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

Alright, Sophia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I’ve ever worked on… It’s impossible to name just one. So many have shaped me into the artist I am today, and for that, I’m endlessly grateful.
First, Queering—the web series that took me to my first major film festival, SXSW. That experience gave me my first real sense of belonging in this industry. No matter how far I’ve drifted from it at times, it always brings me back. That show wasn’t just a project; it was deeply personal. And every single person involved in its creation remains among the best I’ve ever worked with.
Then there’s The I.V. League, my fiancée’s hit web series. I say “hit” because she’s now developing it with a top-tier production company, gearing up to pitch it to networks next month (though that might be a bit hush-hush). Being part of her journey has been an honor. She’s one of the most talented writers I know—impressive, considering this wasn’t even her field a few years ago. I’m beyond proud of her.
And lastly, my collaborations with my dearest and best friend, Haulston Mann—The Cottage (short film) and The Effect (by Lucy Prebble). Professionally, we push each other’s buttons like no one else, yet artistically, we have an effortless flow. He has challenged me in ways that have made me a better artist, and I know, without a doubt, he’s the Tina Fey to my Amy Poehler. We’re coming up in this industry together, and I’m so grateful that his old crush on me turned into a lifelong friendship. He’s one of the hardest-working actors I know, and I don’t say that lightly—he’s making it happen.
These projects have shaped me, but more than that, the people behind them have set me on the trajectory I’m on today. No matter how long it’s taken to get here, I’m grateful for every step.

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’ve wanted to be an actor since I was four years old. ER was my favorite TV show (hello, ‘90s parenting), and I told my mom I wanted to be a doctor. She was thrilled. Little did she know, I meant on TV.
By the time I was nine, driving down “Broadway” at night in my hometown of Saratoga Springs, I turned to her and said, “I’m going to be an actor.” I’ve never looked back.
I was a shy kid—deeply uncertain of who I was—but I often escaped into my own mind, creating stories that would later shape me as an actor. I lost myself completely in my imagination. I didn’t realize until college how much of a skill that actually was. One professor (who I didn’t particularly like) once told me I needed to “work on my imagination.” What he really meant—and what I later understood—was that I needed to be vulnerable in front of others. I had a vivid imagination, but it meant nothing if I wasn’t willing to show it.
For a long time, vulnerability terrified me. Now, it’s one of my defining traits as an actor. I’m deeply vulnerable, willing to jump—no matter how scared I am. That’s what school taught me. How to jump.
I currently work as an Operations Manager for an acting business coach, Jodie Bentley. Her focus? Teaching actors how to sell themselves—branding, the business side of the industry. It’s something we don’t learn in school, yet it’s vital to making or breaking a career.
A recent project I did with my best friend, Haulston, was The Effect by Lucy Prebble at Shaker Bridge Theatre. Five weeks of constant creative flow—learning each other’s strengths and weaknesses in ways we never expected. And in those five weeks, I finally understood my brand.
It’s funny—my brand is the complete opposite of who I am in my daily life. I’ve always shied away from it. But the truth is, I play characters with a deep need for control. Characters who are nerdy, know-it-alls, terrified of being wrong, desperate to maintain composure. I play characters who stutter, panic, and are awkward—all things I never saw in myself. I used to think acting was about showing who I am, but that’s not what acting is at all. I know who I am in my daily life—but that’s rarely who I get cast as.
For a long time, I feared being judged for pretending to be something I’m not. Ironic, right? But I’ve finally come to terms with my brand, and since then, I’ve been consistently booking work. It’s exhilarating, and I encourage all actors to figure out their own brand. Just don’t mistake brand for type.
On another note—I’m a firm believer in “try everything once.” My dad instilled that in me from a young age. He was talking about food at the time, but the philosophy stuck. I want to experience everything. That’s why I call myself a dabbler. If something intrigues me, I’ll try it—just to see.
So when teachers say, “If you can be anything other than an actor, do that,” I immediately stop listening. I get it—this industry is hard. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t explore other interests. I’m a mushroom connoisseur, for instance! And I’ve even started merging that passion with acting. Stay tuned for that…
My point? Don’t be afraid to try other things. Take a break. Study what you love. Acting will always be there. It is for me. And after dabbling in so many things, I’m ready for it.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Theatre school.
A brilliant writer friend of mine—whose novels have been adapted into well-received films—once told me, “I went to school and then had to unlearn everything I was taught.” He said that to me not long after I graduated, and it resonated deeply.
There were so many things about drama school that didn’t sit right with me—things that felt restrictive, unnatural. It took me years to realize I didn’t have to hold onto the parts that didn’t serve me. I could take what worked and leave the rest behind.
I always say the most valuable thing drama school taught me was who I am as a person. It pulled me out of my shell, and I’ll always be grateful for that. But the environment? Clicky as hell. The teachers had strong opinions—which, of course, they did. They were there to teach a specific approach, and god forbid you stray from it.
Even now, the fact that we had grades in drama school still makes my skin crawl. It’s like award shows—how do you compare one actor to another? No two actors will ever play the same role the same way.
My school was Meisner-based. And while there are beautiful lessons in Meisner’s approach—both for acting and for life—it’s not the only way. None of the methods are. Every actor has their own process, their own way of tapping into their best work.
So don’t be fooled by the marketing. Get to know yourself. Then get to know your craft. Because at the end of the day—it’s yours.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

My dear friend, Josh Waitzkin, was my foundation in my 20s. He shaped my understanding of life in ways I can’t fully express. He wrote The Art of Learning—and Josh, if you’re reading this… sorry, brother, but I have to admit I never fully read it. I didn’t need to. I had you, and for that, I’m forever indebted.
Josh taught me presence in chaos. How to own myself. How to be selfish without seeing it as a negative. He taught me to embrace discomfort—real discomfort, both emotional and physical. How to push myself beyond what I thought possible. He was the parenting voice I actually listened to. His philosophies are brilliant, but fair warning—you’ve gotta be game for them.
Another resource I swear by: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. My all-time favorite book. I love anything that calls you out on your bullshit—because let’s be real, we all have our bullshit, and we need to be called out on it.
As Lucy Prebble says in The Effect, “Just because you know your own bias doesn’t mean you can affect that bias. It’s one of life’s greatest tragedies.” Self-awareness is just the first step. The real question is: What are you going to do about it?
That’s why I love The War of Art. At the end of the day, it’s always up to you.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiagrasso/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SophiaGGrasso/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophia-grasso-4159058b/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sophiagrasso8673
• Other: imdb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8539931/

Image Credits

Johnny Simmons, Haulston Mann, Brianna Cala, Shaker Bridge Theatre, Leticia de Bortoli