Meet Angela Rockwood | Actor, TV Producer, Model, Speaker & Rolling Empire

We had the good fortune of connecting with Angela Rockwood and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Angela, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk taking is my language 110% I think it’s important to take risk within life because it allows you to come out of your comfort zone and leap into the unknown creating wondrous manifestations into your reality or teaching you lessons that will allow you to gain the tools to create masterpieces in the future. Taking risks has played an enormous role within my life and career. As I think about my whole entire life of when I achieved the greatest heights it’s when I took the biggest risk.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a resilient powerhouse, force of passion and POSITIVITY invocator who is a #RollingEmpire and I’ve been in the entertainment industry for over 30 years. I was born in Clovis, N.M., and experienced the world as the child of a career military man before modeling at 17. In 2001 I was launching an acting career, with small roles in The Fast and the Furious and the TV series V.I.P. before turmoil struck one week before 9/11 on Sept. 3, 2001. I was involved in a horrific car accident while planning my wedding with my bridesmaids that paralyzed me from the neck down transporting me into the realm of the paralyzed rendering me a C4 quadriplegic.

I felt my paralysis was for a reason and I had this mission to fulfill of being a voice for those in similar situations. I remember opening my eyes, looking up at the ceiling and feeling like it was deja vu. The first thought, “I was ALIVE” and the second thought, I knew it was the big bang I had been waiting for. The doctor gave me 3 to 5% chance of moving or feeling anything from the neck down but I didn’t allow it to hinder my spirit. There was this voice that spoke to me and I had a vision flash before my eyes of the journey I was about to embark on. My father sat by my bedside writing word for word my vision and I could tell you I’m living it till this day. I instantly picked up my life, focused on my vision and never looked back!

Today I’m a model, actress, TV producer, TV host, an Ambassador for the Reeve Foundation, a speaker, manifestation life coach, disability activist, IPV advocate, innovator and entrepreneur. I feel I was given a second chance to live my life being a beacon and an indomitable force plugging my energy into different outlets sharing my light to empower others that no matter what happens in ones life you can push through anything! After my paralysis in 2001 I energized my acting career by landing in three national commercials, AARP, Mabelline, and Sony. I serve as a spokesmodel for Spinergy ZX-1 and worked as a model for Target, Zappos, Nordstrom and Toyota. A couple of years into my injury I was in “CinemAbility” a film directed by Jenni Gold, which includes Ben Affleck, Jaime Foxx, and Jane Seymour. Later I filmed, “Take a Look of this Heart” by Ben Duffy about dating, relationships and sexuality in the disabled community.

In the beginning of my injury I was on Larry King Live, E.T. and in People Magazine sharing my journey and message. I’m diligent about creating a shift and breaking stereotypes about paralysis. I’m passionately relentless in manifesting change and implementing ideas through my classes teaching ‘Manifestation’ at the Joey Travolta Theatre and one on one. As a speaker, I’ve successfully spoken about “Pushing the Limits” for Rancho Los Amigos, L.A. Rescue Mission, Edwards Air Force Base, Miss Global, Next Home and to 4,000 Paul Mitchell students in Las Vegas to name a few. I was chosen by Brig Gen Michael Brewer of the 412th Test Wing Commander to be the 2015 & 2016 Honorary Commander for Edwards Air Force Base after speaking about Resilience.

With my ultimate mission of pushing boundaries, I co-created, produced and starred in the Sundance Channel’s critically acclaimed docu-series “Push Girls” with Gay Rosenthal and David Hurwitz. We won the “Critic’s Choice Awards” for “Best Reality” series. I’ve been blessed to be able to share my message on Ellen, Jeff Probst, Marie Osmond, Access Hollywood, Inside Edition, Good Day LA, Extra, Huffington Post Live, Kcal 9, Katie Couric, Good Morning America, and a return segment on Entertainment Tonight. I had the honors of appearing at The White House to showcase the first episode of “Push Girls” with my gals and speak on a panel!

I’ve returned to the modeling arena to prove ‘’Beauty comes in ALL shapes, sizes, color, age & in EVERY vessel” as an Asian American 48-year-old woman sitting on her throne with wheels. I’ve wrapped up filming “Pen Pals”, directed by Marem Hassler playing the lead Otilia who is a bisexual therapist. Tune in to World Poker Tour on Fox Sports Networks where I interview and dive into the soul of champion poker players.

