Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Roslyn Cohn. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Roslyn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I was the first person who’d been in Scientology, left after 23 years and created a performance to expose what they do. That show was performed only 1 night and lives on Youtube as “diffiCult to leave” so I can help others escape and to warn potential new membership.

I also published a memoir last year, Who Saved Who, about the amazing shelter dogs who literally saved my life. It’s my hope it inspires people to adopt out of shelters.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My mom went into labor with me at The Curran Theatre in San Francisco while watching a touring production of The Sound of Music. I have always wanted to be a performer. First it was to be a Go-Go dancer and when I saw Barbra Streisand in the movie Funny Girl, that solidified my dream. I trained as a ballet dancer in my growing up years but have a rare skin disease which made dancing on pointe very difficult, plus I have very bad turnout. Then I switched to jazz dance and wanted to be the female Ben Vereen, a “triple threat” actor, singer, dancer extraordinaire.

I moved to NYC to attend The Neighborhood Playhouse right after I turned 20 and worked on stages the size of a postage stamp to Broadway. I moved to Los Angeles on July 4, 2001 so I could work in TV/Film and have more opportunity to see my family who lived in Marin County.

Because most theatre in Los Angeles, called 99 Seat or Intimate Theatre, occurs on weekends, I didn’t do but 1 play and a few showcases in the remaining years my parents were alive. I wanted to make up for so much lost time in seeing them when I was in NYC, so I would go up to Marin every 2 to 3 weeks to be with them. After they both passed away, I threw myself back into the vibrant theatre world of Los Angeles. I’ve been fortunate to win awards on some of those stages while also working in TV/Film/Commercials.

One of the most important works I’ve done is my Anti-Scientology Cabaret, diffiCult to leave, which I performed one night only and lives on youtube. When I performed it, no 23 year member/ex-Scientologist had ever done so. I lost the 2014 Los Angeles Broadway World Award for Best Female Cabaret Artist to Chita Rivera. I’ve been asked to perform it internationally as well as here in the States but the subject is too upsetting to go through again and again – I also don’t want to continue to be their targe. I hope it continues to expose Scientology and prevent new members from joining.

The 2nd most important work is my book, Who Saved Who, about the shelter dogs in my life who literally pulled me from deepest despair and ignited a passion to help get dogs out of shelters. All proceeds are going to the shelters in the book. It’s available only on Amazon.

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

I have a neurological condition, Essential Tremor or Benign Familial Tremor, that didn’t get diagnosed until I was 51. I knew something was “wrong” with me by the time I was in 2nd grade but didn’t tell my folks about my tremors in my hands. I used to cry myself to sleep from the age of 9 because I thought the tremors would destroy me as an actress. But I never let them stop me, as upsetting as they were. But those tremors are what drove me into Scientology, which never treated them because it’s not psychosomatic. It’s a neurological condition that is the “cousin” to Parkinsons but doesn’t get the funding needed because you can’t die from it. But I sure as hell am resilient to have continued to act even when I have tremors. They aren’t always there but I can’t hold a cup without both hands in life or when working. My right hand is most affected, sometimes my left and sometimes my head. It sucks but I won’t let it stop me as an artist. I feel it’s my duty to enlighten others about it and to take the judgment off of it. Some people shake for God’s sake, it’s not a crime!!! To help bring awareness, I have a narrative short, Essential Tremors, which has won numerous film festival awards for Best Short, Best Director and Best Actress..

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

When I was in Scientology, the internet didn’t exist and journalists were terrified to do a story on them as Scientology is not only litigious, they harass those who expose them. I wish I had known it was a Cult and would never treat my tremors. I wish I had gotten into yoga and worked with some kind of visualization technique/therapy to help with the trauma connected to my tremors. I could’ve used creative visualization for that and my acting career. I have a friend who was my voice teacher who turned me onto Buddhist chanting. I dig it. I do it 10 minutes a day and it grounds me. I don’t practice the religion because, frankly, after my ordeal in Scientology I am very leery of being in any kind of group religious experience. I’m Jewish and think it would be lovely to go to temple more but I simply do not like the group aspect.

Chanting the day of a performance is very helpful, as well as certain meditations I do. I was freaked out about having to sew onstage with my tremors in 1 role and had some hypnosis sessions which really helped me. I still have those recordings and use them if I’m worried about a performance. I wish I had discovered hypnosis when I graduated acting school. I also think tapping is hugely beneficial and I am working with a woman who does that and also reiki. All this kind of energy work is so therapeutic for a performer.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.RoslynCohn.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roslyncohn/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rozcohn
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roz-cohn-8417776/
• Twitter: @RoslynCohn
• Youtube: RoslynCohn