by Sherif Awad
Especially for www.MeetingVenus.com
I was born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras to a Honduran mother and a Canadian father of Ukrainian descent. We moved to British Columbia, Canada when I was six years old.
-It really came from watching music videos. Show business just struck me. I started dance classes at the age of 8 for it was the only accessible outlet to where my family lived. I remember listening to Madonna and dancing in my bedroom by myself at the age of 7. I was highly influenced by Michael Jackson and Madonna. And I loved John Travolta and Patrick Swayze for their dance work in Movies. As a child and teenager, studying dance outside of school and theatre in school, I just felt like a natural progression.
-As an adult my studies in acting were more complicated. I tried different teachers, techniques and methods until I found what was right for me. My foundation in acting was in the Meisner Method.
-Each project I do and character I work on is rewarding because I grow as an artist and as a person. I have made a lifetime commitment to being an artist and that is my pursuit; to become more skilled and to grow.
-Hollywood now has been pushing diversity and putting women in leading roles so the challenges in the film business being a male dominated industry is changing. But having said that, there is a pressure as an actress to stay youthful and fresh so aging is stressful.
-A personal challenge that I face is in my ethnic background. Film makers are saying that they want diverse actors but when they look at me, they see me as white/American. Not only is this reverse racism but it’s simply not accurate. They still need to learn that Hispanic people don’t all have to have dark skin, eyes, and hair.
-I approach each character I work on a little differently. I dive in to their relationship dynamics and circumstances and take note of what I can easily relate to and what I cannot. This will vary each time but it’s my starting point.
With social media being a prominent tool, it feels like my private life and my professional life, are melding together. However, I am very careful not to note about my love life or family life.
-I have three feature films that will be coming out in the approaching months. I will be travelling to Berlin for the screening of my Sci-Fi film AFTER WE LEAVE. Its American premiere will be in December. Between now and then I have a small part in a Western that will be released. And the biggest one is a movie called “Almost Paradise” where I play a co-lead. That one is expected to be released in theatres in spring of 2020.
-My agent and manager are responsible for getting me auditions for projects. SAG is just there to protect me from poor treatment once I do get the job.
