How did you get into acting and writing?
I did my first play when I was eight! I played a Munchkin in a staged Wizard of Oz called Petite Players. Ironically, I did it with all of my gymnastics teammates. But apparently I'm the only one who got the acting bug from it! I finally got to really pursue acting in college since one of my majors was drama.
I got into writing shortly after I filmed Stick It in Los Angeles. I enjoyed reading scripts and my best friend, Brooke Buffington, and I decided we wanted to write our own content too.
How about CrossFit? Everyone remembers their first moment when they were about to do their first workout. What was that like for you?
Oh yes. I remember it like yesterday. My friend Andy Thompson asked me to come try CrossFit in a little class he was holding. He told me it was a workout for soccer moms… LIAR!! I did my first workout in a park. This was before there was a "box" on every corner.
The workout was Chelsea:
Every Minute On The Minute For 30 Minutes:
5 pull-ups
10 push-ups
15 squats.
Needless to say, I couldn't walk for a week and immediately quit CrossFit. After a month of begging, Andy convinced me to come back and try another one. My next workout was much more reasonable.
Do you feel like you began CrossFit with a performance or aesthetics based goal in mind?
In a way both and in a way neither. I really just wanted something that filled the void of being a competitive gymnast. I would still go to Gold's after CrossFit and do "cardio" because I was having trouble staying thin without my 20 hours a week of gymnastics training. CrossFit made me thin again and gave me the sport aspect back.
At the time, I had no intentions of actually doing competitions. I actually remember going to watch the Games in Aromas in 2009 and saying, "I could never do this!" Then in 2011, I was on the 5th place team at Carson! I was hooked.
How do you manage to balance both so well? What advice would you give to someone who cares about the performance aspect, but wants to look good?
First off, thank you! I think if I'm focused on performance goals it almost naturally fuels a better, healthier body. I always feel healthier from The Open until Regionals (I also feel nervous, but that's another story).
When I'm training hard and want to perform at my peak, I want to fuel my body better because it feels better in training and it gets better results.
I recognized you instantly from Stick It. And you’re currently on set. What other projects are you involved in right now?
I've just wrapped on a movie called Swiped. Whoop whoop.
But the biggest thing in my life is the release of the movie Brooke and I wrote and produced, called Chalk It Up!!! It's like Legally Blonde with gymnastics. I hope it takes off because it's got such a positive message for girls about the fun we have with our teammates. It's hilarious too!
You can relate to the working individual who takes their CrossFit and training very seriously. How do you juggle it all? What’s your secret to making sure your training quality stays on point?
I've been an athlete since I was four years old, and I'm actually at a point now where I train FAR less than I used to. I think that's been one of the best things I've learned over time. It's easier on my body and it's healthier mentally for me that way too. I always want CrossFit to be enjoyable.
I noticed one year I really wasn't enjoying it anymore and opted out of competing on our team. That said, I agreed to be the alternate and lo and behold, my teammate got rhabdo four days before — so I was in.
I stepped out on the competition floor and loved every second. Competing is just in my blood. My recommendation is to check in and make sure you're having fun. That's what keeps the drive alive!
How long would you say your training sessions are and how many times a week?
I train one hour during my break when coaching, four days a week. Usually, I do the class WOD at whatever gym I'm coaching at, or I'll do Invictus's competitor's page. I also hike my dog Pepper for about 45 minutes 2-4 days a week.
What’s the breakfast of champions look like for you?
I LOVE breakfast. And I rotate between three breakfasts:
- 2 eggs and yogurt
- Bacon, egg, avocado, cheese wrap with salsa
- Bagel sandwich from Noah's bagels (this is my Sunday morning ritual before church)
Let’s talk a little bit about body image. How has that changed in the last decade? You get a first hand view being in Hollywood, but you also get to hang around strong women. I almost feel like we’re shifting more towards strong being the new norm. More women are getting comfortable in their own skin. What does strong mean to you?
I WISH strong was the new norm. Unfortunately, I still think we are a long way off from that, ESPECIALLY in Hollywood. It's something I struggle with daily.
My acting career is the only thing that ever makes me wonder if I should give up CrossFit. That said, there's always a little voice reminding me that I like staying strong because it's how I've been since I was little. And very few females in Hollywood have muscles.
I hope to become a bigger name in Hollywood so little girls can see that they can still be girly and "attractive" by Hollywood standards even if they are muscular and play sports.
The Olympics are such a great positive images for little girls. I'm thankful female sports during the Olympics are just as popular as the males.
What’s the first 60-90 minutes of your day look like?
I mostly coach in the morning, so I don't have a super interesting routine. I wake up, put on clothes that I've always laid out the night before and put on make up.
I walk and feed Pepper, make my bed, eat breakfast, and head to work!
Sometimes I'll have an audition which is THE BEST. And then it takes me a really long time to decide what to wear and to do my make up (laughs).
How about the rest of your day? When do you get your writing in?
Once at work, I workout during my break. After work, I try to make a lot of meetings with other people in the industry so that I'm constantly meeting people. I'll have acting class once a week and I will also have an audition or two throughout the week.
