Meet Joanna Sotomura

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

Joanna, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?

I am optimistic because I had a very good friend die young. Grace Annabel Lee. She was the perfect person…contagious and loudest laugh, bold hearted, fearless, ambitious, everything anyone could hope to be. She believed in everyone and wanted to make the world a better place…truly…she knew what “organic” and quinoa and yoga was before it was trendy. She pushed everyone to be their most ridiculous and best selves. She believed in living ALL of life to the fullest. When she died the world shifted. We’re not here forever. We’re here for the smallest blip of time. So make the most of everything you have. Go go go.

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

I feel so lucky to have been able to work on projects that truly mean so much to me. From “Emma Approved” to “The Good Place” and beyond, every role has been a stepping stone in this crazy, wonderful journey of acting. As a Japanese American, I’m so proud to represent my community and share stories that reflect our voices and experiences. It’s something I take to heart.

That’s why I was SO excited to work on “Sunny” now streaming on AppleTV+. This show is so close to my heart, and I can’t wait for everyone to meet our robot and the crazy world that Katie Robbins, Lucy Tcherniak and Rashida Jones have created. It’s such a special project, and getting to share it with audiences means everything.

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 any actor, performer, or creative in this industry, the first step to “making it” is not apologizing for your dreams or your ambition. What we’re pursuing is such a unique, challenging path, and the worst thing you can do is doubt yourself or feel the need to apologize for wanting it.

Stand firmly in your passion, in what you believe, and in what you want to create. Be kind, treat everyone equally, and show respect—we’re all working toward the same goal of making great art. And one more thing: remember people’s names and a fun fact about them. That’s something I’m still working on, but it makes a world of difference!

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?

Sleep….oh my god sleep! Being a parent to a 1 year old is no joke so enjoy the sleep when you can. It’s magical!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @joannasotomura
• Yelp: joannasotomura@gmail.com

Image Credits

Eric Caroll