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

Grace, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

I always considered myself to be an academic. I was a smart kid, and most of my ambitions had to do with going to a good college, getting good grades, and getting a good job. When I discovered my passion for acting later in high school, after I had solidified my plans of one day being a doctor, I pushed it back, assigned it the title of “hobby”. When I finally went to college, I allowed that hobby to be a minor in my degree. I focused on public health but allowed myself the fun of taking acting classes, even being in a few productions. My opportunities to perform pushed my desire to be an actor and I decided that after undergrad, I would move to LA and try my hand at being an actor. That was until the insecurities and doubts led to my applying for grad school, to pursue a masters of public health. I was so fortunate to get into the MPH program in environmental health sciences at UCLA, and because it was still going to be in Los Angeles, I started the program in 2021. I figured that since I was in the city, I could do those two things at once. I was wrong. My degree was difficult, and I couldn’t commit to both things fully at once. I acted in some shorts here and there for two years while I studied, but was unfulfilled. My plan turned into getting ready to hit the ground running when I graduated, to go straight into giving my acting career my everything. I graduated this summer. During the WGA strike, and then a couple weeks later, the SAG strike. So here I am again, not feeling fulfilled and feeling like I am half-assing my true calling as an actor. I wish I had started earlier, established myself earlier, instead of forcing myself to pursue academics to the degree I did. That’s not to say I am an not grateful for my opportunities and proud of my accomplishments. I just desire a very different path than the one I took.

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?

I started acting when I was 14, after I tried and failed to try out for my new high schools field hockey team. I wasn’t super athletic anyways, but I thought it would be a great way to make friends. Anyway, my mom basically told me I had to do some sort of after school activity, and had heard that the drama company wasp putting on pride and prejudice as the fall play. For context, that is my mom and I’s favorite movie to watch together. So I went for it, auditioned, got the part of Mrs. Gardener (the elderly aunt) and fell in love with acting and everyone that I got to act with. I met some of the most amazing people in theatre, and had some of the most fun being apart of the drama company throughout high school. Film and TV became a dream for me. I see myself on screen, I see myself in the fantasy and wonderful and tragic worlds. I am still trying to break into the industry out here, and its a really difficult time, but I am someone who will never give up, who will continue pushing and working until I achieve my dreams. And I will. I am optimistic because I have to be in this industry, or else I would break.

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

I have always been a pretty pragmatic person, one that likes plans and lists and directions. Unfortunately, there is no guidebook to being an actor. So much of it relies on instinct, chance, and taking risks. I have had to forget my typical approach to life and career, the one I used while pursuing academics. I have to be okay with the unknown, with failure, with trying and trying again and never giving up. I also had to embrace a certain sense of adaptability thats needed in this field.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Creativity is so hard to define and differs for each and every artist. There are varied types of success and milestones in one’s career can range in size. I think the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is selfish in a way (not that there is anything wrong with being just a little selfish). For me, it is seeing others react to my work. When someone is moved by a performance of mine, is left speechless, unsure of how to describe their feelings, that makes my heart swell. Being an actor means being utterly vulnerable in the effort to make others feel not so alone, not so confined in the regular world.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: gracieengels