My writing partner (Brooke) and I usually talk on the phone on my way home from work and brainstorm ideas for writing that night.
We are currently working on three projects:
1) A dramatic pilot called Division One, which follows the staff inside the athletic department at a D1 school and all the crazy/wonderful/terrifying things that happen with athletes
2) A comedic pilot called Serial Monogamist about a girl at magazine company trying to break her pattern of long term relationships with no final commitment
3) A rewrite of a feature film adapted from the book called Secrets Over Sweet Tea that follows the lives of a Christian community all trying to overcome various demons.
Brooke is much better about consistent writing than I am. I made a resolution to write thirty minutes a day, but I haven't kept it. Eek. I tend to write in spurts and then stop for a time. Luckily, I can always do edits for B Buff (that's what I call her).
Do you ever write on anything aside from a computer?
Oh yes! Pen and paper is my jam. And Brooke teases me that I write better on my phone than anywhere else. If only I could get Final Draft as an app!
How do you deal with writer’s block?
That's the nice thing about having a writing partner. Usually one of us isn't having a block. Brooke and I will throw out ideas to each other and talk them through until there's one that we both get really excited about. Then that's what we'll write.
I feel like being an actor, you have to be able to pull yourself into the moment and the zone. Do you feel like that’s something that’s been an advantage for you with CrossFit?
Yes and no. Athletics are such a different beast than acting. It's nice because I'm used to overcoming nerves, but acting is MUCH more vulnerable. You're taking on a different life when acting and trying to make it feel completely real to the audience. You're no longer you.
When I'm competing in CrossFit, it's just do the work and do the best you can to push through the pain rather than let yourself feel it.
When it's acting, you have to allow yourself to really feel. This was hard for me at first because as a gymnast we would pretty much hide all emotions in practice.
Therapy and acting class has helped me immensely to let go of being perfect and instead embrace human flaws and emotions, focusing on what my character wants in each scene.
Who are your favorite authors? Movies? Books?
Oh gosh, I have so many. I'm like a kid at Christmas when I read books, each one I finish is my new favorite. My boyfriend started a book club and I love having an excuse to read and get together with my friends, and talk about what we read.
One that really sticks out to me is The Help. I just loved that book. I also recently read Pride and Prejudice again. I highly recommend going back and reading classics you read in high school. It'll blow your mind how different they are now.
Movies:
TV:
Look, I'm obsessed with watching TV and movies. It's my all time favorite thing to do. There's a reason I'm in this crazy business.
What’s your workspace look like?
Ha! How embarrassing. My couch with a TV tray table. I also have a make-shift treadmill desk that you can see me eating cake on my Instagram. I use that more when reading scripts rather than writing.
What’s your favorite to-do list manager?
I keep a small notebook in my purse at all times! I also use my iPhone calendar, because I don't remember everything as well as I did in college.
Being a writer, are you on the lookout for different ideas? What’s your note taking system look like?
Always! I look for things that intrigue me. Usually it's people I find the most interesting. Brooke and I have done well in a lot of writing contests and it's generally because we have good characters and dialogue. We always have to work harder on rewrites with our plots.
Can I recommend a few books for you? I feel like you’d love them if you haven't already checked them out.
Thanks!! I'll check them out!
Are you a fan of stand up comedy at all? Or comedy in general? If so, who are your favorites?
YES!!! I'm a glutton for comedy. I started improv in college at UNC - Chapel Hill on our campus team, CHiPs. I immediately joined UCB in Los Angeles and actually live where I do because I wanted to be closer to the theater. The group ASSSSCAT is amazing. Everyone should go see them.
Comedy is my favorite, I also think it's the hardest to pull off well both in acting and writing, so I'm in awe of everyone who does it effortlessly.
I haven't dipped my toes in stand up, but I respect it! My favorites are:
- Seinfeld
- Ellen
- Amy Schumer
- Chris Rock
- and my buddy Aaron Karo
I also have a lot of girlfriends that are rocking the stand up scene in LA right now. It's fun to see people starting out and really experience how hard the hustle is for a great set and big audiences.
What’s your favorite music to work to?
Pop, specifically if you were to put in "Fight Song" as a Pandora station. I got made fun of a lot for this during the Open.
Do you have any training partners? How valuable is it to have a training buddy?
My boyfriend Anton comes and trains with me most of the time or I'll workout alone. I love taking class too. That's what really hooked me on CrossFit in the first place. I think if you're going to compete you HAVE to have training partners or at least have someone doing similar workouts to try and compete with their scores.
As long as I am gunning for certain scores or trying to beat my workout buddies, I'll work harder than I would alone. As a coach, I see that's very true for the majority of people.
Where can we learn more about you? What are some things to look out for?
Follow my Instagram @maddycurley. That's my favorite source for posting about my life.
Look out for CHALK IT UP on iTunes first and foremost!!!! September 13th.
Some other projects I've done recently include Hollywood Box, a show about a CrossFit team trying to not kill each other before they get to the Games. It's all scripted and really fun.
I'll also be on an episode of Casual soon on Hulu! My Ford commercial is airing too, look for me falling off a wall on the beach.
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