Edwina Findley-Dickerson Turns to God as Her Career Compass
Being open to nudity is that detail that could give an actress an extra nudge on her quest to getting noticed. Some women take it, while others make sure it’s completely off the table. Edwina Findley-Dickerson, of OWN’s If Loving You Is Wrong, admitted that as a young actress, the offer to do a nude role came with a higher paycheck than her other opportunities.
“Having convictions means you don’t do everything,” she told MadameNoire. “Some people, especially in the entertainment industry, think you have to be available to everything to be successful. In some instances, the personal values you are afraid of sharing is a place where people admire you the most. For example, as a young actress, I had convictions about nudity. I was offered a role and it was more money than I’d been paid, but I just felt that my calling was not to do nudity. I had a lot of pressure coming from different directions, but I prayed about it. I always want to make sure God was with me in whatever I did. By saying no, it took longer for me to come back to the pay and roles that I wanted. I said yes to a longer process, but by being true to myself and waiting, God already had everything lined up for me when I arrived.”
Findley-Dickerson has used this sense of conviction to guide her through the creation of her organization AbundantLifeU, a program that helps women navigate the different roles they play in life.
"One of the first things we teach is establishing clear priorities. We can find ourselves in life having a lot of activity that doesn’t always translate into productivity," she said. "So I ask, what are the top three to five roles in life that are most important to me? We can say, 'My family is so important to me,’ but work 90 percent of the time. We can say, 'My relationship with God is so important to me,’ and give two percent of our time to that. I advocate for developing clear priorities and making sure that your behaviors are lined up to them."
Not only is she an actress, but Findley-Dickerson is also a motivational speaker and minister. She and her husband, Kelvin Dickerson, read the Bible together and her strong faith is what has helped her remain steady in her career and personal life.
"It starts with prayer," she said. "I have always had a strong relationship with God and a knowing of what I am called to do."
To read her entire interview and learn why she’s “an advocate for vision,” click here.
BET.com always gives you the latest fashion and beauty trends, tips and news. We are committed to bringing you the best of Black lifestyle and celebrity culture.
(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
