in true “Jamaican fashion” to live and invest in her acting career and her music albums that are currently available on iTunes. She also touched on not pursuing a college degree. The collegiate route was not the direction she chose, and her mother supported her decision. Horn was instead focused on perfecting her performance, which required being hands-on. “As an actor, specifically, you never stop learning,” Horn said. She attended the theater conservatory The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York for a year before taking the courageous leap to chase her dreams full-time. She booked the Broadway play The Lion King in 2006 and appeared in the 2007 film Stomp the Yard, continuing to grow from there.

It was apparent that acting chose her. She fulfilled her purpose whenever she trained, attended callbacks, or booked gigs. “I think I came out of the womb knowing this was my assignment,” Horn said. “I was just drawn to it always, and then there were so many instances that would confirm it.” Horn even sacrificed acceptance to Columbia University as a print journalism major for her love of acting. It was the best decision that she could have ever made.

“It’s been a true rollercoaster ride like it is for most artists, but I’ve always loved performing,” Horn said.

As her skillset expanded, so did the opportunities that presented her. She has booked 52 television shows and 22 films throughout her career and is still reaching for greatness. The Lincoln Lawyer, NCIS: Los Angeles, The Rookie: Feds, Kenan, and Grey’s Anatomy are a few of the many projects she has graced. Her most recent roles are in the two critically acclaimed crime drama series, Snowfall and BMF.

In Snowfall, Horn plays Black Diamond, an ex-stripper turned hitwoman introduced in season 4, episode 7. What started as a minor character test developed into a memorable comedic relieving character that was there to stay. Co-producer and staff writer Jeanine Daniels and Horn’s captivating onscreen performance initiated the expansion of her storyline throughout the 4th and 5th seasons. In BMF, she plays Mabel Jones, a close friend of Lucille Flenory, who is a good storyteller and the life of the party. Though this character was not well-liked by the audience due to her scandalous indiscretions, Horn enjoyed sinking her teeth into this role.

The blueprint for her character development process starts with music and visuals. They assist her in the exploration of the character’s many layers. How do they talk? How do they walk? What is the feeling? How do they fit into this world? How can this be layered? What is deeper there? Why? These questions mold and elevate the character and influence Horn’s intriguing performance.

“I want to find levels. I want you to see a good performance, not just a good “Black” performance,” Horn said. “Just a good actor doing good work.”

What she took away from the experience was a methodology she has poured back into her process and her progression as an actress. She also expressed her gratitude for the opportunity. “It’s been a wild cool ride to be a part of such an amazing show,” Horn said. “It’s also been an epic journey to be a part of John Singleton’s legacy, and it’s a dream come true.”

Horn’s virtue is her talent, hustle, and versatility as an actress. She can effortlessly portray various characters from all walks of life. “I don’t put myself in a box,” Horn said. “I am not afraid to transform.” And the transformation is real! BMF and Snowfall fans’ recent revelation that the same actress was portraying Mabel and Black Diamond shows Horn’s effectiveness.

“I don’t want you to meet Christine when you hit play, whether you’re watching my audition or watching me on screen,” Horn said.

She has played a teacher, mother, patient, nurse, doctor, police officer, social worker, district attorney, exotic dancer, hitwoman, and so on. She has worked in dramatic, comedic, and sci-fi genres. Every time she tries on a role, she searches for ways to transform, from how her voice sounds to how she walks and talks. She loves to play visually. Accompanied by her talent is a fantastic team of managers and agents that have helped propel her career. They are in alignment with her vision when pitching her for different roles. Casting directors who know Horn well also know she can be versatile.

“I just think what I do, I do well, and they get to know me for that,” Horn said.

Amazon Freevee’s newest original drama series, Classified, is Horn’s latest project that she will star in alongside Sule Rimi and Imani Pullum. Created by Kagiso Lediga, the eight-episode series follows Ella Gardner (Pullum), an Oakland, California teen who gets into trouble after protesting. To avoid further punishment, she must leave her home to live with her family for the remainder of her secondary education in Johannesburg, a culture shock that she is unprepared for. Horn will play Diane, Ella’s stepmother, whose U.S. State Department job in South Africa is more complicated than it appears. Season 1 is scheduled for 2024.

Amid the wins, there have also been losses. That is just the nature of the business. “As actors, we audition, put the work in, and want to feel the win on the other side,” Horn said. Still, she embraces the cup as half full rather than half empty, remembering that just because she desires something does not mean it is hers. She finds peace in this mantra and the affirmation that everything always works out for her.

“What’s for me, can’t miss me’” Horn said. “What I have is a gift. It’s a gift from God and nothing anyone can take away.”

Her gifts have made room for her to make way for others. It started as a vlog on her Facebook Live in 2017 about her daily hustle in the industry. She was vulnerable about her experiences, and though her mother and cousin were her only viewers at first, eventually, more followers gravitated to her content. Other aspiring actors, especially Black actors, were shocked at how transparent Horn was about her day. She began posting daily tips and received an outpour of questions.

Her community grew into a Facebook group, and a YouTube channel called Actors Daily Bread followed, where she did not hold back on her honesty. After going live daily for two years, she received requests for coaching and obliged by starting a career coaching business. It has morphed into the thriving community that it is today. Hollywood Bound Actors has a podcast and a vast social media presence.

Horn also provides online courses and hosts a summer conference called Booking Magnet Live. Her book, Playing Small: The Actors Guide to Becoming a Booking Magnet, focuses on the significance of a healthy mindset and teaches actors to be a “booking magnet” from the inside out. She thrives off seeing people win. She still uses her gifts as a beacon of light, even as a full-time actress.

“My assignment is also to lift as I climb,” Horn said. “I’m a student of law and attraction. I believe in abundance. There’s enough for everybody.”

Horn’s journey has been fruitful thanks to her will to succeed in everything she puts her mind to. She has always been an entrepreneur at heart and aspires to expand in business while positively impacting more people worldwide. She plans to do more projects, such as producing and writing. The desire to be a part of more feature films and star in a blockbuster hit is also a part of her vision. “I’m just open. I’m open to continuing to create and use my gifts, have fun, and travel,” Horn said. The words of advice that she concluded with fed the mind, heart, and soul.

“Keep working on yourself. Personal development has changed my life. It’ll help you no matter what line of work you’re in,” Horn said. “The more you work on yourself, it will help boost your confidence. It will help boost your imagination of what is possible. So, no matter your dreams, know they are possible. It’s like putting on your daily armor.”

If Motivation Monday were a person and a moment, it would be Horn and this beautiful conversation. Her story is an inspiration to anyone out there with a dream. There is solace in intentionally setting a goal and going after it without hesitation. There is also power in believing you can be great at anything you put your mind to. She does not just talk about it; she lives by it. Christine Horn understands the assignment!

Photo Credit: Stevel Marc Photography