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Hayley Marie Norman was destined for a career in entertainment. Dreaming of Hollywood at a young age, she saw inspiration in glamorous stars: John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands (both Academy graduates), Pam Grier, Lucille Ball, and, as she puts it, “The entire cast of Living Single.” But these aspirations are also in her blood, with multiple Hollywood connections in her family lineage. Gene Anderson and Gene Anderson Jr. (two behind-the-scenes experts), Bobby Anderson - the actor known for playing a young George Bailey in It’s A Wonderful Life - and William Beaudine, a film director from the Silent Era.

 

At the age of seven, Hayley became the face of the African-American Barbie. Of course, it’s an impressive feat, but she remembers it differently - and with childlike innocence: “It was amazing, because I got all the toys!” At the same time, she found representation with Colleen Cher, a prestigious youth agency, involved herself in numerous performance avenues, and became a member of SAG-AFTRA—all before the age of ten. Schoolwork never suffered in favor of childhood stardom; quite the opposite, in fact. Hayley was (and still is), “a blend between a Type-A and free-spirit." As a teen, Hayley found a place at an arts magnet in Simi Valley where she immersed herself in acting and performing on a daily basis, and with other students in search of the same thing. Unable to get her acting fill during the school year, summers were equally rigorous, spending two summers studying dance through a scholarship sponsored by the state of California. This would set a precedent for her career—one of constant learning—but the next step was college.

 

A splendid student, she had countless options. She contemplated a traditional university—if only for a moment—knowing in her heart where to go. “It always made sense that The American Academy of Dramatic Arts was where I was meant to be,” she told me. “It was always going to be acting.” Embarking on rigorous training in the dramatic arts, Hayley cultivated an already deep passion for acting. At first, drawn strictly to high art, she wouldn’t bother with frivolous comedies. “Even if it was to an audience of ten,” she said, “I would be there.” She viewed herself as a serious actress, ready to join the ranks of the Hollywood legends she admired - and by all accounts was well on her way. Yet, she clearly demonstrated a gift for working in a different vein. Recalling uproarious laughter from classmates and teachers alike, Hayley discovered that she was “always finding the comedy.” This knack for the funnies surprised her, and paid off big time later on in her career.

 

Just before graduation, Hayley inquired of her childhood agency, Colleen Cher, for work. They jumped on this, picking up their star from way back when, and booking her on Boston Public, the David E. Kelley-penned series featuring Chi McBride.  After Boston Public came an opportunity with Deal or no Deal, NBC’s hit game show. While this was not necessarily the acting role she was looking for—there was plenty of time for that later —Hayley joined the team as the #25 girl. On set, she would meet and befriend a young Meghan Markle. Surrounded by a sea of models, the pair bonded over their acting aspirations. While auditioning for “Deal or No Deal”, Hayley made an offer to straighten her natural hair, a nod towards industry perception that this look would be more "castable." Yet to her surprise, the producers rejected this immediately, and her natural locks both set her apart and inspired passionate tributes from viewers. This anecdote represents something reverberated throughout her entire life: keeping her natural hair as an authentic symbol of herself. Hayley’s parents encouraged this, reminding her that before all else, she is loved for who she is.

 

In summer of 2007, Hayley booked an audition for Hancock, the Peter Berg-directed, Will Smith-starring action blockbuster of the following year. After a seemingly typical (albeit high-pressure) audition process, she embarked on a final callback. Arriving at a gated studio—not a strange occurrence for a feature film—she was instructed to continue into the lot. Going past soundstage after soundstage, Hayley realized she was not on any old studio lot. She was on a live set, and the audition was happening here with director Peter Berg and actor Will Smith. In the audition, Berg directed her to put down the script and “really go for it.” The scene had her rummaging through Hancock’s drawers, except this wasn’t a proper set, it was Will Smith’s trailer (one of the nicest in the business). Hayley went for it without hesitation. “I started opening up the drawers in his trailer, I was so committed to the scene!” After the audition, Hayley doubted herself. “When I left I was shaking… I couldn’t drive my car,” she continued, “Everything else I had to do that day, I didn’t do.”  She got the part, and would make it to the final cut of the film; her work with Will Smith was a “master class in acting.”

 

Hayley’s comedy skills led her to the part of Angela on Fired Up!, the 2009 comedy featuring Eric Christian Olsen. For this role, Roger Ebert called her “The most interesting member of the cast.” Her career in comedy broadened tremendously after this, as Hayley found numerous opportunities with CollegeHumor. Hayley would write and star in numerous CollegeHumor originals during its peak in the mid 2010’s, while at the same time, featuring in several episodes of Adam Ruins Everything, the observational comedy sketch created by Adam Conover. Her blossoming career is one many Academy grads have similarly seen. Take note: it’s an easy thing to find Academy alumni in Hollywood (just look at the 46 stars on the Walk of Fame). Auditioning yields similar results—if only to a less trampled degree—where Academy actors find each other everywhere, on set and behind-the-scenes. Hayley is no stranger to this, and keeps in close contact with friend and fellow alumna Chelsey Crisp. Each year, as per Hollywood tradition, actors await pilot season with a certain cult-like fanaticism, and, in the past, the pair have shared a binge of rehearsal and refinement of material in preparation for pilot season.

 

As her professional career expanded, so too did Hayley's commitment to causes of importance. Back in 2011, she went across the country with Black History 101 Mobile Museum, a Black-founded and run collection of more than 10,000 cultural and historical artifacts. Hayley was able to talk directly to students about her experiences as a Black actress in Hollywood, something she hoped for as a kid. “I wish I’d had a Black person share their experience with me,” she said. Now, Hayley is that person.

 

Said virus has upended all aspects of our lives, with the arts taking an especially strong hit. Even after a year, theaters remain dark and film sets have slowed to a near halt (save a few lucky productions). During all this, Hayley has developed her own sense of a routine, one that has been largely very peaceful. Days start with writing—something she’s been mastering lately—followed by meditation and “light stuff." Hayley is always certain to make time for spiritual practice, a cornerstone of her life. In many ways, quarantine allowed greater freedom for this, and as auditions move increasingly online, Hayley takes them at her leisure, and can now also invest in more self-produced content. These projects include a Netflix series in the works and several self-written pieces in the making. 

 

We salute this Academy graduate for her artistic achievements as well as her contributions to causes and communities. You can learn more about Hayley's career and interests here.