ABOUT TONYA WILLIAMS:
Tonya Williams, O.C. (Order Of Canada), is an award-winning actress, producer, and advocate who was recently appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. She’s best known for her long-standing roles on Polka Dot Door and as Dr. Olivia Winters on The Young and the Restless, a role she held for 19 years.
Her work has earned her two NAACP (National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People) Image Awards, two Emmy nominations, the 2023 Visionary Award from the Legacy Awards, the 2024 Changemaker Award from the Canadian Screen Awards, and most recently, a 2025 induction into Canada’s Walk of Fame.
In 2000, Tonya founded the Reelworld Film Festival, now the Reelworld Screen Institute, to support and open doors for Black, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian, and People of Colour in Canada’s screen industries. She later launched Access Reelworld in 2020, which has become Canada’s largest platform for connecting Indigenous and Racialized Canadian talent to opportunities in film and TV.
Tonya is a global citizen, holding British, American, and Canadian passports, and currently splits her time between Los Angeles and Toronto.
Q&A WITH TONYA WILLIAMS:
What is your most valuable possession and why?
My critical thinking ability has served me well throughout my life and continues to do so. I’m able to process everything that’s happening to me in real time and adjust quickly to the conditions. This has allowed me to take advantage of situations I’m in and discern what is valuable and what is not as I move through my life.
What are your top 3 life lessons and how have they changed your life for the better (in other words, how have you implemented them to better your life)?
- I learned that each person’s path is unique, and you can’t find success by copying what other people are doing.
- I learned that the only person you should ever count on is yourself.
- I learned that there are two specific kinds of people in life: victims and non-victims, and victims are people I cannot help. I have tried, but it never seems to work. Victims believe they can find power by listening to what other people tell them to do. That is a recipe for continued victimhood.
What is the most valuable advice you’ve received and how did it set you up to win?
My mother always said, “Focus on the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves,” which I have always found valuable. She also said, “There’s more than one way to skin a cat,” which means once you set your intention, there are many ways to achieve your goal, not just one way.
What is the worst advice you’ve received and how did it impact you?
When I first started making significant money, everyone encouraged me to hire a business manager, but for me, a person who trusts no one, that was advice I could never take. And then, over the years, I saw people lose their money to business managers. I prefer to lose my own money through my own mistakes rather than someone else’s mistakes.
There are two specific kinds of people in life: victims & non-victims. I cannot help victims because they believe they can find power by listening to what other people tell them to do. That is a recipe for continued victimhood.
What is the one mistake you regret in life, and why? How do you feel changing it would have impacted your life for the better, and why is that change important to you?
I have always thought that this is a question people should ask those who are unhappy in their lives. Maybe someone who has ended up in jail with a life sentence. This question would be one that might make sense for them.
But if you love the way your life is, as I do, then I can honestly say I have no regrets. Why would I want to change anything at all in my life since the current outcome is a good one?
I don’t have any regrets, I never have. All the decisions in your life are your decisions, and you can’t make a wrong decision, not if it’s your own. Perhaps on the last breath of your life, you can see a regret, but if you are happy with your life, then how can you think that anything you did is something you regret? I have learned valuable lessons from every decision I have made – some decisions made my life harder, while others made it easier, but in the end, they all led me to the same place. None of us can see how our decisions ultimately turn out. You need to live a whole life to see it from a bird’s-eye view.
When you face a challenge, what’s your method to move past it?
You can always see when I’m facing a challenge because that’s when I have a smile on my face, a challenge is how we grow and learn. A challenge is the very purpose of our existence. With a challenge, you finally get to see what you are made of. The challenge should try to break you, but you persevere until you break it. Don’t just move past a challenge; fully immerse yourself in it and go through it. That’s how you learn.
How do you create a work-life balance?
I don’t have a work-life balance – I don’t personally think it exists – but that is my path – I’m not saying that is what others should do – I am not married, I have no children, I do not try to cultivate friends, my house is in chaos, I can’t remember the last vacation I took, I am a perfect example of a work-aholic, but I love it. I know on my deathbed I will not regret my choices, for every action there is something positive and negative, and I am prepared for that.
A challenge is the very purpose of our existence. With a challenge, you finally get to see what you are made of. Don't just move past a challenge; fully immerse yourself in it and go through it. That's how you learn.
What “women” hangups have you been a victim to, that you feel sets women up to fail in their professional career?
I don’t actually believe that anything can set you up to fail, whether you are a man or a woman. Failure occurs when you feel you have a specific purpose in life and allow anything to stop you from achieving that purpose. In that case, it is you who stops yourself, not others or circumstances.
I met a woman recently who said she had always wanted to be an actor, but her family wouldn’t let her; what she really meant was that she didn’t want to disappoint her family. If you worry only about making choices that make others happy, then you will set yourself up to fail.
