Tik Tok Influencer Jackie Todd Talks Moving To England, Kristen Wiig, And Her Favorite Videos

Our favorite “Horse Girl”!

After going viral for her videos on Tik Tok, Jackie now stands at over 30 Million Likes on the social media platform alone. She is the perfect online comedian to help us through this pandemic.

We had the absolute honor of talking with Jackie on all things dream acting roles, the reaction to success, and her career so far!

Q: When did you realize you wanted to start creating on social media?

J: “I started a Youtube channel years ago when I was a dog trainer (with minimal success). I was not getting any acting work and making videos became such a creative outlet for me and it really gave my life direction. As an actor, I felt at the mercy of the directors, writers, and editors, and I absolutely loved how making my own videos could give me more creative freedom than I’d had before. When Tik Tok blew up before the pandemic I jumped on it for the same reason. It was an escape, and no one that I knew in real life followed me there so I felt like I could take risks and be anyone I wanted to be. I didn’t expect anything to come from it, but here we are.”

Q: What would be your dream acting role?

J: “There are 3 types of shows that I would DIE to be cast in. A witty comedy with heart like Fleabag (OMG to be involved in the writing of that show would be a dream!), a fantasy/dystopian show (because that’s the kind of show I most enjoy watching), OR something high society (because who doesn’t love to wear a pretty dress and sip tea on the daily?)”

Q: How has moving to England been for you?

J: “It has been wonderful so far! It has been a bit of an adjustment because I was in full lockdown before coming and then BAM: WORLD, but I’ve spent a lot of my life moving around so I adjust to places pretty quickly. It does help that I have my partner, who is from England, to guide me. I’ve been to the UK loads of times, and despite that there is still something new I’m learning every day.”

Q: Do you have a favorite video that you have made?

J: “I have a few series that will always be dear to my heart. The “Every Horse Girl” series makes me smile every time I watch it, and I am genuinely proud of the fact that I could make the suburbs look like a farm and my dog/sister-in-law’s hair look like a real(ish) horse. “Every Surfer Girl Movie” is also a favorite of mine because I filmed that when I was on vacation with my parents and there are a lot of fond memories of me embarrassing myself on the beach in order the get the right shots.”

Q: What celebrity would you love to meet and why?

J: “You know, I’m not really a celebrity-crazy kind of person. When I was a struggling actor in Toronto I worked as a nanny to celebrities and rich people to pay the bills, so I have met many people of influence and the one thing that always surprises me is how normal they are. I don’t really get star-struck anymore. THAT BEING SAID, I would love to meet Kristen Wiig. Not only is she hilarious but I could learn so much from her about being a woman in the male-dominated world of comedy.”

Q: When not creating content, what is your favorite thing to do?

J: “I love wandering around bookshops, sitting in coffee shops, thrifting, or just getting lost in cities. I grew up on a farm, but I’ve always found cities to be so comforting. I could wander and people watch all day. I hate that that sounds so artsy and hipster but it’s the absolute truth.”

Q: What has been your reaction to seeing so much success so far?

J: “It’s rather overwhelming to be honest. I work and create pretty much all alone, so I often forget how far of a reach it gets. I feel like I’ve been working on my craft for years (with my acting training, practicing editing, etc.) but the actual success came really fast and it’s hard to wrap my mind around because I still feel like the same person. I’ve struggled a lot with imposter syndrome and have been working with a mindset coach every week to sort through my feelings. I’ve never thought of myself as a “funny person”, I just create things that make me laugh and am always surprised that other people find it funny too. Despite the overwhelm, I could not be happier, and I am so appreciative of everyone who continuously watches my videos and supports me. “

Q: What has been your favorite moment of your career so far?

J: “I got a DM from Iliza Schlesinger on Instagram after she had seen one of my horse girl videos. She wanted to tell me that I’m “so funny”. Obviously, I screen shotted the message, pasted it on my wall, and memorized it. She has been my idol for years, and if I could have half the career she has I’d be happy. Anytime I’m doubting myself or my comedy I look at that and it keeps me going.”

Q: What message do you want to send to your fans right now?

J: “I spent so long being the kind of person I thought others wanted me to be, ESPECIALLY with my art. I tried to be “the pretty girl lead” because I thought casting directors wanted that from me. It wasn’t until I said: “screw it” and started creating what I like that my career took off. I think that when you listen to what your heart is telling you to create then the universe will create space for you and make it happen. It’s not always the same path you thought (I NEVER thought I’d be in comedy), but it’s ALWAYS better.”

Q: Where can we follow your amazing journey?

J: “You can follow me on Tik Tok and Instagram @jackietodd_ or on Youtube (which is just started up again as a passion project!)“