Success Story: How Jay-Z and Casting Networks Ignited and Kept Monique Mack’s Acting Flame Lit for Decades

Like many prolific actors, Monique Mack fell into show business by happenstance. When she appeared in the music video for Jay-Z’s Anything alongside her son, a baby at the time, she instantly caught the bug, but chose to revisit acting years later. A longtime Casting Networks member, Mack is crushing it.

She took time to share her Casting Networks successes, which include booking an Allergan Botox commercial, as well as an early gig that took her on an unexpected and unforgettable trip.

How did you decide to become an actor?

It was by chance. Years ago, I was in a Jay-Z video. This was like 20, 23 years ago. I was in the Anything video, and I went to the audition for my son. They needed a baby. I showed him and then the people said, “Well, do you want to audition for the mother role?” And I’m like, “No, it’s okay. I’m not prepared, I’m not ready.“ I had a hat on. It looked crazy, and they’re like, “Just do it.” I did, and I got the role.

It was like, “Oh, this is cool. I like this,” but I had kids. I didn’t really get an opportunity to pursue it. Fast-forward years later, I was like, “You know what? Maybe I’ll try my hand at this.” And I went from there.

Tell me about your experience booking the lead in the Allergan Botox commercial. What was the process like between booking and actually getting onto the set?

I saw the casting [call] on Casting Networks and they were asking for someone in their 40s who would like to try Botox, or has tried Botox. I tried Botox for the first time maybe a couple of months before. I was like, “Oh…it’s a story about me.”

It was during the pandemic, so everything was taking long. They would ask me for an audition, I’d submit, then I didn’t hear anything for a while, then we’d communicate through email. It went on for a few months before I was finally officially cast.

Then I went to the fitting [and then on-set]. When I was filming, I didn’t know that for that particular commercial, it was just going to be me. I had my own trailer, hair and makeup. I thought it was going to be all of the different people that I met at the fitting, but it was just me. I was blown away that I was a principal [role] and getting that experience.

What would you say to help someone succeed on Casting Networks?

You have to submit all the time. Don’t take [rejection] personally. Be consistent, be diligent. Update your profile with any skills or anything that you’ve done, and then make your real life shine through because you are a person.

Some people think that they shouldn’t talk about their own personal experience, but those things have gotten me my roles. In my everyday life, I am an investigator, so that was portrayed when I did the Botox commercial. Just recently I was booked for a secret service feature in a Netflix series, so I was able to use my real-life experience to come through and portray this role.

What other success stories do you have, and what other high-profile jobs have you booked from Casting Networks?

I also booked a job in Alaska. I was a brand ambassador selling jewelry, and had I not gotten it through Casting Networks, I’m pretty sure I never would’ve gone to Alaska, let alone [gotten the chance] to work there for a whole month. It was beautiful.

I was in Skagway right by the water and the mountains, and I felt comforted knowing that this is a reputable company hiring people. That’s one of the things that I really like about Casting Networks is that they do submit for a lot of jobs even overseas, but you can feel comfortable and confident knowing that whatever you are submitting to, that’s the actual work that you would be getting.

Photo courtesy of Monique Mack.

Do you have any audition tips and advice that you can share?

Just be yourself. Be authentic. Don’t be what it is you think the casting directors are looking for. They want you. If they call you back, you did something right. Don’t second-guess yourself. Don’t get in your head. Try to just be as natural as possible.

Sometimes it’s about networking. You get on-set and you’re going to meet people, you’re going to go to places. It’s about being in the right place, the right time. Just believe in yourself because if you don’t, who will? Every day [put] one foot in front of the other and continuously give yourself pep talks.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Chris Butera is a voice actor specializing in commercial, eLearning and corporate narration reads. When he’s not helping clients achieve their goals, he's playing guitar and bass.