Meet Ria Patel

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ria Patel. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ria below.

Ria, sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

Most acting teachers and mentors will say, “if you can do anything else, do that”, a lot of mine definitely said that.

Being in the entertainment industry can have a huge impact on your mental health, especially as an actor. The countless rejections, the unpredictability and the emotional demands of the character.

Navigating mental health challenges while pursuing a career in acting has definitely been a journey but there is also this false narrative that artists must be depressed and dying for their art. This is not true! You can be a happy actor and still hustling. But for those days where it get really tough I’ve developed a few strategies that have really helped me stay grounded and reconnect with myself.

First, I prioritize self-care and make sure to maintain a routine that includes movement, healthy eating, and good sleep! This sounds basic, I know, but it’s crucial for maintaining my overall well-being.

I also work with a therapist who helps me process and manage the pressures of the industry. Having a professional to talk to has been incredibly valuable, especially when dealing with rejection or the ups and downs of this career.

I’ve learned the importance of building a strong supportive community. Surrounding myself with friends, especially artists! And mentors who understand the unique challenges of this career has been comforting and motivating.

Finally, I remind myself why I started acting in the first place—because I’m passionate about storytelling and connecting with people. Focusing on my love for the craft helps me push through tough times.

Most recently when I was feeling hopeless, a mentor of mine said, “till the day you die or quit acting you have signed a contract of the ups and downs of being an artist”. This helps me remember no matter how hard it gets, I love what I do and this is part of the acting life. I get to make peace with that, it can be hard but I’m working on it.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am an Actor, Dancer and Writer, dancing is my first love, writing is my baby (writers can be very precious about their work – just like babies) and acting is my true love.

I began my artistic journey as a dancer. When I was a kid, I didn’t think much of acting, I didn’t really have a defining moment of when I wanted to be an actor, I think it was just small pockets of love growing for it. I always enjoyed stories on TV, the big screen and on stage and I started taking drama classes and did it for fun. After high school, I flukily auditioned for film school in America and got in! I was not expecting that and neither did I ever have a dream of going to the Big Apple.

I accepted my offer and off I went, that’s when I truly fell in love with acting. I realised I must keep doing this and sharing stories with the world.

I truly believe storytelling has the power to connect, comfort and also challenge the audience to evoke change in the world and within themselves. Stories have always been there for me and I want to be there for me audience as a storyteller.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Resilience has been crucial. The acting world is full of rejection and uncertainty, so developing a thick skin and the ability to bounce back from setbacks is essential. Please have a strong supportive community and practice self-care – whatever that means to you. Stay committed to your craft, but also remember to take care of your mental and emotional well-being. Funny right? Actors are meant to be tough to face rejection but remain soft for their characters and understanding human emotions. So remember even though you built that thick skin, you are a gentle and soft human being.

A deep understanding of human emotions has been incredibly valuable. Acting is all about connecting with the audience on an emotional level. Go experience the world! Take risks, fall in love, eat that cake! You have to be a human to tell the human condition.

Lastly, be kind. Be kind to others, your fellow actors, industry professionals. We’re told it’s competitive and it is, but we’re all trying our best. We will all have our own challenges down this road, so be kind. Of all the people, people in this industry will understand your struggles the best. It’s true when people say this industry is about “who knows who”, you never know who you will meet again. Treat others and most importantly yourself with kindness. Build a good foundation of support, ask others how you can support them and celebrate them because when it’s your turn, which I promise it will be, they too, will celebrate you.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

Currently, I’m working on feeling enough but then again I’m always working on that. I feel like I’m not doing “enough” for my career or the classic “I’m not talented enough, pretty enough, funny enough, successful enough, the list is endless.

We often feel a sense of unworthiness or not being enough because we are comparing ourselves to others. At times I look at my fellow actors and compare my success or lack of, but the truth is you have to stay in your line. Wish them well and come back to your lane. Focus on yourself, everyone’s journey is different, you don’t know what they have went through.

Ask yourself “is this thought serving you?” most of the time it’s not, it sends you in a destructive spiral. It’s easier said than done but change the thought, something small, even if your focus is on “what will I have for lunch?”, anything small to move you away from that spiral.

Remember what kind of a mark do you want to leave behind as an artist and take small steps towards that. You are unique! Trust me! Acting is one of those rare careers where everyone has a different essence, so be you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theriapatel.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theriapatel/

Image Credits

Yoga Image: @kymhouston_photographic_artist
All other images: @juzbhagos