If there is something you believe is your life purpose, and your husband might leave you because of that, then that is what must happen. You cannot stop your life’s purpose because of any fear you might have. Living a life fully requires you to be brave. Your choices might be hard to make, but you make them because you have to follow your destiny.
I meet women all the time who share stories about why they couldn’t reach their full potential. They speak to me of parents who held them back, or a husband or brother who held them back; there is no one who can hold you back. We were all born for pure success, but some people give their power to others, and then they wait and wait for others to open their cage and free them, but the cage is of their own making.
I do not like to hear women complaining as if someone forced them to take those paths. I am sure there are many women who would be unhappy in my life, but my life brings me joy, and it is the right path for me.
I can tell you that all the men I’ve ever dated or been in relationships with have said the same thing: they feel like “I don’t need them,” and I answer, “They are right – I don’t need them.” That is not my reason for being with them, and I have found that men get very upset by that. But that is something I will never change about myself – I would rather live alone in my truth than create some fantasy that keeps a man happy.
Are you affected by the Confidence Gap, where studies show that women require confidence as well as competence to succeed in the workplace environment, whereas their male counterparts don’t? If yes, can you share an example of it and how you have overcome it (if you have). If no, why do you think that you have not fallen victim to this?
There is always a study that reinforces the notion that people are victims of their own lives.
Don’t put too much faith in studies.
I believe Confidence is vital whether you are a man or a woman. It is the responsibility of every parent to build their child’s confidence before they set out into the world. Meaning that confidence needs to be built from birth to 5 years old. Once that child steps out into the world (usually by kindergarten or grade 1), if they are not confident, life will be a terrible struggle for them.
I am an only child. My parents carefully built my confidence because they knew that as a Black person, I would have challenges in my life. My mother, in particular, was always watching me, seeing what I gravitated towards, and she would nurture that talent in me. At the age of 3, she started me in ballet, not because she thought I would become a ballerina, but because being on stage and performing is a natural way to help build confidence. At the age of 5, she started me on piano, and I had numerous concerts, which also helped build my confidence. My parents travelled, and I got to see different countries and cultures, and that built my confidence. As an only child, I spent more time around adults than with children, so I was comfortable debating and sharing my views about the world with those older than me from an early age. My parents also chose books that would help strengthen my self-awareness and understanding of the world. My favourite book when I was 3 years old was The Big Jump. I believe that book laid the foundation for how I achieve my goals.
I have always had a curious mind, and my parents encouraged that in me. When I was between the ages of 4 and 7 years old, no clock or watch was safe around me – I would take them apart, fascinated by all the pieces and the intricate way they worked. Of course, I could never get the pieces back together!
Find the things your child is good at and put them in that area, so that they can feel success, and that builds confidence. If you have a child who is not good at sports, don’t push them into sports, so they can feel less than they are. Find what they are good at.
I don’t believe you can have competence without confidence. You have to have confidence in the work you do, or others won’t have confidence in it. You must first believe in yourself for others to believe in you.
I have a lot of confidence and competence. I have seen many men fail in life, so I don’t believe a man has it easier simply because he’s a man. I believe life is challenging for everyone, and we must all strive as hard as we can. So, don’t worry about what other people are doing; worry about what you are doing. Success is already yours; only you can lose it.
Equality for one person may not be equality for another; people need to stop thinking in tribal ways and start thinking in individual terms.
What does equality mean to you and is it important?
To me, equality is not as important as freedom. I make my decisions based on freedom. Equality for one person may not be equality for another; people need to stop thinking in tribal ways and start thinking in individual terms. What is your specific purpose on this planet? Why are you here? Your job is to figure that out and then start walking towards your earthly goal. It doesn’t matter what other people are doing; it only matters that you are following your true purpose. To me, that is freedom.
In your experience, what types of male allyship do you feel women need to foster at home and at work, to encourage an equitable ecosystem?
You don’t need any kind of allyship in your life. What you need is a firm mind and knowledge of your purpose. When you have that, the right people will arrive to help you. I do believe very strongly that there is a higher power and that higher power gives us free will, and what we do with that free will determines the quality of our life. Every day, you are being presented with decisions you need to make. Are you making those decisions, or are you asking others to make those decisions for you? You should make those decisions for yourself, no matter how small they may be.
I have met women who are shopping for a dress and say they are looking for something their husband would like them to wear. That is a very strange thing for someone like me to hear. Doesn’t it make more sense to choose a dress you want to wear, and know that you would attract the right person for you, then, as they would be attracted to whatever you decided to wear.
What would you tell your 18-year-old self, looking back over your life’s experiences?
I can’t think what I would tell my 18-year-old self. I liked all the things I did then, just as I’ve liked all the things I’ve done throughout my years. So, maybe I would say, “keep doing what you’re doing.”
I spend very little time thinking about the past – I might go as far as to say I don’t think about the past at all. I focus my time and energy on the present and the future – I don’t understand the value of rehashing the past. Your power lies in what you are going to do next, not in what you have already done.
