Meet Julia Wackenheim

We recently connected with Julia Wackenheim and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Julia, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I hail from hearty Scottish and Italian stock, used to working fields, hauling barrels of pasta, and making blood sausage. I dare anyone to complain about being tired or not liking the rain to a Scottish auntie. That’ll stiffen an upper lip in no time. There was no other option than to be resilient coming from such strong stock.

And, you know, humans are resilient – we all go through (varying degrees of) hard stuff. Personally, I’ve had too many beloved family members die at an early age – gone too soon. I watched as cancer took my grandmother’s life. I’ve had three miscarriages. I’ve had to merge on the 405 North during rush hour. IN SANTA MONICA. To quote Billy Joel, “we didn’t start the fire, we didn’t light it, but we tried to fight it.” Times will always be intense, there will always be lows, but I hold onto the highs – with the exception of the 405 – the highs carry me.

Being female helps with resilience. We’re inherently strong, we have high pain thresholds. Delivering my 8 lb son into the world helped me realize that I could actually do anything. Well, I mean, with the help of pitocin, Tylenol, a hot bath, a doula, an obstetrician, and an amazing nurse – I could do anything…

Lately, finding joy in the small things fills my cup: the rose bushes around the corner from me that belong in an English countryside, or a fancy Duke’s manicured garden. The cup of single origin coffee from Counter Culture Coffee every morning with half & half. When my pug gets her jowls caught in her tic-tak teeth and smiles. My son’s dancing while he eats something he likes. These moments refocus me. I’m able to shore myself up and brace for the next challenge, loss, or natural disaster – and smoothly merge on that 405.

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?

Thank you for letting me share – it’s an honor!

I have a few hats: I’m a mom, an actor, a writer, a producer, a director, and a philanthropist/activist.

I’ve been acting on and offstage for the past two decades in Los Angeles – and have performed in over 1,000 live comedy shows, as well as been in TV, film, and commercials. Recently, I played Della from “Fear the Walking Dead” alongside Oscar Nominee Colman Domingo in season 8 of the series. Another recent acting highlight was understudying for Allison Tolman in ABC’s Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Facts of Life, directed by James Burrows.

I’ve produced two seasons of an original series that landed on Amazon, F’d (NYTVF and ITVFest). I’ve also written two pilots, and co-written Super Drunk Girl – which has been in development as a live action and animated series.

Since 2012, I have advocated for domestic workers rights, long term health care, and end of life care. Domestic workers (nannies, caregivers, house cleaners) were left out of workplace protection laws in the 1930s. Every day 10,000 people turn 65. There is much work to be done around these issues. With two other community organizers, I co-founded CAG:LAFBA – a coalition of faith-based groups focusing on education, advocacy, and social justice around domestic workers rights and the healthcare system. I’m the Social Justice Committee Chair of myTemple’s Sisterhood, and an Executive Committee Member of the Women of Reform Judaism. While charing its largest philanthropic fund, I raised over $200K in 2024, and currently chair WRJ’s Budget Committee.

This past month I finished post production on “Ethel & Ernie,” a pilot presentation I created based on stories from the advocacy work I’ve done around end of life/domestic workers rights/caregiving. I wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the production.

Currently, I’m producing “Selah” a short film written by Lara Everly – the film was a finalist in Tribeca’s Through Her Lens program. I’m writing a few new projects, and working towards sharing “Ethel & Ernie” with everyone.

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?

Perseverance, Improv, and making health a priority are three pillars that have got me through a couple of decades in the LA entertainment scene.

Based on my experience, I have some advice:

Only get into the entertainment industry if it’s a true-blue passion. Like, if you don’t write the script about the frog that reads minds, it might kill you. Or if you don’t put on a Western Themed version of “Hamlet” set on Mars you may walk into the ocean. Then I would give it a go. But it’s hard. And it’s really easy to get cynical in the entertainment industry – much of it leans towards inauthenticity, bottom lines, and “what can you do for me?” – ness. But if you love it and if it’s where you find “flow,” keep going. Believe in yourself, the universe, the art, and you’ll find your spot. Maybe it won’t be exactly what you thought, it may be miles away from what got you started.

Take an improv class. You’re gonna look dumb. You’re gonna say something you wish you didn’t; example: “Where did we put all the chocolate covered tube socks?!* I DON’T KNOW. NOBODY KNOWS. You might go through a months-long phase of pretending to be a sassy cat or an affected teenager every time you get onstage. You won’t know why. Maybe you’re working through something feline or adolescent, and you can only get it out onstage. Improv teaches you that looking corny and silly is the way to be. It teaches you how to live life by improvising it. Say yes! Be nice! Buy some chocolate covered tube socks! It will work wonders at the next interview, audition, or company picnic. I promise. (The improv, not the tube socks…)

Take care of your health – mental, physical, and spiritual. It’s impossible to draw from an empty well. Maybe put the third chocolate martini down, go to a yoga-lates class, float in a sound bath pool where a woman named Sargenta gently plays the chimes and there’s an overpowering scent of patchouli – do whatever grounds you and keeps you vibrant. Your body, mind, and soul are your vessel – keep ’em squeaky clean! I’ve worked out or lifted weights consistently for the last 23 years, I meditate, and I’ve gotten real deep in “you are what you think.” For me, it’s turned out to be true.

Have fun. Be nice to people. Someone might be suffering from a bad haircut or some post-sandwich indigestion. Give them grace. Most importantly, be nice and love yourself.

*We never did find out where Joe put those chocolate covered tube socks. Hopefully, the fridge…

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

When things become too loud, too heavy, too much – I usually take to my bed for a nap – if I can. It’s a great reset. Also, there is no better place than my bed. Maybe the beach. I’ve never been to Fiji – maybe that’s better? I dunno…if it is, my bed is a close second. I have a weighted blanket, eyeshades with bluetooth speakers – I put those on and listen to a To Be Magnetic Deep Imagining Meditation, or a Kenneth Soares’ manifestation/affirmation meditation. Or just sleep.

After that, I input on some rockin’ tunes and dance it out a bit. Or I go for a long walk. Or I stare into the depths of my husky’s eyes. What would she say if she could talk? Does she think I’m cool? Does she know who shot JFK?

Then I drink a cup of coffee and make lists. Maybe there’s some chocolate. Or a cheese and cracker situation. Then I break the lists down to super simple steps. I like to map out my day/week/month into what items I’d like to get done, with a TOP THREE for each day. I can usually accomplish more than three, but if not three is a victory. And shoot, some days are rough AF (as foretold), and the nap is the task. The downtime is the work.

Ultimately, I try to go easy on myself. I highly recommend it. We were meant to search for food, cook the food, eat the food, swim in the ocean, “number two” the food, and go to bed. All this other stuff is bananas. Stop scrolling. Read a book. Eat pizza. Number Two the pizza. Take a nap with your husky.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Emily Sandifer (Instagra: @emilysandiferphoto) for professional studio photos, hair by Anastasi Mortensen (Instagram: @anastasicolor), makeup by Karishma Ahluwalia (Instagram: @makeup_by_karishma)

Behind the Scenes on Ethel & Ernie: Ethan Sigmon (Instagram: @emsigmon)

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