We recently connected with Leonie Leiprecht and have shared our conversation below.
Leonie, 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?
I truly believe that there can’t be any creativity without inspiration. Which is why I have gotten really good at finding inspiring things/people/places in my life. Of course we can be inspired by books, paintings and movies that make us want to be creative as well but what inspires me the most is the “real world”. Human interactions, a tiny flower growing next to a concrete street, random acts of kindness, heartbreak and the stories of other people. Once you get into the habit of finding inspiration everywhere you go your creative energies will flow effortlessly.
I also think it’s important to always experiment with new ways of being creative. I like to use my creativity mostly in my acting but there are so many different ways to express this creativity. Let’s say I receive a new script and get to bring a character to life. Sometimes I like to make playlists that this person would listen to, or I make collages of what their room/life/style would look like, or I go out in public, go on a train and just sit there and observe people. What mannerism of other people can I use for my character and what does it feel like when I do them?
Whatever it is that inspires you and makes you want to be creative (writing, filmmaking, baking, decorating, dancing etc) just give it a try, reconnect with your soul and put your phone away – I know we hear this so often and it’s true. And talk to people. Be vulnerable, open and connect with others on a deeper level, it will always bring you new ideas and perspectives which defintitely helps with being creative.
There are so many wonders in this world if you open your eyes, ears and heart to them you will always want to create new things and don’t have to force being creative, trust me.
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?
As many other actors, I’ve always loved acting since I was a child. I remember making films with my dad’s old video camera, and I adored being in front of the camera. There was just one tiny problem—I was extremely shy and didn’t really believe in myself. When people asked me what I wanted to do after graduating from high school, I would always respond with things like, “I’m going to be a teacher,” even though I knew what I actually wanted to be.
After graduating in Germany, I decided to go to the U.S. as an exchange student. All of a sudden, this shy German girl was on the other side of the world, where no one knew who she was—but that was my chance. I could do whatever I wanted and be whoever I wanted to be because no one knew me. So, I signed up for theater classes, became part of the drama club and the speech team, and my exchange year was all about acting.
When my time there came to an end, I was heartbroken. I loved this new life I had created, and I wanted to keep acting. As I sat in my room back in Germany, thinking about what I wanted to do next, I started looking for acting schools around the world. Without thinking much about it, I applied to an acting school in New York City—and got accepted. I was so excited for this new adventure, and I didn’t know that the next three years would become the best and most intense of my life so far.
I loved getting up early every single day to go to school and learn more about this craft that I love so much. I had the privilege of learning from incredible teachers and working with my wonderful classmates. Since graduating from acting school, I’ve been part of amazing short film projects, commercials, and music videos. I signed with an agency in Germany and am now finishing another acting course in Berlin, which has helped me grow even more as a person and as an actress.
Now, I’m considering where my path will lead me next. Am I going to stay in Germany? Will I go back to New York, or somewhere completely different? Only time will tell. But wherever I am, I hope to continue working on more amazing projects with talented and creative people because I know that this is the right path for me.
I am a very sensitive and empathetic person. I’ve always been fascinated by the different lives people have lived, are living, and will live on this earth. As an actress, I get to experience so many lives in one lifetime, which makes this profession so special to me. I love viewing the world and others with curiosity. Every character I bring to life makes me curious about what it’s like to live life through their eyes. Every role (even if it’s a one-day bartender role with just two lines) teaches me something, and I’m so excited to explore more of these different lives through my future roles.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Resilience is incredibly important as an actress (and as a person in general). As actors and people, we are faced with a lot of rejection. You put so much work into a casting, and sometimes you don’t even hear back from people. It’s normal, and everyone knows that, but sometimes it’s really hard not to start doubting yourself and your skills. What has helped me is having a great support system. I have actor friends who relate to the things I go through, and we can help each other out. But I also have a lot of people around me who have nothing to do with this industry, and they help remind me of the other important things life has to offer.
I would also recommend truly taking the time to work on your relationship with yourself. No matter if it’s therapy, self-care, or journaling—just be with yourself. When you are confident and secure in who you are and realize that you deserve for all your dreams to come true, you can handle the hard times much better.
Another skill that has helped me tremendously is changing my perspective. Pretty much everything in life has a good and a bad side to it. For example, when I get my dream role, it’s obviously great. I get to act, do what I love, and be on set all day long. It also means that I probably won’t be able to spend as much time with my loved ones. The same goes for something as simple as someone being rude to you. You could be annoyed and frustrated all day about the way this person was speaking to you, OR you can be proud of your ability to stay respectful and friendly and handle a situation like this with grace. YOU choose what to focus on. Changing perspectives will change your whole life.
Lastly, one of the most important skills in every area of your life is communication. It is so easy to feel misunderstood by other people, and having good communication skills is going to help you in so many situations. Understand that no one on this earth has made the same experiences as you. We all have different things that trigger us and inspire us. We all want to be heard and loved in one way or another. When you talk to a person, truly listen to them—not to respond, but to understand. Communicate how you feel, because even if it might be so obvious to you why something is bothering you, someone else might not notice it at all because they view the world differently than you do. Be kind to yourself and others. We all need more kindness.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am always looking for new projects to work on and new people to be creative with. If you’re looking for a tall ginger actress who will always bring good vibes to set—I’m your girl. 😉
In all seriousness, though, if you have a vision and want to bring it to life—whether you’re a filmmaker or another actor/actress—let’s make it happen. So many times, we have an idea but not the right people to bring it to life with. Whatever it is, I’d love to hear about it, and maybe we can create something beautiful and memorable together.
The best way to connect with me is through Instagram @leonieleiprecht. Let’s make some movies and let something magical happen!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leonieleiprecht/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@leonieleiprecht
Image Credits
John Deamara, Mapi Bartolomé, Isabella Medina Sarria.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
