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

André Holland has built an acclaimed career through performances in Moonlight, Selma, The Knick, HighFlying Bird, and more—but his deepest calling reaches far beyond the screen.In this conversation with Mick Hunt, André shares how his parents and his Bessemer, Alabamacommunity taught him to move with integrity, care for his gifts, and stay shoulder to shoulder with thepeople who helped him flourish. He opens up about the teacher who made him feel truly seen, theresponsibility he feels to create opportunities for emerging voices, and why commitment is the word hehopes will define his life.André also discusses They Fight, his preparation as a character actor, Harper Road, and the HollandProject’s restoration of Bessemer’s historic Lincoln Theatre.This is a conversation about calling, craft, second chances, community, and planting trees whose fruitmay belong to the next generation.WHAT YOU’LL LEARN• Why André describes storytelling and service as a calling• How his parents and Alabama roots shaped his civic responsibility• Why opportunity—not a lack of talent—often separates people from their potential• The NYU classroom moment that changed André’s view of his own stories• How he approaches character work with research, vulnerability, and faith• Why They Fight resonated with him as a story of mentorship and second chances• How the Holland Project and Harper Road are creating room for new voices• Why “committed” is the word André wants attached to his legacyLISTENER OFFER / FEATURED PROMOTIONWatch They Fight on Hulu: https://www.hulu.com/movie/they-fight-a1bba82e-2550-4ffc-81df-b973b9c85339Discover the Holland Project and Lincoln Theatre restoration:https://www.birminghamtimes.com/2024/10/renovating-bessemers-lincoln-theatre-andre-hollands-next-act/CHAPTERSTiming is grounded in the supplied transcript. Reconfirm against the final uploaded master aftercorrecting the intro-name issue.• 00:00 — Welcome to Mick Unplugged• 01:44 — André’s Because: answering the call• 04:25 — Family, faith, and growing up in Alabama• 06:19 — Bessemer, opportunity, and giving back• 07:44 — The Unplugged Truth: becoming a symbol of hope• 12:58 — They Fight, second chances, and the craft of acting• 18:48 — The Room: the teacher who truly saw André• 23:11 — Creating rooms through the Holland Project and Harper Road• 29:18 — The Unplugged Five• 32:20 — Supporting André’s work and closing thoughtsConnect &amp; Discover André Holland:Instagram: @andrehollandX: @AndreHolland_The Holland Project — Historic Lincoln Theatre: alabamalincoln.comLincoln Theatre on Instagram: @bamalincolnSupport the Restoration (Donate): Give to the Lincoln TheatreWatch They Fight on Hulu: hulu.com/movie/they-fightFOLLOW MICK ON:Spotify: MickUnpluggedInstagram: @mickunplugged&nbsp;Facebook: @mickunpluggedYouTube:&nbsp;@MickUnpluggedPodcast&nbsp;LinkedIn: @mickhunt&nbsp;Website:&nbsp;MickHuntOfficial.comWebsite: howtobeagoodleader.comWebsite: Leadloudseries.comApple<