Meet Carla Susan Lewis

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

Hi Carla Susan, thank you so much for joining us today. There are so many topics we could discuss, but perhaps one of the most relevant is empathy because it’s at the core of great leadership and so we’d love to hear about how you developed your empathy?

This goes way back. I recall being called an empath by a close friend at her son’s funeral.It surprised me to be characterized as such but I knew that the empathy and pain I was feeling for my friend’s devastation was different than just sympathy. Seeing her so heartbroken was acutely painful. I felt compelled to do something to take her pain away. I first experienced this kind of empathy in my twenties — only after my own house was in order. Survival needs met —emotional, material, and spiritual were conditions from which empathy for others was able to develop. Also, possessing a degree of humility and gratitude to understand that –“there but for the grace of god; go I”.

Having an “other-orientation” has been key to my journey as a person and as an actor. Our creative process thrives in relationship, imagination, awareness and empathy.

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?

I am at last immersed in my artistic career. I am an actor that waited a long time to return to the industry after an extensive interim career in academia, social justice activism, policy reform, and research/teaching at various universities. Never expected to take multiple paths. I am usually compelled to follow my heart and the performing arts captivated me as a child and teenager. I even left college to better focus on ballet and acting. I worked and trained hard with wonderful teachers at HB Studios, and from members of the Actors Studio, earned my union cards early and was thrilled to play roles in Strindberg, Tennessee Williams, and Shakespeare but the challenging reality of NYC living compelled me to complete my education and thereafter pursue a doctorate in social and personality psychology. Having always been fascinated by human behavior, motivation, emotions, and perception, I chose psychology a field that could also enhance my acting. I accepted research faculty appointments at Princeton and Columbia on government grants to evaluate humanitarian and social service programs to reduce the risk of HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, homelessness, and domestic violence in inner-cities.
I then transitioned to the nonprofit sector. using my research and leadership skills to advocate for policy reform for disenfranchised groups. I loved this work. It felt purposeful. My heart was full and dedicated to the communities we served but after a few decades of advocacy for marginalized communities, it was time to return to my creative soul – Acting. I returned to classes, booked some equity contracts, found great representation and inspiration in the work.

Acting and life are now inseparable. In life and art my mission is to peel away the artifice, the personna, the cerebral, the silencing, of parts of self we hide and live authentically, There is no lost time if we use ourselves fully when we practice our art. All is fodder for work as an artist.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

What comes to mind immediately is craftsmanship, love of process, and honoring the fire-within. Three interdependent qualities. The passion for craft and finding more freedom within from which to trust our impulses and play them out fully in the moment leads to a more consistent and specific practice, and in turn, to greater craftsmanship and tools from which to create.

I would suggest to those starting out that they trust their instincts, and find studios that feel safe and support their talent. Find the tools that work for you specifically. It is never one size fits all. Using ourselves in the work is everything. Keeping it real, being present and unattached to results; we can access the truth within. Our audience can relate to our humanity. The story will come alive for others as we find the bridge between ourselves and story. Trust the process. Follow your dream. Time is not a factor; it is a stunning journey.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

Yes. Here is a current one. I am often inspired by perspectives and artists with diverging points of view on technique, methods, and tools. My appetite and curiosity is huge for better or worse. My challenge is to focus more in-depth on one at a time and explore, apply, and discover what works best before moving on to acquire other skills. I love working instinctually but I also love using deep memory and sensory work. I love dream-like projections that can be used to enrich story and character relationships historically. This helps me more readily enter the world of the story and get it into my body and off the page. I learned the Projections Technique from Peter Frisch author and educator and director who wrote a book on Transformational Acting. Truly inspiring.

Mastering techniques is one thing but mastery requires much more than cursory practice. An overly developed fascination with multiple approaches can be masking something else. Food for thought. Self-examination is so important to our growth as artists. Setting limits. I am still trying to stop buying books that I have no time to read. Can we be overly motivated? Settling in, and trusting that preparation will meet opportunity is my latest challenge. I am sure many of your readers can identify.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.carlasusanlewis.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CarlaSusanLewis
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarlaSusanLewis
• Other: https://imdb.me/carlasusanlewis
  https://linktr.ee/CarlaSusanLewis

Image Credits

Sean Kara