What advice would you give to women to help them step into their power?
You are already in your power – and if you are asking anyone to give you advice on how to step into your power, it means you don’t believe you have any power, and nothing anyone tells you will make you feel powerful.
You are already powerful, realizing that comes with huge responsibility. It means you can no longer blame anyone or anything for your life; it means you take full responsibility. Are you ready for that? Because I tend to see people who are not ready for that.
One of my famous quotes comes from Nelson Mandela:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”
Allow yourself to sit in that quote for a moment.
Can you share one resource (book, course, mastermind/masterclass, etc.) that you feel all women need to have?
I have loved books for as long as I can remember, and every book brings you some kind of wisdom. The first book I remember is The Big Jump, which I referenced earlier. I read many children’s Bible stories when I was a small child. I read lots of detective books, and I think that helped nurture my critical thinking. Then, through the years, books found me – The Celestine Prophecies, Autobiography of a Yogi, the audiobooks by Caroline Myss, Brian Weiss, Many Lives, Many Masters, and The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, among many others.
I also watched many films that had a profound impact on me. I recall a film from the late 1970s, “Meetings with Remarkable Men,” which had a profound impact on me.
Since I was 4 years old, I have known that I am a spiritual being in a human body, and thus my journey with books and films has been one of nurturing that belief.
The life journey I’m currently on is a culmination of many other life experiences I’ve had. The people who have come in and out of my life are also souls who help me as I help them in their time.
Now you can understand that I have no regrets. We are all the masters of our lives, and the control has always been yours and always will be yours. You attract the people you believe should be in your life, whether you are aware of it or not. Whether you like them or not.
I’m not only religious, but I’m a spiritualist. You need to find a spiritual practice for yourself; it’s different for everyone. Some people meditate, while I commune with nature, which centres my spiritual self. I think everyone should spend more time alone; going to silent retreats is something I truly enjoy doing. You have an inner voice that is speaking to you and guiding you – all you need to do is listen. And don’t tell people what your plans are; just do the plan. You don’t need to announce it to others, as that gives your power away.
You have this one life, at this time in history, in the body you have now. Don’t waste it. You are a spiritual being, encompassed in a human frame – whether that frame is a man or a woman, you have the same power.
What mantra do you live by and how has it impacted your life?
My mantra over the years has been simple: do good every day, help others, work harder than everyone else, expect nothing from anyone, and in the face of the impossible, just keep putting one foot in front of the other. You will get somewhere eventually.
Which therapies/modalities have helped to shape your healing and empowerment journey that you think would be helpful for other women?
I don’t know what would be helpful to other people, since each person is on a singularly different path from anyone else. However, I suppose loving oneself is essential for every human being. Trust your own intuition – make choices and be happy with them. If you’re not happy with them, change them and become a self-sufficient person. Don’t feel you cannot be a whole person without a partner or friends; you can be whole completely by yourself.
I wish more women understood that having children is a choice that they make, and don’t feel it’s something they must do. Your life can be whole without children. I believe women should have children because it is a burning desire for them; for me, it was not a burning desire. If you have a burning desire to nurture a child, you should also consider adopting one of the thousands of children out there who are desperate for a Mother. Why must someone have their own biological child? If you can’t love any child, then you should look at why you are desiring to have a child in the first place.
What makes me sad are the women I have met who felt they had to have children, and that they blame those children for how their lives turned out. They made a choice, and now they want to blame someone else for that choice.
I suppose loving oneself is essential for every human being. Trust your own intuition - make choices and be happy with them. If you're not happy with them, change them and become a self-sufficient person.
CELEBRATING THE 25 YEARS OF REEWORLD FILM FESTIVAL+SUMMIT:
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Reelworld Film Festival+Summit, a powerful milestone in championing inclusion and representation in the Canadian screen industries. The 25th Reelworld Film Festival+Summit will take place from October 14 to 26, 2025, showcasing groundbreaking work by Black, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian, and People of Colour creatives.
Reelworld Film Festival+Summit Schedule:
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In-Person Festival Days: October 14–19, 2025
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Reelworld Summit: October 14–15, 2025
📍 Courtyard Marriott Toronto Downtown -
Opening Night Film Screening: October 16, 2025
📍 The Royal Theatre -
Feature & Shorts Screenings: October 17–19, 2025
📍 Paradise Theatre -
Digital Industry Workshops & Panels: October 20, 2025
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Digital Screenings: October 14–26, 2025
📍 Streaming via CineSend
About Access Reelword:
Launched in 2020, Access Reelworld is Canada’s largest free and searchable recruitment platform for Black, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian, and People of Colour creatives in film and television. The platform connects talent with industry opportunities, allowing users to create profiles, search for jobs, and post listings, all in one central place.
Access is free and open to all, whether you’re a creator, hiring manager, or industry professional looking to build an inclusive team.
