Hey there, hi there, I’m Lydia-Renee Darling!

You can call me Lyd.

I’m an actor-development producer committed to creating my own opportunities in the face of adversity. Dedicated to purpose-driven work, I’m originally from Madison, WI and grew up in a vibrant community full of culture, art, and of course… cheese curds.

I was raised by my German-American mom with the help of my Puerto Rican hermana, supportive neighbors who were much like grandparents, and a babysitter who became a second mom before she passed. My culture and values are reflected in all of my projects: family is more than blood, community is essential, belonging is elusive, and bliss is being who you are. My unique blended background made me who I am today: a creative who believes no person should be reduced to a single box on a form.

As a multiracial, second-generation Ghanaian-American, my goal is to showcase marginalized communities on stage and screen. My passion for acting and producing is rooted in my desire to create work that fosters inclusivity in front of the camera and behind the scenes.

I finished high school with a 4.0 as valedictorian and was accepted into Webster Conservatory of Theatre Arts, one of the most competitive and respected B.F.A performance programs in the United States. I earned my degree with departmental honors in May 2020.

I didn’t let the pandemic keep me from honing my craft. I attended the following programs and labs from 2020 to 2021 alone:

• Sundance Co//ab TV Writing: Core Elements

• Jackalope Theatre Playwright’s Lab

• Film North Inclusive and Diverse Filmmaking Lab, Webseries, Smartphone Filmmaking

• Corporeal Writing The Space for What We Have Lost with Anya Pearson

• Brent Forrester TV Writing Course

• The Second City Webseries and Content Creation

• The Barrow Group Online Film/TV Acting

The pandemic didn’t stop me from creating new work, either. My pandemic pieces include a short film created over Zoom that was honored by Andromeda Film Festival and featured in two of Lift Off Network’s film festivals. I also filmed a one-woman comedy webseries while working alongside amazing colleagues at Second City.

In the fall of 2022, I earned my MA with Merit from the world-famous Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Since my move to London, I’ve become part of Equity UK alongside my US EMC status.

If you couldn’t tell, I have a bit of an obsession with pink. In my free time, I can be found sipping on matcha lattes and crafting, taking Skillshare classes and binging anime or historical documentaries. I also run a production company and DEI advocacy business, Oh! (My Gosh) Creative Co.

In the pre-COVID days, I put my love for language learning to good use by traveling frequently. I lived with my family in Bayern, studied abroad in Austria, and before interning in Japan, traipsed across Spain, Switzerland, France and Korea.

Since the severity of the pandemic waned, I transitioned to splitting time between London and the US, where I indulge my appetite for bookstores, travel and cute cafes.

To connect with me, scroll down to the contact form or email contact (@) lydiareneedarling.com.

For UK acting bookings, please contact Isles Management at 07793 022170 or info@islesmanagement.com.