Called to Act: André Holland on Purpose, Community, and Creating Room for Others

**André Holland** (0:00)
Even sometimes, the kind of dreams I allowed myself to have were sometimes a little too small, if I'm honest with you. You know, there were certain things I didn't know were even possible.
God has shown up in my life in ways that I can't even describe. You know, doors just keep opening. Doors that I didn't even know were there opened themselves to me. And I know I'm eating the fruit from trees I didn't plant, so I want to do my job to plant some trees for the next books to come along.

**Mick Hunt** (0:29)
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another exciting episode of Mick Unplugged. And today I am with the Legend of Legends and the Goat of Goats. He is someone who I have looked up to for a very long time, not just from his acting chops, but what he means to community, the things that he does to uplift others, and the fact, you know, he's from the South just like me. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming the brilliant, the amazing, the one of a kind, Mr. André Holland. André, how are you doing today, brother?

**André Holland** (1:03)
Man, I'm doing better now. Thank you for that beautiful introduction, man. That's very generous of you.

**Mick Hunt** (1:07)
Hey, man, I have been a fan from day one.
We're gonna talk about Bessemer, Alabama in a moment, but I've been just a huge fan. Like I said in that intro, not of just your acting ability, but just who you are, right? I believe that talent does take you so far, but I think you know it better than I would in the industry that you're in. Character matters more than almost anything. And the character that you have speaks volumes of who you are. And I just want to give you your flowers of just the human being that you are.

**André Holland** (1:44)
Man, thank you for saying that. Thank you for recognizing that, man. I appreciate it. And it means a lot to me. I mean, mainly because my parents, you know, are my, are my, still my biggest influence, man. And they raised me to be the person who's concerned about community and who, you know, tries to move with integrity and kindness. And so, you know, the fact that you see that, I think is really a testament to them, man.

**Mick Hunt** (2:08)
So I appreciate it. All day, brother, all day. And, you know, I love to start the podcast by asking my guests about their because.
I call it your true purpose, that true reason for doing what you do. And it changes from season to season. And to me, it's deeper than your why, right? Like if I were to ask you, what's your why? It's probably your kid, your family, your community, whatever it is that you're working with. But when I say, but why, that sentence usually starts with, well, because, and that's what I care about. So if I were to say, André, bro, like you do all these amazing things. You continue to find the better version of you and every thing that you do. What's your because? What's your true purpose of why you continue to do those things that you do?

**André Holland** (3:01)
That's a great question. I would say it's because, because I feel called to do it. I feel that this is my calling. I think storytelling of all, of all facets, being concerned about community, trying to be of use to other people, feels like my life's calling. So I would say that's why.
And it's also because that's how I was raised. I grew up around people who walked in their calling, who really treasured the gifts that they were given and saw them as being precious and tried to take good care of them. And so I want to do the same. And I want to be respected by the people that I respect.
And I think in order to earn my way into their company, I got to live a good life, man. And that involves those things, being concerned about community, taking care of myself and caring for the gifts that God has given me.

**Mick Hunt** (4:08)
And again, I'm going to keep saying it because I want you to hear it and receive it and feel it, man. Like, that's what makes me adore you, is all of what you just said and embodying 100% of that because it's real. And talking about growing up in the South and growing up in Alabama and then having the amazing opportunity to win the part in Selma that you did.
Like, when did you know that this was really your true calling? And again, I'm not talking about acting, I'm going to give you all those accolades. But I'm talking about the leader that you are, the human being that you are. Like, when did you know that you had that responsibility?