Meet Sarah Rich

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sarah Rich a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sarah, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

If I’m ever feeling like I’m in a place of dullness or like my mental demons are coming out to play, I know that I’ve been distant from my creativity. And sometimes it can be hard to get out of that funk. But I find what really helps, is connecting myself to my own body again. Whether it’s by lying on the floor and doing breath work, feeling my senses come back online. Or by putting on some random funky music and dancing for 10 minutes. Or by taking a walk outside, no music, listening to birds, and observing the world around me. Whatever it is, I need space and time to recharge my battery; and from there, then I can find creative freedom. Once I’m really in my body and I have the space to be in my own company, I can listen to what my intuition is telling me to do.

But you know, as much as alone time is important and necessary to me… yesterday, I had a conversation with a stranger over the phone about magical and paranormal experiences. There was something about exploring these topics with this person whose face I didn‘t know that lit me up. I didn‘t realize how much I needed that phone call until after I hung up. I felt more in my body and creatively open compared to when the phone call started.

It seems the common through line is: getting out of my logical brain, into my fantasies and body.

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

I am an actor. I have always known this is what I want to do. It may sound cliche, but when I‘m acting I feel the most myself. Sometimes the worlds I‘m acting in feel more real than actual life. Maybe its from the adrenaline, or how high the stakes always feel, or how (most of the time) every literary or stylistic choice has intention and it satiates that part of me that‘s curious for connection and meaning. I‘m always craving aliveness and acting brings me there.

Some projects I‘m excited for…

Last summer I had the joy of acting in Julie Pacino‘s debut feature film I Live Here Now, which will be theatrically distributed by Utopia. Releases in 2025! I play the role of Sid, a whimsical little bellhop. She will always hold a very very special place in my heart.

Lately I‘ve been leaning into my writing, branching out into producing, and soon to be directing. I‘m currently in post-production for That Old Black Magic, a short period drama written and directed by Alan Trinca that I helped produce. It was a grant recipient of the Russo Brother‘s Italian American Filmmaker Forum, and we are in the homestretch to submit it for the final competition.

I‘m also in pre-production for my short Obscure Identity, a thriller based on a true story. I will be directing and acting in it as well. The story follows Margot who is stuck at the airport waiting for her ride to pick her up, when she is approached by a mysterious woman who warns her she is being preyed upon by a shapeshifter…. Should be a fun one.

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?

1. Having faith. 2. Bodywork/Breath-work. 3. Following what lights me up

Having some sort of ritual or routine, preferably in the mornings, is so important. Wake up, body scan, take in how your feeling in the moment (what does your body feel like? What impulses are you wanting to act on?) Spend 10 minutes stretching, breathing into your diaphragm, drink a glass of water. If there are demons at play in your mind, don’t to punish yourself for thinking them, but rather breathe for a few minutes, and find something that feels good. This industry is all about perseverance. Have faith in the timing, have faith that the world wants to support you. If you show up for yourself with kindness and authenticity, the world will show up for 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?

The past few years have been a challenge with every industry, but I’ve definitely felt the effects of the times.

I remember before Covid, I was living in New York, boppin around to auditions all over the city. It was FUN; running off the train, dabbing my armpits and freshening up to look camera ready for casting directors. I loved the feeling of the exchange — they saw my work, and I saw them see my work. They would direct me — or not direct me! But I would physically leave the room, knowing I did my job. Then there were the occasional self-tapes that would come in, and I would do them because I loved the opportunity. But I’m not going to lie, my body would always have a little “ugh” when I got a self-tape. There was a resistance to it, maybe because it required asking friends to please give me hours of their time, or I just knew I would spend hours obsessing doing take after take.

Covid happened and, for so many industries, that solidified the online world. It was already going in that direction but man did it expedite it. Then came the writers’ strike, then the actors’ strike. Opportunity is harder to come by and when it does, it’s always a self tape. Now, I am very very lucky: I am so grateful to have the incredible rep I have (shoutout Ian!!!), I am surrounded by such an inspiring group of friends and filmmakers, I live in LA where the industry still has a presence, and I have landed work in difficult times. Though, right now, in this moment, I really really miss that physical exchange in the room. But I have to adjust, and I have been adjusting. I’m making my own stuff, which honestly I’ve always wanted to do and now I have the time. But this industry is evolving, and sometimes I get in my head with all the questions. Such as: “Am I keeping up with HOW this industry is evolving? Am I able to keep up to make this my livelihood? Is the dream still possible under these new conditions?”

And that’s where again I say I’m so lucky to be surrounded by my talented friends. We all want to work, and we’re making it happen ourselves.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @__sarahrich

Image Credits

Thaïs Castralli, Elle Regan, Jaime Jaget, Mackenzie Hamilton, Taylor Fuchs, Alan Trinca