"We will pay you X amount of Dollars, full nudity, but no sexual situations." I laugh so hard when I get these offers. Really? How much will you pay me? haha Just kidding. I'm not a stripper. I'm not a pornstar, (contrary to family jokes over this past Christmas), but seriously...I'm an actress. I do love performing. I'm a dancer. In addition to my passion for film, I love being onstage. However, I'm not interested in Full Nudity "no sexual situations though, we promise!" LOL. I'm not here to show the world my body because I think that there are certain things that should remain private and personal and honestly only shared with one other person. Really? You want me to take off my clothes and you call that "acting" ? I call it pornography. Don't get me wrong, I'm okay with nudity if it is done tastefully or is in an artistic fashion. However, being naked for the sake of being naked is such a waste and I'm worth more than that.
So today, yet again, I received an interested casting director who asks, "Please don't wear pants to the audition, unless you would like to change before." Thanks, but no thanks.
To those of you aspiring actresses, willing to sell yourselves short, I think there is plenty of room for you in pornography.
I did a lesbian film last year. It was artistic and a really interesting experience. My co-star was partially nude and I was okay with it and it was necessary. We were lovers. It was a challenging role for me and I learned a lot about myself. I applaud Megan Wilson, my co-star for her daring abilities to undress for a beautiful independent film. It was certainly erotic but tasteful...I showed it to my mom. She cringed because she really believed that I was a lesbian to some extent through watching my work. That was interesting to me as well, since my mom has seen the lineup of boyfriends throughout the years. She even asked me, "Are you gay?" once. I had to laugh and I took it as a compliment to my acting ability.
So to all my coaches throughout the years, you have done a great job LOL...I'm still learning everyday and growing as a young actress.
I've made the leap from Chicago Second City Actress to West Hollywood Experienced Film Actress, taking on the world, one day at a time--and for that I'm proud.
When I look back on my acting experiences throughout my life, I am flooded with many good and bad memories. I remember my first acting coach in 6th grade...Lisa Machak. She was my third acting teacher at Western Springs Theatre and I loved her. I remember I would stay after every class and talk to her forever. My mom would be waiting outside in the car for me for so long...so we started private lessons. Lisa taught me so much! She was the first teacher to use the words "FIGHTING FOR" and I will never forget it to this day. She said, "What are you fighting for?" She taught me to do beat breakdowns for every scene. She said that in every moment, even in silence, you should know what it is that you are fighting for.
She taught me that "Talent lies in the choices." -Robert DeNiro. She said that was one of her favorite quotes and it has stuck with me.
I would go over to Lisa's house for private lessons and we would work on monologues.
In class, Lisa would often talk about a place where she spent a lot of time, called Second City.
It's so funny to me now because in 6th grade, I didn't know what Second City was. I just knew it was a big deal and a really special place.
