Multi-hyphenate artist Tooley Jones commands audiences with graceful intensity. Los Angeles-based actor, singer, and visual artist, Tooley draws from a deep well of personal experiences to explore humanity and the world in which we live. Her ingenue visage harbors the heart of a deeply layered character actor. "I see myself as the 'girl next door' type; think Olivia Newton-John," says Tooley with an enigmatic glimmer in her blue eyes, "But full of surprises, depth, layers. I've lived a lot of life in a short amount of time, and I have a wide range of experiences to pull from. I put that in everything I do." Tooley's performance experience and private training began at age 4 in South Korea and led to international studies in Germany, training in New York City, and credits in New Orleans, in addition to touring and performing with the Victory Belles. Tooley's breadth of experience imbues each of her creative endeavors.
Though she was born in Missouri, Tooley spent much of her young life in South Korea. "The first time I stepped on stage to sing a solo in front of an audience I was 4. That's when I fell in love with performing," she grins in the nostalgia of that first performance rush. Four years later, cancer took Tooley's mom. "My mom's death was the catalyst for me to pursue performing arts as a way to channel my grief and connect with others."
Tooley spent her teen and college years in Alabama thoroughly immersed in theater. These years of dedicated training gave Tooley the opportunity to study at the International Performing Arts Institute in Germany. From there she moved to New York City where she continued to refine her theatrical arts through the study of Meisner techniques, then ventured into film acting. In this Mecca of theater is where Tooley caught the film bug.
She carried the bug back South to New Orleans, a hot spot for film and television and her favorite city. New Orleans gave her numerous film, television, and commercial opportunities, as well as plenty of theatrical roles. Tooley starred in cult-classic theatrical productions including, Xanadu, Evil Dead: The Musical, and Night of the Living Dead: The Musical. For several years Tooley was a member of the Victory Belles, a theatrical musical trio associated with the National World War II Museum. As a Victory Belle, Tooley toured the country bringing the spirit and song of the mid-century to audiences that ranged from World War II veterans, high profile events, to singing the National Anthem for the New Orleans Saints and other professional sporting events.
Los Angeles was the next move for Tooley. It became a chance for her to step back from performing, and to focus on herself and other creative venues. "I needed to better myself, to tap into myself as the rounded creative that I know I am, and not just a performer." In these few years, Tooley rediscovered parts of herself in visual art, content creation, and delving into music production. "During the pandemic, I realized how much I miss performing," she says. "Now I'm back at it with a fresh confidence as a multi-hyphenate creative. I'm not just a performer -- I have a lot more to offer, and that's what gives my performance depth and relatability."
Tooley's mom left her with a life lesson she lives by daily, "People won't remember who had the best clothes or cars or the best looks. They'll remember you for your kindness."
Written by Sunny J.