Meet Flora Banhegyi

We were lucky to catch up with Flora Banhegyi recently and have shared our conversation below.

Flora, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

Something that really helps me is consciously staying connected to life itself. I’ve learned that creativity isn’t about sitting down and forcing yourself to “make something.” It’s about being open, observant, and curious. Feeling things. Letting yourself be moved by a random song.

I journal a lot. Like, a lot. But not always in writing. Sometimes I find it easier to talk it out, so I record voice memos or videos — just me rambling about ideas, dreams, characters that came to me during a walk. And if I ever feel truly stuck? Movement is always the answer. Just move your body. In any way. Trust me, it helps.

I’ve also realized that being creative doesn’t mean being productive 24/7. Some of my best ideas come when I’m romanticizing my life, wandering through a park, sipping an iced oat latte, and listening to a podcast. If I stay curious and keep choosing presence over pressure, I know the creativity will come back. It’s definitely a work in progress for me too, but I’m learning to trust it more and more.

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?

Hi, I’m Flora Banhegyi, an actress and creative entrepreneur from Hungary, now living in New York. My journey started in the world of professional sports. I was a competitive jump roper for 16 years (yes, it’s a real thing haha), became a World Champion, and later performed around the world with Cirque Dreams, which is now part of Cirque du Soleil. That world taught me discipline and how to show up under pressure, but it also came with a constant push toward perfection. Eventually, I realized I needed something that allowed me to be messy, free, and fully self-expressed.

That’s how I found acting. I trained at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts and have since worked on a variety of short films and creative projects, including Tri Sestry, which earned nine awards and two nominations at the New York International Film Awards. The most recent project I worked on was French Fries, where I played Alex, a socially anxious young woman yearning for real connection. It was one of my favorite roles to date, with the most amazing cast and crew. Right now, I’m co-producing a new short film that explores grief and personal transformation — a story I care about deeply.

Outside of acting, I co-founded Self Dive, a wellness and creative space for women who want to dive deeper within themselves. We have a podcast and we offer a monthly membership and retreats around the world. Our next one is in Greece, and I honestly can’t wait. For me, Self Dive is an extension of the work I do as an artist. It’s about truth, presence, healing, and storytelling in all forms.

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?

First of all, very important: I’m still figuring it all out. I definitely don’t have all the answers, but the things I keep coming back to are consistency, curiosity, and self-belief.

Consistency is everything. The stuff I’m proud of usually came from just not quitting. Showing up even when I didn’t feel like it, when it wasn’t glamorous, when no one was watching. If you want something, stay close to it. Keep showing up for it in small ways, even on the blah days.

The second is curiosity. I try to follow the little sparks, even if they don’t make sense. A random book, podcast, class, or idea might seem unrelated, but it usually ends up shaping my work in ways I never expected. Curiosity keeps things fresh, and honestly, it makes the journey way more fun!

And then there’s self-belief. And I’m definitely still working on this one. But I’ve learned that it really doesn’t matter how many people believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself first. You don’t need to have a huge portfolio or a perfect track record to trust your gut. Just believe in your voice, your perspective, and your intentions. That’s often enough to take the next step.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Absolutely. One of the big reasons I chose acting and this industry, is because I love collaboration. There is something so powerful about being part of a team of people who are all working toward the same goal, pouring their hearts into a story they believe in. That kind of creative container – like a film set – is one of my favorite spaces to be in.

I think the most inspiring collaborators are the ones who have a strong sense of vision — the kind of people who are so lit up by their idea or story that it pulls everyone in. That energy is contagious and makes me want to give my absolute best. And I really value working with people who understand that storytelling is a team sport. Kindness and mutual respect go a long way. I try to show up as that kind of collaborator myself because I believe we attract what we put out.

So yes, if you are reading this and you are someone who leads with passion, kindness, and believes in the magic of making something as a team, I would love to connect. You can reach out to me through Instagram (@florabanhegyi) or my website florabanhegyi.com.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://florabanhegyi.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/florabanhegyi/
• Other: IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm16539375/

Image Credits

@nina.b.b , @gallerybygeve