“For The Weak”
An Interview with Augie Duke
“This business ain’t for the weak. But I can be weak — and that’s okay.”
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- Augie Duke Photographed by Pat Martin
Reverberating laughter, a colorful striped jumper adorned with an open mouthed smile. She hugged me with this exuberant joy that longtime friends embrace one another with and yet it was our first introduction to one another- It was love at first sight meeting Augie Duke. Pure magnetic energy that draws you in. She has never met a stranger and makes it her job to lift others up in this industry any way she can. She does it for the art, she does it for the connections. She does it for the future of film.
Augie is a shapeshifting artist that takes on any role with a deep passion and ignites a fire in everything she does. She is magic. She is real. She is addicted to the ebbs and flows of being an artist in this cruel, crazy industry and yet she trudges on… For the art. Augie Duke, is the spirited confidante you haven’t met yet, until now…
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- Augie Duke Photographed by Pat Martin
You have said, “This business ain’t for the weak. But I can be weak — and that’s okay” – What did you mean when you said that, and how does it feel to say it now?
When that wording came up for me, it just felt like the only way I could really express how I feel about this business. Acting has so many twists and turns- sometimes you can see them coming, and sometimes they blindside you, in both the best and most heartbreaking ways. It can be tough on your psyche, it can feel debilitating at times, but it can also be the most euphoric thing you’ve ever experienced. It’s addicting. This career has opened me up in ways I always knew existed but didn’t fully understand until I lived it. And it has also broken me. The only thing that takes precedence over it is motherhood. And in a strange way, answering this now, I realize acting and motherhood follow a similar formula for me – both can shatter you, and both can fill you with a kind of joy you didn’t know was possible.
Every time I talk to you, you are preparing for a new role, are helping someone with their project or are on your way to a set, but when you’re not working, what do those days really look like for you?
I’ll be candid and super fucking honest – some days I’m a total go-getter. I take my three-year-old to preschool, I tackle the day like I own it. And then there are days where I fall into a dark, judgmental hole that leaves me stuck, unable to face much at all. I’ve been dealing with anxiety, OCD, ADHD – you name it, I probably have it (lol). But the flip side of that is something kind of beautiful: empathy, sensitivity, vulnerability. They’re all interconnected, wouldn’t you say? So my days really depend on whether I’m fighting the heaviness too hard and need to step back, or if I just show up raw and let go of the noise in my head. I love spending time with my family, friends, and other creatives. I’ve also dabbled in directing, which at first felt like the most impossible thing because I had no experience. But then I thought… I’ve been on set, I’ve watched directors work up close, maybe I can try this on. Fuck it, fake it till you make it. And gosh, was it worth it. I directed a short about my mama, a music video for my friends’ band Egg Drop Soup, and a cool short film that two women wrote. They were all such a blast, and I’d love to do it again if and when the chance presents itself. And honestly, these days I’ve come to really value my alone time. I find it so important to just sit with myself and my thoughts. OH! And I love to dance… I need to do more of that, actually.
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- Augie Duke Photographed by Pat Martin
Was there a role or project that changed you in a way you didn’t expect?
Gosh, I love this question and also kind of hate it only because there are so many projects that have changed me. A few off the cuff that stand out: TRAUMA IS A TIME MACHINE, tt was this beautiful dance between me, the talented director/writer Angelica Zollo, and DP Eric Giovon. We literally had a whole dancing solo moment in the film where I felt completely free, like I was in this bubble with the crew – happy, messy, alive. BURNING KENTUCKY was another. The grit and rawness of that world pulled me in so deeply. Playing Jolene made me feel like this is why I love what I do. I get to step into someone else’s skin for a moment in time, or at least try to capture what they’re feeling. MOON GARDEN, shot on 35mm, was like being transported back in time to learn the old ways of filmmaking. Watching John Elfers, Ryan Harris, Wolf, and the rest of the crew carefully build a single shot with such poise and brilliance, it reminded me that this work is art. And then, a completely different kind of gift came into my life: MAYANS M.C. I went in for just a couple of lines, a small co-star role, but I quickly connected with Elgin James, the showrunner. He told me he wanted to bring me back, and honestly, I didn’t think much of it – in this business, there’s a lot of talk; But, Elgin meant every damn word. At the time, I was 36 weeks pregnant with my son Elvis and Elgin said, “Don’t worry, we’ll wait for you.” And he did. Five weeks after having Elvis, I texted him, “I’m ready, let’s go.” That turned into 15 episodes. Elgin is true blue, not just a friend, but now family to me.
Rejection is constant in this business, how do you deal with it without losing your softness?
I’m laughing inside, uncomfortably laughing, because I don’t think I’ve really found the perfect way to deal with rejection. It just sucks, no matter how you put it. What I’ve learned is to embrace the sadness, to sit with it. As my mom always says, “something better is around the corner.” I try to hold onto that and keep an optimistic approach. Rejection is part of the business I chose, and I’m very aware of that. But you still have to dig inside and remind yourself of your worth, your gifts, and all the incredible moments you’ve already lived through. Being a woman of a certain age now comes with its own kind of rejection, or lack of work… something I always heard about in my twenties but am now living. And yeah, it’s a very real thing, but I also see things shifting. The trajectory is changing, and more women of a certain age are being recognized as not only worthy but fascinating to watch. At the end of the day, this business comes with every emotion imaginable. Like I said, this business ain’t for the weak. But I can be weak, and that’s okay.
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- Augie Duke Photographed by Pat Martin
