Meet Katie Sargent

We were lucky to catch up with Katie Sargent recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Katie with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

I get my work ethic from my mom, who constantly leads be example! Being raised by a single mother with four siblings in Northern, Virginia was a very illuminating experience for me in working hard and going after what you want. My mother is an Architectural Designer which is a quite demanding and fairly male-dominated industry. She is a leader who travels all over the globe for her position, yet was very involved in all of my siblings and my lives. She encouraged us all the participate in many sports and activities and instilled the mindset that if we were going to commit our time to something we should do it well. Setting ambitious goals such as writing, producing, acting and editing my own short films is something I would not have had the confident to execute without knowing that I have the necessary skills and work ethic (thanks mom!) to get it done.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Katie Sargent is an actor and screenwriter celebrated for her coming-of-age short films that spotlight female friendships. She brings a wide range to every project, from character actor to femme fatale. Equally at home in family dramas, improv, and comedy, she often plays strong-willed women with sharp tongues and surprising empathy. Recent roles include young mothers, ambitious career women, and tough recruits. With stage combat skills and a reputation as the loudest screamer, Katie is a force on screen and stage. She holds a degree in Film and Television Acting from The New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts.

Her sharp and witty voice resonates with diverse audiences, evident in works like Not That Serious, a psychological thriller set against the vibrant backdrop of New York City. Katie thrives on showcasing local culture and hidden neighborhood gems in her storytelling, drawing inspiration from her surroundings to create authentic and engaging characters.

As co-founder of the Sketch Comedy Group This Might Make Sense, Katie and her team took the NYC comedy scene by storm, performing live shows across the city and posting skits on social media. With impeccable comedic timing and a commitment to never breaking character (ever), she is equal parts force of nature and queen of punchlines.

She also holds a Business Management degree from Virginia Tech. Now based in NYC, Katie is busy developing her first feature-length film, Daddies. Eager to continue writing female-centered narratives, Katie is committed to exploring what it means to be human in the past, present, and future.

You can find Katie performing on a stage in NYC, on her Letterboxd account (katelynsargent), screaming in the streets or working on upcoming artistic projects.

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?

Strong communication skills, a willingness to learn new things and kindness are three skills that I feel are highly under-rated and have served me quite well.

I attended business school at Virginia Tech and was working a corporate 9-5 when I felt this deep pull towards the performing arts. My sibling, Karly, was in theater and I was obsessed with their productions. I quit my corporate job and took a leap of faith into learning new skills in a new industry. I worked as an Usher at the Kennedy Center (which I LOVED) and soaked in the arts and decided that this was the industry I wanted to be part of. I took improv classes, was in my first play (Alice in Wonderland), took voiceover and scene study classes and learned as much about the industry as I could. I took another leap of faith to move to NYC and attend an acting conservatory (NYCDA). Post school I have participated in plays, sketch comedy performances, short films, feature length films, music videos, background work and am even working on my own projects that I have written and produced. Throughout all of these experiences, my consistency, communication and kindness to others has lead to being invited back to other projects and being asked to take on a bigger role in the production process.

Treating others with kindness and being pleasant to work with cannot be understated, the arts is a small industry and your reputation as a positive collaborator matters. Also, simply showing up matters! Consistency and strong communication have helped me land larger roles in productions as the team feels that I am a reliable and helpful collaborator who always comes prepared.

Switching from a 9-5 to the arts and moving to NYC to pursue school again felt intimidating, but my desire to continue to learn and constantly being curious has served me very well and I am very glad that I took that leap of faith in myself to pursue my passions.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

As an artist, your work is as strong as your circle. I am also an extrovert and feed off of great energy and love working in teams. I am constantly on the lookout to connect with fellow actors, comedians, writers, producers, editors, directors, cinematographers, casting directors, wardrobe, hair and makeup, graphic designers, teachers, choreographers, sound and audio specialists, color grading specialists – really any one that is creative and passionate about what they do! I love connecting with people in person in the NYC area and across the globe online.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katelynsargent/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@katelynsargent