We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alita LaShae. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alita below.

Alita , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I actually didn’t know I wanted to pursue acting when I first moved to LA. I actually came her to pursue writing. I wanted to be a screenwriter (I still do, and am?) but when I got here, I found myself being asked to do modeling jobs for friends, and occasionally being in a video someone was filming. After a string of those things happening, I decided to look into getting in an acting class, because I wanted to take it seriously. I’m glad I did, because it helped open many doors for me both in acting and in my personal life.

Even though I didn’t come to LA with the goal of pursuing acting, I found out later that when I was much younger, I wanted to be an actor, but I guess I didn’t move forward with it because it was scary at first. The idea of being in front of a bunch of people, and on top of that, being vulnerable and expressing myself and my emotions. That terrified me, but I still loved movies and loved TV, and so I turned to writing. I found a way to be part of the dream, seemingly without facing the “scary” part. It all came full circle though because here I am now.

Sorry, I know that’s not a “story,” but if I’m honest, there’s no one specific moment. There were multiple moments over many years.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I got into my business a little haphazardly, but once I committed to the path, I ran, not walked, down it at full speed. I still am.

Like I said, I jumped into an acting class when I decided that I wanted to do this, and I’ve been in one ever since. I’m in two, actually, as well as a writing class. I get to do what I love every week. I get to challenge myself, grow, stretch and change.

I hate to say that I don’t know what I provide for “clients,” because every job is vastly different than the last. All I know for certain is that I am who I am, and I will never be anything less than that. If someone puts their faith in me, I don’t take it lightly. I show up for others the way I show up for myself.

I want people to know, that I love what I do, and I’m good at it, but I will never stop learning. I will always work towards bettering myself both personally and professionally.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Ooh, yes! To be as straightforward as possible: I want to not only work with specific actors, ones I grew up watching and admiring, but I want to write for specific actors. I feel that’s something I was told I shouldn’t do, but I’ve realized that it’s not only challenging, it’s so much fun. To me, it puts together all of the things I’m constantly striving for; acting, writing and creativity. Maybe they’ll get made, maybe they won’t, but maybe they will. I won’t convince myself it can’t be done. Where’s the fun in that?

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I don’t have a specific story, but I think I have some bits that highlight it best; I moved to LA in 2014, and I only knew two people. One was a cousin, and the other was a friend of a friend. I ended up moving into that friend’s apartment and sleeping on his couch. I then ended up couch surfing for about a year and a half, maybe two? After that, and a few other living situation mishaps, I moved into my own apartment, but it was a 1-bedroom, that I shared with someone else. All the while, I’m still actively pursuing my career and goals. I didn’t have a car for the first year, so I walked a lot. I had a lot of background work and overnight shoots that were in Santa Monica, while I lived primarily in Hollywood and East LA (no car, on the bus from Santa Monica at 3 or 4am was a wild experience.)

This is just the tip of the iceberg of my resilience throughout. Nothing was going to stop me, but man, did a lot of stuff try.

Contact Info:

• Website: alitalashae.com
• Instagram: @AlitaLaShae

Image Credits
Cameron Rice Josh Fingerhut Jess Perez