Meet Isabella Carlsen

We were lucky to catch up with Isabella Carlsen recently and have shared our conversation below.

Isabella, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

The short answer is I didn’t. When I book something, no matter what it is, there is always slight imposter syndrome. Seeing myself on tv may never feel “normal” but I like that. Imposter syndrome keeps me humble and reminds me how grateful I am for such amazing opportunities.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I was born in Jacksonville Florida and have been performing for as long as I can remember. Whether that was in the church Christmas pageants, talent shows, school plays, or competitive sports. I decided I wanted to be an actor professionally when I was in Sophomore year of high school. I was taking drama class, musical theater class, chorus, doing the plays after school, and sneaking out of the lunchroom to go in my drama teachers class and read stage plays. I eventually had to stop that one because administration found out and gave me in school suspension.

I went to Florida School of the Arts and got my AS in musical theatre and also my AA. I then transferred to Chicago College of Performing Arts and got my BFA in Acting. After about 5 years in Chicago, I moved to Atlanta in 2021 to pursue tv and film and be closer to my parents in Florida. It also helped that I wouldn’t be living in a. polar vortex anymore (no hate Chi town). I got an agent about a month or two after moving to Atlanta and immediately started auditioning and jumping into on camera classes. I went about 2 years of auditioning on the regular and booked absolutely nothing. I remember thinking “Why don’t they see how perfect I am for these roles?” “Is this not the correct market for me?’ You see, I had an agent in Chicago and my very first addition with them, I booked. So incredibly exciting but It set me up for a WORLD of disappointment, let me tell you.

Now, in hindsight looking back on those tapes, It’s a lot more obvious where those gaps were. I didn’t have a great camera set up and I wasn’t being authentically myself in those auditions, I was being what I thought the casting directors wanted to see. Around mid 2023, I was really breaking through in acting classes and loving my job as a bartender in this swanky Atlanta restaurant when I was notified I booked my first role in a film and was also the lead role. Haylie Duff was the director and It felt so surreal because she was my first ever concert I went to as a kid. Taking that movie opportunity in Kentucky for 3 weeks cost me by bartending job of 2.5 years that I loved but I didn’t care. I was on top of the world. Ever since then I’ve been grinding, auditioning, going to workshops, weekly classes, and have booked and filmed 3 other tv movies since then. This journey is just beginning and each and every day I’m just excited to be here.

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?

I think the best skill one can have acting wise is to be a great listener. Really listening to your partner like this is the first time you’ve ever heard this information. A skill from the business side would be know your market. Research the casting directors in your area and what they are casting. If you can, take some of their workshops and get to know them. For any folks early in their journey I’d say hop into an acting class. You don’t even need to be in the same state anymore to do an amazing virtual on camera class these days. Education is the great equalizer and acting is like a muscle. if you aren’t working it then you’re losing it. You can’t just be flexing that muscle when the audition comes in, because by then it’s too late. Find a community and really dive into those acting classes.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did for me is they taught me not to rely on handouts. I didn’t come from generational wealth or family members in the business that had connections. I didn’t have my own car until I was in my mid 20’s that I purchased on my own. I lived on a window’d-in porch for 2 years in Chicago because it was the cheaper option. I’m grateful for my parents teaching me that the only way I’ll get there is through hard work and prayer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.imdb.me/IsabellaCarlsen
• Instagram: bellacarlsen

Image Credits

The Actor Headshot (Tara Gulledge)

Stills provided by LMN and Lifetime