Don Cheadle
When it comes to the art of mastering one’s craft, Don Cheadle’s career serves as the ultimate case study. The award-winning actor has consistently showcased his adeptness at bringing a variety of roles to life through his dynamic storytelling skills, which hasn’t changed with his latest endeavor. Cheadle recently starred in the newest commercial, “Get Caught with Something Good™," for the popular snack brand PopCorners®, in which he portrayed a speakeasy host who serves patrons his favorite flavors of the famous brand. Cheadle was excited about the opportunity because it’s a brand that he actually enjoys.
“When PopCorners® reached out to me, it was great because it’s a product that I actually enjoy. It’s always fun to promote something that is a good alternative. It’s popped, not fried, which is a great addition for me and how I like to snack. It was a no-brainer when I got to work with the creative team to figure out a fun way to promote the brand in this new commercial. I was super excited when the opportunity came to collaborate on the creative with their team. We had fun leaning into the idea of it being so good they're worth enjoying in secret. I enjoyed getting to play the host with the most and a friend who didn't quite get the message.”
As someone who’s had a successful career in acting, this role falls in line with Cheadle’s previous projects, in which he provided comedic relief through his character depictions. When it comes to using his talents to push past barriers, the actor makes it a habit to search for roles that have a purpose in an effort to better connect with his audience.
“I believe what we do has a subversive ability to get past people’s walls and their protective reactions,” Cheadle told ForbesBLK. “When you can entertain with comedy and get people laughing, you can smuggle a lot of great things in. I am always looking for things that have meaning and can push everything forward in a way that doesn’t feel like medicine.”
While Cheadle has played numerous roles throughout his career, he attests that he’s learned from each experience and desires to continue growing in his craft.
“There hasn’t been a project that I haven’t learned about something, whether it be the subject matter, the person I am playing, or just acting and myself in general,” Cheadle said. “I am always trying to grow and continue to expand my experience so I can be better at my job. I am always trying to work smarter, not harder, and it has been a great journey.”
As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, Cheadle feels that despite the many changes over the last few years, it’s become a bit more challenging to navigate.
“The industry got a lot more expansive with the introduction of streaming services, but conversely, streaming hurt the business. Everyone rushing to create content has skipped over determining if it’s worthy for the screen. After COVID-19 and the writer’s strike, our business looks a lot different than it did before. We are still trying to discover what it will be. It’s never been easy, but it’s a little trickier now.”
When he isn’t hard at work, the storyteller prefers to lean into rest as a form of self-care.
“I try to get a lot of sleep. When you’re working 13 or 14-hour days, you have to prioritize rest and recovery so you have something to bring to work every day,” Cheadle told ForbesBLK. “I always try to eat well, sleep well, get massages and take care of my voice. Work hard and rest hard, that’s the goal.”
