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Turning on the TV and seeing herself is still 鈥渁 surreal experience鈥� for prolific actor Zazie Beetz 鈥�13. She鈥檚 starring in the much-anticipated show , written and produced by Donald Glover and set to premiere on FX on September 6.

Rapper, director, and actor Glover is known for his appearances in 30 Rock, Community, The Martian, and more. His Atlanta is a half-hour comedy featuring cousins Earn Marks (Glover) and Alfred Miles (Brian Tyree Henry) trying to gain traction in the Atlanta music scene. Beetz plays Vanessa 鈥淰an鈥� Keifer, Earn鈥檚 on-again-off-again girlfriend. She has also appeared in the Netflix series Easy, Love & Pipes, Tied Up Tied Down, and Slice, but she says her role as Van 鈥渉as received the most buzz.鈥� 

Although this may be her biggest role to date, Beetz knows there鈥檚 more to come. She says the project feels small, since it hasn鈥檛 yet been seen by the public: 鈥淎ll that鈥檚 going on now is a few more followers,鈥� she jokes. But she adds, 鈥淭his is definitely a project bigger than myself, even though it does still feel intimate.鈥�

At Skidmore, Beetz earned a BA in French but was always heavily involved in theater. In her freshman year, she recalls, Professor Alma Becker 鈥渃ast me in the mainstage production, and I felt so honored!鈥� From that moment, Beetz took advantage of opportunities beyond the coursework prescribed by her degree.

She says she continues to use the lessons learned in acting and camera courses at Skidmore鈥攅ven in her screen test for Atlanta. Fighting through her nerves while reading with Glover, she admits, 鈥淚 still use my 鈥榟a ha鈥� breaths. Anyone who has taken Kate Kelly Bouchard鈥檚 class will know what I mean!鈥� Beetz is thankful for the community of classmates and professors who allowed her to explore her passions, and who continued to support her after graduation.

鈥淲ith Skidmore鈥檚 education I was able to humor another huge part of myself,鈥� she explains. 鈥淚 suppose that鈥檚 the beauty of a liberal arts school.鈥