Story & Lesson Highlights with Reece Alexander-Putinas of London, England

Reece Alexander-Putinas shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Reece, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
I’d have to say gaming is the one place where time completely disappears for me. There’s something intoxicating about diving into a story-driven world — one minute I’m making moral decisions that will change the fate of a character’s life, the next I’m commanding an entire city into existence, obsessing over where every street and skyscraper belongs. And then, of course, there are the nights where it’s pure chaos — jumping on Battlefield with my friends, where it’s all explosions, shouting into headsets, and that rush of adrenaline you can’t get anywhere else.

Gaming is strange like that — it gives you both control and escape. I can spend hours strategizing every detail of an empire or lose myself in a blur of virtual war, and before I know it, the sun’s rising and five hours have vanished. But when I resurface, I don’t feel like I’ve wasted time. I feel reset. It’s like stepping out of someone else’s universe for a while, and coming back to mine with a clearer head.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Reece Alexander Putinas — I’m a British actor, producer, and stunt performer, though the road here has been anything but traditional. I grew up constantly being told acting wasn’t a “real job,” so I carved my own path — working everywhere from the wrestling ring, where I trained and performed alongside WWE and TNA talent, to the frontlines of royal security, where I once had the surreal responsibility of protecting Her late Majesty The Queen.

Eventually, I found my way into the world I’d always dreamed of. I recently wrapped filming on the latest season of The Witcher for Netflix, I’ve got a series with Matt Smith coming to Sky Atlantic this fall, and a project currently airing called The Count of Monte Cristo. But what really drives me isn’t just collecting credits — it’s the fact that every step of my journey has been unconventional. Wrestling taught me how to perform with my body, security taught me composure under pressure, and acting lets me combine all of it to create characters that feel alive.

I guess you could say my story is about proving that the “impossible path” is often the most interesting one.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was just a kid with dreams that felt bigger than the walls I was living in. I wanted to act, to create, to tell stories — but instead I was told to “be realistic,” that chasing art was a fantasy, that it wasn’t a real job. And for a while, I believed them. I tried to squeeze myself into a box that didn’t fit, working jobs that made me feel invisible, convincing myself that maybe I wasn’t meant for more.

But underneath, I was restless. I was angry. I felt like I was suffocating under the weight of other people’s expectations. There were moments I genuinely thought I’d have to kill the dream completely, bury it just to survive. And that’s the darkest part — losing yourself before you’ve even had the chance to live as yourself.

Who I was before the world tried to define me was raw, fearless, and hungry. I was someone who wanted to break rules, not follow them. Someone who’d rather fail chasing something impossible than succeed at being average. That kid never really left — he just had to claw his way back through all the noise, the doubt, and the rejection. And if I’m honest, I’m still fighting for him every day.

Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
What I miss most — and I don’t really say this out loud — is the freedom of a child’s imagination. That feeling that absolutely anything is possible, and you don’t doubt yourself for even a second. When I was young, I never thought about money, status, or whether I was “on track.” I just lived. I played. I dreamed without limits.

Now, life feels heavier. Every decision carries weight, every day feels measured by progress or success. I never used to care about those things — but somewhere along the line, they started consuming me. And that’s what I miss: the lightness of living without the constant scoreboard in your head.

Back then, happiness wasn’t complicated. It wasn’t tied to achievement or validation. It was just being. And sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever get that back — or if part of growing up is learning to live with that loss.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie this industry tells itself is that talent is enough. That if you’re good, if you work hard, if you stay disciplined — you’ll make it. I wish it were that simple. The truth is, talent is only one piece of the puzzle. Politics, timing, connections, and sometimes just dumb luck often matter more than raw ability. I’ve seen extraordinary actors with once-in-a-generation talent never get their break, while others with half the skill land opportunities because they fit a certain look or had the right person pulling strings for them.

Hollywood loves to sell this romantic idea that “hard work always pays off.” It’s comforting, and it keeps people grinding away — but it’s not the reality. Hard work is necessary, but it doesn’t guarantee you anything. What really separates people who survive in this industry is resilience. The ability to hear no a hundred times and still walk into the next audition like it’s your first. The ability to stay standing when the system is designed to break you down.

That’s the part nobody wants to admit — talent alone doesn’t get you there. But grit, persistence, and refusing to quit when you’re overlooked? That’s the truth behind every success story in this business.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What pain do you resist facing directly?
The pain I resist most is the fear that no matter what I achieve, it’ll never feel like enough. That there’s always another mountain, another milestone, and I’ll spend my life climbing without ever feeling like I’ve arrived. On the outside, people see the projects, the credits, the highlights — but they don’t see the quiet voice in my head that asks, “Yeah, but is it enough?”

It’s exhausting, because the industry feeds that cycle. You book one role and before the cameras even stop rolling, you’re already thinking about the next one. You don’t get time to breathe, to feel proud, to actually sit in the moment. And deep down, I think I’m scared that if I stop chasing, I’ll have to sit with the question of whether I’m actually fulfilled — or just addicted to the chase.

That’s the pain I resist. Not failure, not rejection — I’ve lived with plenty of both. What scares me more is the possibility that success won’t silence the noise either.

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