Erwin native nominated for SAG Award

JOHNSON CITY (WJHL) — Erwin native Allison Guinn is nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award. She’s nominated alongside the cast of Only Murders in the Building on Hulu for Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

Guinn was in the theater programs at both Unicoi County High School and East Tennessee State University.

At an early age, Guinn knew she liked to make people laugh. She gained encouragement from her grandmother and mother.

“I think my granny, her name is Daisy Dean Erwin Cheryl, she was a performer or wanted to be one and so she really encouraged that, the ham in me, and had a really funny sense of humor,” Guinn said. “Dry, dark and really funny and she really encouraged that in me.”

Guinn went on to write and star in a production about her granny’s life, “The Legacy of Daisy Dean” in 2016.

“It was more like, it’s kind of like a concert with storytelling telling the story about Granny’s life and including all those songs and the stories she would tell us and sing to us growing up as a way to kind of honor her,” Guinn said.

Guinn began acting at a young age. Her former theater teacher at Unicoi, Tracy Hoilman, said he remembers Guinn being in high school productions starting in the 4th grade.

“For the most part, she was as mature as they [high schoolers] were,” Hoilman said. “She was very focused, energetic and loved being on the stage with the other students.”

Guinn played the role of Tiny Tim in Scrooged, Unicoi County High School’s first play in 26 years. She went on to star in many roles during high school.

“Seeing her again as a high school student, there was that same drive, that same focus, intensity creativity about her that she just drew energy out of performing for an audience,” Hoilman said.

Guinn said Hoilman encouraged the creativity in her.

“He was a really big inspiration and great teacher and mentor,” Guinn said. “And really gave me my first chance at being on stage and what it was like to memorize lines and be an actor. It was really great and did everything he could to give me that kind of opportunity.”

Guinn majored in theater at ETSU, where she starred in many productions as well.

“She was extremely engaged in the department, auditioned for every production and was cast and I think just about everything she auditioned for,” Karen Brewster, chair of the Department of Theater and Dance at ETSU, said.

Guinn was cast in the ETSU original production of “Hear That Whistle Blow…Erwin Train A Coming” and performed it in Washington, D.C. at the Kennedy Center.

“That was the first year that I knew Allison, and it was a wonderful first year for her as a student and as a very successful original production about Erwin, which is her hometown,” Brewster said. “So it was really a great beginning, and we could see how talented she was right off.”

Guinn said ETSU helped her have a solid foundation and mentality for acting.

“I really appreciate ETSU,” Guinn said. “Pat Cronin, and Karen Brewster and Melissa Schaefer, they are really doing amazing work at giving you a foundation of not only theater history but a work ethic, not only being an actor, but showing you all the other roles in theater like being a stage manager, being on the crew, being in wardrobe, all aspects. As an actor, you appreciate all those aspects because you work very closely with those people in the theater and that’s really important.”

After graduating from ETSU, Guinn studied at Circle in the Square Theatre and School in New York City. She got her big breaks by acting in the Broadway shows “Hair” and “On The Town.”

“I think what was special about that production [“Hair”] is they took a bunch of misfits, not your typical performers and made an ensemble in a group in a tribe, literally they’re called a tribe of these people, these unique souls and artists,” Guinn said. “And put that on Broadway and that was just an opportunity of a lifetime. It was really amazing.”

From the Broadway stage, Guinn has also starred in various television shows, including the “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and now what she’s nominated for, “Only Murders in the Building” on Hulu.

She stars with Steve Martin, Martin Short, Meryl Streep and Selena Gomez in season three.

“Martin Short specifically was just so funny and so welcoming and gave me a hug, my very first day shooting was with Marty,” Guinn said. “He gave me a hug first thing, started cracking jokes first thing during rehearsals, and made me feel really at ease and comfortable. They’re just wonderful people. Selena’s incredibly nice and Meryl’s super nice.”

Guinn also got to talk with Paul Rudd on set and said Steve Martin is one of her heroes.

“Steve Martin is not only like my comedic hero, he’s also a folk music hero of mine,” Guinn said. “I was a little intimidated but excited.”

Both Hoilman and Brewster are proud of Guinn’s achievement.

“I know she’s paid her dues and I really hope that this is the chance that she has for people to recognize the skill and the talent that she has as an actress,” Hoilman said.

“There are several of us in the department still who were here when Allison was a student,” Brewster said. “All of us are extremely proud of her and just rooting for her and just thought, “yes, this is great.” I mean, every step along the way for her, we’re cheering her on.”

Post graduation, Hoilman and Brewster have got to see Guinn on stage.

Hoilman was able to see her perform in “Les Misérables.”

“I had roses for her and when we met backstage after the show, she was incredibly sweet,” Hoilman said. “She took me around. We looked at the props and costumes, and she was as down to earth as I remember when she was in school.”

Brewster saw Guinn in the Broadway production of “Hair” and also met with her afterward. Brewster said Guinn is a great example of what talent, strength and determination combined can lead to.

“Also the fact that she has not forgotten her roots or where she’s from. She embraces that wholly,” Brewster said. “I really admire that she has hung on to that part of her and carries that with her. She obviously values where she came from. She values her heritage here in East Tennessee and I greatly admire that about her. I think that’s great. That’s great for her and great for us, too.”

Guinn said being from Northeast Tennessee is a big part of who she is today.

“Just having that background of learning the Carter family at an early age and knowing what a murder ballad is,” Guinn said. “Going to the ghost stories in Jonesborough, like during the Storytelling Festival. It’s just such an interesting part of America and such a rich culture that a lot gets overlooked a lot. I think if you dig deeper than what’s on the surface, you can find such gold.”

Guinn is making a murder ballad podcast, “Some Dark Doller,” with her friend Amelia Cormack that debuts on Feb. 13.

Guinn said although she’s nominated for a SAG Award, she still struggles as an actress.

“For a working actor, especially ensemble, I still have to have a survival job like I am babysitting in between acting jobs to make ends meet,” Guinn said. “It’s hard, it’s hard.”

Guinn said she believes the low pay for blue-collar actors is a reason why the SAG-AFTRA strike went on for so long. She said the economy and inflation have changed the acting business a lot. As someone in her same role in a sitcom 20 years ago could make a living, Guinn said.

“To be a college-educated person, to have a degree and then to still have to work minimum wage jobs to make ends meet, yet still be considered successful in your career is really a profound thought,” Guinn said. “And an interesting situation to be in because something needs to change.”

The SAG awards will stream live on Feb. 24 on Netflix.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.