We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Diane Christiansen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Diane, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Finding one’s purpose in the World has to be one of Life’s most poignant questions. What is my purpose? When do we discover our purpose in our lifetime?
I’m sure it’s different for everyone, and often it occurs accidentally, as it did with me. Perhaps you can relate to this story?
I was going along, living my life and being a Mom and a wife, daughter, friend and adapting to my need to parent and provide as well as create a life I loved when one day, a friend needed help. I volunteered to step in, in a pinch and THAT is how I started teaching. It was not part of my master plan. In fact, the opportunity to teach acting and dance surfaced at a time in my life when I was in transition and in a crisis all at once. I guess the Universe knows how/when to present the things we do best and thrive on better than we do?
I literally started teaching acting and dance 32 years ago for a studio my toddler attended. When the owner announced she was going to have to close my daughter’s class because the current instructor was moving back to NYC to pursue her Broadway dreams, I saw how disappointed all of the parents of our little budding performers were. At this point I had not let these friends know of my dance and acting background as a professional dancer and actress for over 15 years.
When I went home that night and told my daughter that her class was ending she cried her little heart out. That broke mine. So after sleeping on it, I woke up the next day and thought, “I can do this, why shouldn’t I volunteer to teach the little ones?” I was only working part time and I owned my small company so I called the studio owner and told her that I had been a Rockette and a Bluebell and worked extensively as an actress since 1969 and she said “Hallelujah, You’re hired!”
I asked if she needed a resume? She said “No, I trust you, can you start next week?” And that’s how my purpose unfolded. That was 32 years ago, and I have been teaching ever since and I KNOW it’s my life’s purpose. My daughter, (the toddler back then) has been teaching at our studio for the last 13 years as well. Our award winning acting studio is our passion and never in a million years did I ever think I would teach. I love it and I know I make a difference and that is everything for me.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My career has spanned 5 decades as an actress, coach, dancer, author, director, producer, writer, fashion and costume designer, mother, grandmother and studio owner.
Acting coach to Oscar nominees, Emmy winners, numerous Disney Channel Stars and some of Hollywood’s hottest talent. I’d say I’ve mastered the multi hyphenate to say the least.
I am the published author of “Scenes for Teens, by Teens”, a compilation of scenes written by Hollywood Teens from our classes. I have been nominated and won the coveted award of “# 1 Acting Coach in Hollywood” 2 years in a row by Backstage West Readers choice awards. Rated #1 coach in Hollywood 9 years running by Children in Film and voted one of the “Top 10 Acting Coaches in Hollywood” by Hometown to Hollywood’s Bonnie Wallace, author and mother to Dove Cameron.
I’ve been the acting coach on TLC’s TV show “Faking it” and Danny Bonnaduce’s “My Kids a star!” Also a guest director at Cal Arts and 1st place recipient of the “Mercy Award” for their play festival in Santa Monica, CA for my work as a Director.
I have had the honor of coaching many acclaimed actors on TV shows such as Euphoria, Stranger Things, Dickinson, Sandman, Quantum Leap, Atypical, Runaways, Titans, Bunk’d, Mom, House, The Walking Dead, Glee, Wizards of Waverly Place, Good Time Charlie, Law & Order, Liv & Maddy, Criminal Minds, LOST, Ghost Whisperer, How I met your Mother, Whitney, 90210, The Long Road Home, Shark, Bluebloods, Everybody Hates Chris, Weeds, Speechless, New Girl, Last Man Standing, iCarly, Jessie, Private Practice, Grey’s Anatomy, Perpetual Grace Ltd,, It’s Always Sunny In California, The Office , Ratched, Hollywood, The Mentalist, Amercian Horror Story, The Wilds, Alias, Cold Case, NYPD BLue, Without a Trace, Desperate Housewives, and 24 to name a few.
I’ve also trained actors appearing in feature films such as Avatar, The Way Of water, Encanto, The Tender Bar, Spiderman, Begin Again, Avengers, The King Dynasty, Crazy Rich Asians, The Edge of 17, Sky High, Romeo & Juliet, Us, Dear Evan Hansen, The Tragedy of MacBeth, True Grit, Perfect, Hawkeye, How to be Single, The Curious case of Benjamin Button, Star Trek, The Heartbreak Kid, Spanglish, Samantha Who, Cat in the Hat, Bruce Almighty, Lethal, 13 Going on 30, Canal Street, & Antoine Fisher.
On Broadway, my students have appeared in Beetlejuice, Hedwig & The Angry Inch, Cabaret, The Addams Family, Motown the Musical, A Raisin in the Sun and Cats.
I’ve had student actors on 100’s of Commercials and many are recipients of Emmy’s, Kids Choice Awards, Golden Globes, C.A.R.E., Young Artists and SAG Awards.
Currently Tess and I are focused on our studio both in Agoura Hills, CA and our online classes.
Our signature workshop is called “Screen Test Live” and is a 4 night workshop and showcase for actors ages 6 to adult, who are seeking an A List Agent or Mgr. We have one coming up soon and anyone can audition. Our showcase renders a 90% signing ratio and the A List in attendance has been scouting talent with us for over 30 years. It is our pride and joy and we offer STL three times each year. Reps like Osbrink, A3, AEFH, Eris, TWA, Avalon, LA Talent, DDO, Coast to Coast, Montage, Ivy Artists, BAM and Discover are almost always there scouting fresh talent.
At this time, I am in the process of editing my latest memoir entitled “The Last Real Showgirl” A show and tell all and have recently signed with BAM Books and Literary Mgr, Mindi St Peter. My new book should be on bookshelves by Summer.
I am very excited about the new book as it’s been in the works for 15 years! I look forward to seeing it on the big or small screen in the near future as well!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
For me the three most impactful qualities on my journey were…
- RISK
- CONFIDENCE
- NETWORKING
If an Actor doesn’t take risks, you will rarely get into the game or experience the big picture. You must be willing to put yourself out there and recognize when and where the opportunities arise. Playing safe, comfortable and small will never serve you.
We sometimes get tired of our own press or fear being judged as arrogant. But I know that no one sells you better than you and you need to know how, when and where to connect and network. You will naturally be drawn to specific individuals at times without knowing why and you will need to trust your instincts.
Sometimes you just need to toss the dice and see what happens, other times you’ll need to be more strategic and plan. Ambition is best utilized by being in the right place at the right time.
Meaning you will need to show up. Woody Allen once said “75% of success occurs because we show up!” Say ‘yes’ to gallery openings, dinners, dates, shows friends are appearing in and parties. You may not think they apply to your personal set of ambitions, but it’s amazing who you could meet who can help you and vice versa.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was send me to New York City with my mentor, to audition for the Rockettes at age 17. They paid for our trips and expenses and that changed my Life forever. I will be forever grateful because I know it was not easy for them with 5 children.
My Mom was always supportive of my dreams and drove me everywhere and my Dad challenged me. He matched an Acting scholarship that I won in my senior year of high school with the same amount of money allowing me to pursue my dreams at a very young age.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.christiansenactingacademy.com
- Instagram: The Christiansen Acting Academy
- Facebook: The Christiansen Acting Academy
- Other: See the IG page for my latest book which will be published soon…”The Last Real Showgirl” a show and tell all. show_and_tell_all I am with Bam Books and with Literary Mgr ~ Mindi St Peter on IG at: : mindigayle71 BAMbooks @bammanagement
Image Credits
Photos by: Suzie Singstock Beyond the Flare Photography
