Up Close & Personal With Laura Walker
Acting since the age of 8, Ms Walker has been a traveling nomad ever since. Performing in shows up and down the east coast, and across the country in various touring shows, before finally landing in Los Angeles, where she’s been creating new roles, projects and writing ever since.
Laura’s passion project, FANCY MEETING YOU HERE, in which she stars as Rosemary Clooney, is currently making the festival circuit rounds, already an official selection at The Oasis Short Film Screening Series, and won Best Independent Short Film at the Independent Filmmakers Showcase.
Laura was also the writer, lead actor and co- producer of the film, 3 DAY WALKERS, and her upcoming mini web-series, THE HOPE & THE HOPELESS. She is currently in pre-production for two new exciting projects, ARE YOU READY?, and REQUIRED GRIEF. A highly trained performer with clear charisma, Laura has a chameleon-like ability to portray a variety of characters.
Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
Ever since I was a kid doing lip sync shows with my sister in the backyard or impersonating characters from SNL, performing has been in my blood. You can ask my mom, there has always been an eagerness and ease in creating these characters or crafting ideas in order to entertain. The size of the audience has just changed, it’s not just my family anymore.
Can you share your story of Grit and Success? First can you tell us a story about the hard times that you faced when you first started your journey?
Right after completing my education at AMDA-NYC, there were some lean years. I was working a full time job to support myself in NYC, living in an apartment with five roommates, just trying to afford food and rent, meanwhile running to auditions whenever the opportunity presented itself. At those auditions, mind you, most had you waiting for hours on end to be called for a two minute moment in front of the director / producers, just to be told “no.”
Where did you get the drive to continue even though things were so hard? What are you currently working on.
It’s only hard if that’s your mindset. I am glad that I was put through those paces, it was great training in learning how to let disappointment roll off your back. You learn to think, “Ok, that was a “no”, but the next time will always be another opportunity to get that “yes.” And all I need is that one “yes.”” So you keep going, and learning and getting better at how to change not only your mindset, but the mindsets of those people making the decisions. You only need one “yes!”
I am currently working on procuring funding for my feature film about Rosemary Clooney entitled, “Fancy Meeting You Here.” Writing, and producing a new mini web-series, “The Hope & The Hopeless,” with a fabulous cast of actors. Getting ready to take my short film, “3 Day Walkers” thru the festival circuit, and in pre-production for a new short film called, “Are You Ready?”
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that.
I had booked the lead role in “Footloose,” a summer stock production at Shawnee Playhouse in the Poconos. I was beyond excited. In the song, “The Girl Gets Around”, my character, Ariel, shows how much of a bad girl she is by kissing her “bad boy” boyfriend during the song. During rehearsal, the director just had us mark it and continued with the rest of the choreography. I mean how hard can it be to stage kiss someone, right? Well, when it was time for the actual show, I got so excited that first night and was never taught the proper conduct for such a moment, so I totally stuck my tongue down my partner’s throat-much to his surprise. I learned how important it is to communicate with your partner in such a moment…everyone has to be on board with what makes each person in the scene feel safe and respected.
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
Go out and do things-go for a hike, a trip to the museum, learn a new skill, volunteer somewhere, or hang out with your family and friends. Taking that break, will not only refresh your mind and body, but makes you that much more of an interesting person to be around. Who wants to be around someone who only talks about one thing? Not many. Plus, who’s to say that one of those experiences won’t trigger your next big idea or project or lead you on the path to something really great.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
I am very lucky as I have a whole lot of people that have been in my corner since the very beginning. There are two particular people I am grateful to-my parents, I know it’s not the most original answer, but they have always supported me no matter what, and my work ethic is a testament to what they taught me-you always give 110%. We were not a rich family by any means, but when it was time for dance classes or participating in theater, there was never any hesitation. I am so thankful for them, as I know not every one has been that lucky to have such support behind them. One of my many goals has always been to help return that same support to them.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me before I started. and why.
1. Trust your gut instinct, it will never steer you wrong.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You can’t do it all on your own, and there’s someone that probably has done it before you and may have a better way of handling it.
3. This is not an easy career, you must constantly be hustling, either for yourself or the latest project you are in. You must be fully invested all the time.
4. Your education will never end-be open to learning new things all the time, it will make you a better person.
5. There will be flashes of brilliance you will experience and will allow others to experience with you, those are the moments that make this all worth it.
How can our readers follow you on social media?
Insta: @Laura Walker
FB: https://www.facebook.com/laura.walker.75033
Twitter: @TheeLauraWalker
