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

Hi Allesondra, thanks for joining us today. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?

As an actor, we often are told that we are a specific “type”. And for a long time, trying to figure that is difficult because there have been times where my casting “type” was not at all who I was inside. Especially as a young person who is still figuring yourself out, it’s almost impossible to really understand this.

When I was in my teens and early 20’s, I was often called in for the “party girl”, “hot girl”, or “mean girl” type; and it even went so far as to put me in the “narcissist” category at times.
I found myself trying really hard to take on the qualities that these characters required, like “manipulative”, “self serving”, “judgemental” & “un empathetic”.. Not in my every day life, but on the day of the audition.

While I am an actor who can play these things, it always felt a little unnatural because I did not enjoy feeling the emotions often attached to them and it made me incredibly insecure to feel like people might be seeing me that way in real life.

There may be some coaches or actors who say ‘ You’re playing a part, it doesn’t mean anything’ and they might be right for some. For instance, an actor who plays a serial killer isn’t actually a bad person in real life, they are just a really good actor playing a part…

But what I came to learn over time is that in order to be the best actor I can be, I needed to really dig deep into my authenticity.. I need to find myself within the character first; discovering the universal thread between me and the person I will play.
Once I really leaned into that, I was able to really find who I am in the industry.

The beauty of being a creative is that you do have your own voice. And you have a say in the roles you want to take the ones you don’t.
It took really knowing myself to finally realize that the industry does not have to define me, I get to define myself.

Allesondra, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an actress, acting coach, producer, director, & script supervisor. A true multi-hyphenate living in Los Angeles.

I started acting when I was only 2 years old and worked professionally for a few years as a toddler. Then, I had a fairly normal upbringing, but was always involved in acting in school and outside programs.
I went on to pursue formal training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts- NY and from there, immediately began working professionally and pursuing my acting career.

Now, after working professionally for 10 years, I have booked a variety or roles in film, television, commercials, theatre, voiceover, etc and started my own coaching program for actors called: Authentic You.

I am really proud to be an acting coach along with my own creative pursuits. And I am also proud to have had some really great experiences on set behind the camera as well, learning from some amazingly creative people. (I’m not a name dropper, but feel free to check me out on IMDb)

My biggest passion at the moment is helping actors to find their voice and build a successful acting career; and I love that I get to share my own professional experiences with my clients in real time. If I’m not on set, I’m coaching, and I feel incredibly lucky that I get to do both.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

This is a great question!

While I am very lucky to have a very supportive family and friend unit, not everyone has people who really understand – and my family doesn’t even fully understand.

What I think all non creatives should know about their creative friends and family is that every opportunity, every audition, every time little thing that we do is a win; and the journey to success is not linear. Booking a role in a tv show or movie does not guarantee anything afterwards. The majority of professional actors, who actually make a living acting, never become “famous”. Fame is not the marker of success.

If you meet someone who is a creative, try assuming that they are super successful rather than assuming they are not. Say something like “Wow, that’s awesome! It must be really cool to do what you do”. It opens the door for them to share as much or as little as they can/want. And doesn’t have the air of “oh, so you’re a starving artist… that’s cool i guess”

And please stop offering advice on how to get on a tv show or in a movie.. Unless you have the hook up, it just sounds a little like you think we aren’t trying or like you think we don’t know what we are doing.

At the end of the day, support and non judgement please!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Oooh, a lesson I had to unlearn.

I think is more of a habit I had to unlearn…

People Pleasing.

I think all of us have to do this. Learn how to stop trying to say or be what you think the other person wants and learn how to say what you really think and feel.
But this can be hard. Because you also have to have respect and empathy for how the other person might receive you.

When I started having auditions and meetings with bigger and bigger agents, directors, etc I started to realize that my desire for them to like me was getting int he way of making a real connection and doing my job. I had to start practicing showing up with confidence.

I’m not sure how I can even explain how I did this. but it took time and I think you’ll soon realize that once you start being yourself, bigger and better things will come your way.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.authenticyoula.com
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