The Many Voices of Malynda Hale
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
From music and film to podcasting and purposeful storytelling, Malynda Hale has built a career defined by heart, creativity, and a genuine desire to connect with people. An award-winning actress, singer-songwriter, filmmaker, and founder of JMV Entertainment, she continues to use every creative medium to tell stories that inspire empathy and spark meaningful conversations. Following the theatrical release of Bull Street, in which she stars alongside Amy Madigan and Loretta Devine, we sat down with Malynda to talk about the new film, her ever-evolving creative journey, motherhood, and the experiences that continue to shape both her work and her life.
Miami Living (ML): Congratulations on Bull Street – it's such a powerful story. When this script first landed in your hands, do you remember what your very first reaction was? Was it one of those projects where you immediately knew you wanted to be part of it?
Malynda: Thank you so much! My first reaction while reading the script was that I could see myself doing this role justice and that I would never want to pass up an opportunity to work with Loretta Devine or Amy Madigan. So yes, I absolutely knew I wanted to do this film after I read the script. It's also rare to get that kind of opportunity when you're at the beginning of your career, so I definitely didn't take it for granted.
ML: Beneath the courtroom drama, Bull Street seems to be most about people, family, and legacy. Was there any particular moment on set that has stayed with you long after filming wrapped?
Malynda: Without giving too much away, there were some really emotionally taxing moments that stretched me as an actor and were genuinely exhausting to execute. Those moments stayed with me, and I think they are some of the most memorable moments in the film as well.
ML: What inspired you to create the space for the photo/video web series Black Voices Heard, and what has the experience meant to you personally?
Malynda: In 2020, during the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, I realized how many assumptions were being made about the Black community, and it was from people that I don't think had any Black people in their lives. And honestly, the only way for people to understand an experience is to hear it directly from the people living it. So, I wanted to create a series that was easy to consume and that put a spotlight on the very real experiences of Black Americans.
ML: Between Black Voices Heard, your podcast #WeNeedToTalk, your music, and your films, you've spent years creating space for conversations that matter. Has there ever been a message from someone who experienced your work that reminded you why telling these stories is so important?
Malynda: I get those messages all the time, and they always seem to come at times when I feel like I'm not making a difference or moving the needle at all. I hear often how grateful people are for my advocacy, how I use my voice, and that I say the thing they couldn't say but wanted to. It reminds me of how important it is to do impactful work and move with intention.
ML: Your music has reached audiences in so many different settings: from television to live performances at Dodgers games and the California Democratic Convention. Is there one performance that still makes you smile when you think back on it, simply because of the people, the atmosphere, or what that moment meant to you?
Malynda: Oh, I love this question because there are so many. When I opened for O-Town, that was a core memory because I remember being such a huge fan in high school and college. Getting to open for them and perform with them to now calling some of them my friends was really cool. I've done a lot of memorable and meaningful performances, but that one was a core memory.
ML: You've shared that you're raising two daughters during such a transformative time in the world. What's something they've taught you over the last few years that you never expected to learn as a mom?
Malynda: You're never too young to know who you are. They are only 2 and 6 but they fully know who they are. They both have such distinctive personalities with very specific interests and have been since birth. I love how they really take ownership of the things they like and don't like. My youngest is adamant about wearing a pretty dress every day, and my oldest is very particular about the music she wants to listen to. I love seeing them come into their own.
ML: Between festivals, film sets, podcasts, and everything else on your calendar, what does a perfect, completely ordinary day at home with your daughters look like?
Malynda: Playing in the backyard, going on walks, or taking them to a mall or the beach. My husband and I are really set on making sure weekends are for family time, so they have a really good balance of activities and family time. They have a great life!
ML: You've lived so many creative lives already: music, acting, directing, producing, podcasting... if I had met you ten years ago and told you that one day you'd be premiering your own films at festivals around the world, what do you think you would've said?
Malynda: I would have said that it wasn't on my list of things I thought I wanted to accomplish, but it makes sense because I'm always figuring out new ways to create and ideate.
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