We recently connected with Isabella Björkman and have shared our conversation below.

Isabella, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Acting has been in the back of my mind since I was a kid. I have always been fascinated with how movies and TV shows are made and I remember I could sit and watch behind the scene footage for hours. I used to pretend the bathroom mirror was a camera and give monologues. So my passion for acting has always been there.

However, taking the leap and pursuing it was harder for me. Coming from Sweden gave me the mindset that I had to have a steady job and education. So I studied and worked in a lot of different fields back in Sweden yet never really felt satisfied and that’s when I decided to give acting a chance and follow my passion.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

For us international actors, The American market can be quite hard to get into without an agent or representation and it can feel overwhelming to know where to start. I think something very clear to me was that I needed to start my journey by learning as much as I possibly could. Not only about acting but about the business and mindset of the entertainment industry. So I applied for an acting certificate at UCLA Extension and I have been there for almost a year now. I also attend an acting studio once a week where I specifically study the Meisner technique.

School and classes have been a wonderful way for me to grow as an actor, but what has given me the most insight has been studying what everyone around me does. Actors as well as the entire production and crew. I have grown the most from being on set and it is inspiring to watch how other actors work and prepare for a scene.

For me, having the mindset of always learning also defines me a lot as an actor. I never go to a set without learning every last detail about the script and my character. I take preparation for a movie or scene very seriously and I love deep diving into a script and having this sort of “treasure hunt” looking at where I can make my character come to life. Lastly, I think a lot of what defines my acting comes from my eyes. I have had a lot of directors telling me that I act with my eyes. You can see my true intentions no matter what, so I usually let myself live in the moment rather than act out of a moment and take it from there.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Well, the biggest resource that I didn’t take advantage of as much in the beginning, are other creatives. Acting is a very competitive industry and it’s easy to get lost in comparing yourself to others and constantly competing. But I think so many amazing things come when you start seeing each other as resources to learn, grow and create. Most of the projects I have been on recently have been with some fantastic cinematographers, writers and actors, who just want to create and make new films. I think daring to reach out to people about collaborating on projects is very easy because, in the end, we all want to grow and get inspiration.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I get this question a lot, especially from family and friends. I have a lot of goals, such as directors I want to work with and characters or franchises I want to be in. I think a lot of creatives can resonate with this mindset that no matter my goal, I just never feel satisfied. I am constantly asking myself “What now?” even just after completing a big goal that I have had. I would call this both a blessing and a curse because it always keeps me hungry for new challenges, but I never really slow down to think about my achievements.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: isabellabjorkmans
• Tiktok: 99percentbella
• Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Ethan Swope David Ardrill Lovisa Björkman