Deep within my soul I carry this mantra daily: “Life is a gift and what we do with our life is our gift back to the world, to others, and to ourselves.”

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If one of my best friends was coming to the city of angels to visit me for a week I would take them on a thrill ride of their life! Of course everyone is different with the kind of adventures they would like to experience when on vacation. There’s so many ways you could introduce someone to Los Angeles whether they are an adrenaline junkie wanderlust or someone who likes to find their sacred space and be in the moment of serenity to unwind and relax.

Depending on my friends style of vacation I’d take them to my favorite eating places. I’m a foodie and I love food! I know all the great hot spots for whatever cuisine your palette is desiring. The first restaurant would be in Thai town to a place that I’ve been going to for over 25 years called Palms Thai. They have the best crab meat fried rice, calamari, spicy seafood soup, Tom yum, and so much more. If my friend loves desserts we would cruise over to Sweet Lady Jane to try the mouth watering berries and cream cake.

For the relaxing day and to receive that little jolt of spirituality back into the vessel I would bring them to Lake Shrine where the PCH meets the beach. Lake Shrine is a man-made lake with a meditation sanctuary where you can walk along the trails taking in the beautiful flowers, scenery and animals such as the turtles and koi fish that live in the pond. On the path you can read messages of enlightenment to remind you of your purpose on this earth.

From there of course we could roll on by the beach and along the PCH heading to Venice to get some sensational seafood or steak at many of the restaurants that are available. If you’re vegan or vegetarian I’d bring you to another favorite called Urth Cafe for the best salad and organic coffee of your life.

Even though I became paralyzed from the neck down from the car accident I don’t let grass grow under my wheels and I still love dancing! I go to a place that I’ve been going to for over 25 years called the Abbey. You can have the best drinks, appetizers and desserts all in one while listening to music dancing the night away. In West Hollywood you can see and experience so many things within that one day from visiting the shops to having brunch at another yummy restaurant called Kitchen 24 while watching all the beautiful people walk by.

As tourist of course you have to bring your friends or family up to the Griffith Park observatory to see the Hollywood sign and the 360 view of Los Angeles on top of the hill. Later you mosey on down the hill to enter Hollywood boulevard to see the stars while cruising on over to Sunset boulevard to see all the tourist attractions. If my friend is bougie and loves designer names then we would hop over to rodeo drive but if they are a bargain babe and discount diva then I would bring them to Santee Alley to find a steal of a deal on clothing, shoes, bags and so forth.

The funny thing is I have many best friends who actually live in Los Angeles and we’ve gone to all of these places! At the end of the day what it all boils down to is spending the quality time with the people I love in my own haven of my goddess sanctuary… My house. We would be ordering the best takeout food and inviting all of my friends over to connect, play music and karaoke till the wee hours of the night.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Wow! I wish this shout out box was ginormous because there are so many individuals, books, organizations and supporters that have guided me along my journey to where I am now.

First and foremost, my family is at the top along with my friends, best friends, mentors, soul sisters, soulmates and my twin flame.

There are two books that I was introduced to at a young age that resonates deep within my core and explains how I function as a being. The first book is “The power of the Subconscious Mind” by Joseph Murphy and the second book, “Think and Gow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. Later in my life there was a third book that allowed me to truly embrace my power within my essence called “Signals” by my dear friend Joel Rothschild.

If there are the idols that I could actually give a shout out to for the way they live their life, career and mindset it would be Bruce Lee, Muhammad Ali, Albert Einstein, Angelina Jolie, Frida Kahlo, Krishnamurti, and so many more.

As of the organizations & the Angels who run it… The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, Global Mobility, Artist for Trauma, The HollyRod Foundation & the list goes on.

Ahhh now I know how the celebrities feel when they are on stage winning an Oscar and the music comes on because the list of folks who you want to name can go on and on and on…
I truly want to personally thank everyone by their names but the whole article would be just that! It would be impossible to name all my family members that were there, to all of my best of friends, to my mentors who have guided me and my love but if they are reading this they know exactly who they are and what they mean to me.

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Image Credits
Robin Ganter (Blk dress w/ fohawk) Wan Hesly (Blue top, Blue outfit w/ blue heels, Beige bodysuit & looking up, and posing w/ puppy)