Smarty Mom: Weslie Woodley

One of my favorite perks about mommy-hood is meeting new moms through my kids’ school and activities, and I definitely feel like I’ve hit the jackpot this year! I’ve met so many amazing moms, and I’m excited to introduce to you one of them today: new-to-Charlotte, Weslie Woodley!!

My favorite way to describe Weslie is the ‘”mommy of all trades!” She is a fantastic photographer, has been in off-Broadway musicals and on TV, decorates so well it could make a magazine jealous, plays more than 3 instruments, has genuinely the sweetest kids, but best of all has a heart of gold and is insanely humble! She is just one of those people you could sit and talk to for hours – it’s awesome!

Weslie and her family moved to Charlotte last summer for an exciting career change for her husband, TJ, but she left behind a lot of great memories in Washington, DC. When I say Weslie can sing like she was on Broadway – it’s because she was actually on Broadway! She will tell you it doesn’t really count as “Broadway” because it wasn’t in NYC, I say whatever! She was cast as Maureen in RENT and found out she was pregnant opening night!! Oops! What a night to battle morning sickness! Weslie played racy “Maureen” through the first 3 months of her pregnancy with Chase and moved on to another role in Sweeney Todd where it was OK for her to look pregnant. She’s also been in Les Miserables and films like Meet The Fockers, Thank You For Smoking, Young and the Restless – just to name a few. Her stories are amazing!

But my favorite story of all is how children can change your dreams – which I know is so true with most of us moms out there. Weslie is now living her best dream of all as a mom to two wonderful kids – and she is darn good at it! I can guarantee they have some beautifully sung lullabies to fall asleep to.

Smarty Charlotte, please help me in welcoming: Weslie Woodley!

Smarty Mom:  Weslie Woodley

Smarty Mom Stats
Married to: TJ Woodley for 12 years
Children: Chase 3.5, Willow 1
‘Hood:  Southpark
Hometown: DC
Occupation: Stay at home mom/portrait photographer

Must ask question:  Is being a professional actress as glamorous as it sounds? What was your most favorite moment from your career? Haha NO!  It is not an easy lifestyle!  It requires very hard work and the hours are intense- As an actress in  theatre we perform eight shows a week with Mondays off.  Most of us work other jobs on those Mondays which equals no time off.  The ups and downs of auditioning can be really hard too.  On the other hand, it was absolutely the most rewarding thing I have ever done (apart from being a mom of course).  It’s nearly impossible to pick a single “favorite moment” from my career but I would have to say the theatre has my heart.  I enjoyed my time working in film and TV but nothing comes close to live theatre.  I loved doing Les Miserables at the Tony Award winning Signature Theatre.

Are there specific things you have learned from your entertainment career that you will make sure to instill in raising Chase and Willow?  Definitely that good things are worth working very hard for.  You are not entitled to anything, you have to earn it!

If Chase or Willow want to follow in your footsteps in the entertainment industry what would your initial reaction be? Excited or apprehensive? I think it would be a mix of those two emotions.  I love watching both of them discover music or hearing them sing.  I would ideally want them to wait until they were older.

Most favorite song to sing?  My go-to audition song is called “I’m not Waiting” by Andrew Lippa.  It’s dramatic and belty.  I also love singing a lullaby that was written especially for my son, Chase, by composer Matt Conner.  It is so special to my heart.  Chase asks me to sing it to him every night and he now sings it to his little sister.

What advice would you give your 20-something-year-old self? I would want to tell her that the best “me” is the real me.  To be authentic.

What is something that most people do not know about you?  I’m a HUGE dork.  But I think most people know that.

Celebrity crush? Don Draper (John Hamm) or Justin Timberlake.  I met Justin Timberlake on a movie set and he was so goofy and cute.

Funniest thing your kids have ever said to you?  I’m obsessed with the little things Chase says.  I try to write them all down.
One of my favorites-
Chase: “I’m THREEEEEE!” (Big hand flourish)
Me:  “You are!  How much do you think mom is?”
Chase: “You are SOOOOO expensive!”

Behavioral trait you hope your children do not inherit from you? They are both little organizers.  Very neat and tidy.  That’s not from me!  I can be a little ADD.  I blame it on being artistic. 🙂

Guilty pleasure? Real Housewives on Bravo.  Oops…did I just admit that out loud?

Favorite thing about Charlotte so far? Everyone here is so friendly!  We have loved all the wonderful people we have met and we are so excited to make Charlotte our new home.