Meet Soraya Garré

 

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Soraya Garré. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Soraya , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I think my purpose found me rather than the other way around! Around the age of 15, I started wanting to become an actress. It kind of came out of nowhere because I grew up in a small village in the South of France where there was not even the smallest movie theater. So I didn’t grow up watching movies at all, instead I grew up reading tons of books. I dived into British, French and Russian literature in particular. I learned storytelling through novels and thus developed my imagination and a love for words. It was an escape for me to let these stories and characters evolve in my mind. Reality has never been my forte and I just devoured books.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am focused on an artistic career in filmmaking. I started off as a very dedicated actress but quickly got pretty passionate about filmmaking as a whole and went on to also work as a producer and a screenwriter. And hopefully in the new year I’ll be directing my first film project too!

Acting remains the most exciting part of my artistic journey, for now anyway. Human psychology fascinates me and I guess I have an urge to escape reality on a daily basis and embark on different life experiences whenever I can. You never stop learning when you’re an actor. You learn about yourself and others and hopefully develop meaningful relationships along the way, as well as philosophical attitude towards life.

My latest project is a short film entitled “Haunted”, which I cowrote with acclaimed director Jon Amiel (Entrapment, Copycat and many TV shows). Jon also directed this film and I played the lead role for which I won an award in Madrid a few weeks ago actually. “Haunted” is a drama/mystery that deals with mental health and teen suicide. Heavy topics, but very relevant ones these days, sadly…

The project I am developing at the moment will be lighter but will also tackle a current issue since it is a satire of social media entitled “Smart Life”. I plan to shoot in Los Angeles early next year, in French this time!

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?

Here I can only share what has been most important to me, as a woman and as an artist in the very competitive film/tv industry.

I’d say that having a very strong will and determination is key when you want to pursue an artistic career. You must feel that you have no other choice than to be an artist. I’ve always had this inner urge to be an actress. I have no clue where it comes from, but it is in me and I have always felt that I had no choice but to address this urge if I wanted to find some sort of happiness and serenity in life. Am I right? Who knows?!

Bu before training to become an actress, I went to university and got a Master’s degree in English. I studied American and British literature extensively and developed strong analytical skills in the process. This academic background has actually proved very useful to me both personally and professionally. You learn to analyze what works and what doesn’t and readjust your perspective on certain things. That is how you can make progress and keep pushing forward. Acquiring analytical skills and stimulating the brain on a daily basis definitely helps you maneuver through life and become a quick learner. It allows you to stay open to stay curious, open-minded and put everything into perspective.

Finally, as an actress and as an artist in general, sensitivity is important. As a woman though, I always felt that I had to keep those emotions in check on a daily basis so as not to be labeled as “too emotional” or even “crazy” or “hysterical”. And at the same time, showing vulnerability both in life and on film often pulls people in and allow you to connect with others on a deeper level. I guess there is a balance to find, but sensitivity, emotional awareness and intuition – they all go hand in hand – are essential. These can be developed too!

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

I started acting in my late twenties, which is fairly late. By that time, I had developed certain patterns and was definitely my own worst enemy. Therefore, the most helpful person in helping me overcome challenges turned out to be myself. The biggest obstacles I had were actually psychological ones: fear, doubt, self-destructive habits. So I had to put down each one of these barriers, switch it all around and learn to love myself as I was, flawed just like any other human being.

And then, I met very talented professionals and made a few new friends along the way. Acting coach Bobbie Chance was essential in teaching me how to let go and be freer without being afraid to show all the intensity of my emotional life. Actor/Acting coach Richard Lawson taught me how to approach the business and become a more autonomous actress. Director Jon Amiel has guided my growth as a writer and as an actress, also introducing me to some amazing people in the business. I got to shadow him on some incredible sets and then work with him on “Haunted”.

To sum it up, you can’t do it all alone, but it all starts with you!

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