Le’Keisha “Keyz” Williams – Haunt Actor and Screenwriter

Le’Keisha “Keyz” Williams is a veteran to the Gallery WIHM event. She is a Haunt Actor and Screenwriter.

What motivates you to do what you do?

I dream nightly of opening up my own Haunted Attraction for people with different abilities that require extra space and care. Every year I work at a Haunt, I gain more knowledge of how to build a safer experience for people who aren’t 100% able-bodied or have a different form of thinking and sensory tolerance. Horror is an inclusive genre and we need to make more spaces that prove that.

Who is your favorite woman who does what you do?

This is going to sound biased, but it is not one woman. It is an entire cast of women and those are the women that work in my haunted house with me These women and I started from the very beginning when our House first opened. I have never seen women do what they do with so much love, passion, and motivation. From summoning demon-possessed gators to (literally) flying 15 feet into the air every 30 seconds, the women in my House inspire me the hardest and are my absolute favorite in doing what I do.

If you had one wish for women in your space in 2020, what would it be?

I wish for every woman who is an actress or aspiring actress to have the confidence they have in character outside of character. I wish for every woman to look at their lives and say “Nailed it” just like they would at the end of a scene or lock. The world counts us out daily. Women deserve the strong confidence we portray and express. Let’s start by owning that in our everyday lives.

Share a practical tip for a woman who wants to do what you do.

Know your fears and limits, but don’t shoot yourself down or shy away from the unknown. You won’t know how good you are at something until you try it.
Know you *do* have a voice and it is okay to use it.
Know that you are allowed to say “No” to something that makes you uncomfortable at any degree.

4.Know that you are in control of the room the scare and the reset.

Drink A LOT of water. A lot, a lot, a lot. A. LOT. And tea with honey.
Cough drops are NOT candy. Eat them like they are anyways.

Inspire someone who is not where they want to be in the industry yet.

Don’t be afraid to say “F*uck it. I’ll do it myself.” Ask what-if question to yourself. Practice acting, cooking, sewing, writing, taking photos, training your voice, drawing, making props, applying makeup. Everything. Do it to and for yourself. Also, and this is most important, be gentle and patient with yourself. You will get to where you need to get to. If Michael Myers can slay by walking slowly, so can you.