So says, relatively new, model and actress, Harriet Dobin who turns 70 on February 22nd. Harriet was born in Far Rockaway, New York, and lived on Long Island, New York until her early twenties. After college, she says she “moved to Connecticut and had a marvelous 4 decade hard-driving career as a communications, arts and marketing professional in Hartford, Connecticut, where we (husband and I) raised 4 children who gave us 9 terrific grandchildren. My last position before retiring was as director of the Mandell JCC in Hartford where I was responsible for all the film festival, programming, fundraising, artistic direction, events, sales and advertising for the last decade of my” paid, “working life. I cherished every deadline and adrenaline rush. I loved sellouts!
We relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2017 after we retired, to be closer to family.
Not willing to give in to boredom, this type A New Yorker self-reinvented and began a silver lifestyle modeling career with my newly natural silver hair! I researched white hair and classic models. I took headshots, created a comp card, found an agency and started booking commercials, print shoots, QVC live hair and makeup demo appearances and TV roles. QVC is in suburban Philadelphia and the city is a filmmaker’s and tv production mecca. There are great casting and creative agencies in the city, and I’m only two hours from New York City.”
Harriet was 67 when she threw her “silver hat into the modeling and acting ring. My tag line then, “ she says, “was “67, Looks 47, Acts 27” and I just kept adding a year…
Anyone who knew me,” she says, “was not really surprised. I was always first on the dance floor, played Queen Esther in third grade and managed businesses, projects, got an MBA while pregnant with number 2, navigated a messy divorce, found love again and then raised four kids, now with 9 grands — in a blended family. No mountains were too high. I always thought…. they can only say no, they can’t take away your birthday.
Being a silver model means my age is my edge. I don’t pretend to be something or someone I’m not. Casting directors know what they are looking for. Sometimes if I’m lucky its me. I love channeling my grandma energy into roles. Booking success comes from being simply me on set. If that’s naturally white hair, a few (well maybe more than that…) laugh lines around the eyes, so be it. My silver hair (thanks, Mom) absolutely lit the way to this new path.”
“Before Covid I was in New York every other week on auditions and bookings and having a blast. I remember being at a March 13, 2020 NYC audition when the city shut down. Theater, tv, music, art, casting, auditions that whole world froze. Because I was so new to this I realized quickly that 2020 would be a pause and reset for me, very temporary thankfully. I count my blessings that my family-raising obligations were behind me. But I lived through the COVID turmoil (still do) seeing our kids and their families cope and of course so many losses everywhere.
Work opened back up in June of 2020 for me. Since Covid I learned new Zoom audition techniques, how to record and upload self tapes, and to light my condo as a studio. This December I was even cast as Mrs. Claus and discovered my inner, Ho Ho Ho!
Now almost a year in, the business is coming back, albeit with a new virtual masked look and feel. Castings have been varied….as a TV football fan I’ve been dunked with green Gatorade, I played Jean Smart’s body double for HBO, and am the face of a variety of senior lifestyle and product campaigns.
I’m part of the Actor’s Think Tank in Philadelphia. About 30 of us meet every week on Zoom with guest directors, well known TV radio and film actors, agents, professionals such as Kevin Bacon, Thaao Penghlis, Justin Bell Guarini and others. It’s been a lifeline and blessing to meet new colleagues, most much younger than I, in a new city and new field …. IN A PANDEMIC.
It’s never too late to go for it. I’m 70 and really feel like my tank is still pretty full and there are quite a few turns around the track ahead. In one of my first commercials I was dunked with Eagles green Gatorade 10 times, so after that soaker I’m game for just about anything.
Bring on the seventies, this boomer is ready.”
