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

Amanda Kathryn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

As far as work goes, I am happiest when I am on set. Acting is my passion, and the biggest dream I have had since I can remember. I have had so many “regular” jobs and out of those, I have enjoyed being a teacher the most. I love my students so much and it has been so rewarding seeing them learn and grow! But deep down, the work that fuels my soul the most is acting and bringing different characters to life. I don’t feel like anything is “missing” for me when I’m on set. If I were never to have put myself out there and perused my dreams as a creative, I would have always felt the desire and that pull deep down. It would have always been “what if…”

Amanda Kathryn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Amanda Kathryn Liguori, and I am from a small town in Vermont. Like many other actors, I have had this dream in my heart since I was a little girl. From playing make believe with my siblings, to getting a big role in my 6th grade school play, acting has always been a huge source of happiness for me. Growing up in a small town, I always felt that my dream was out of reach. I pushed it down, but it never went away. It reached a point where I couldn’t ignore it any longer and with absolutely nothing to lose, I moved myself across the country for a fresh start. It took a little while, but I eventually gained the courage and plunged head first into the industry through taking acting classes, working background on major sets, modeling, and auditioning like crazy. Since I started acting, I have landed some great roles and had incredible opportunities and I am only just getting started!
My dream is to act in shows and movies that really mean something to people. I want to bring these characters to life and tell these stories and truly make an impact through my craft. Storytelling through film has the power to reach so many people in the best of ways. I want to be a part of that.

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?

In my experience, I find that the thing my non-creative-careered friends struggle to understand the most is the schedule. Actors go from one project to the next. Sometimes with longer periods of time between being on set where the work being done behind the scenes like auditioning, updating headshots, attending classes/workshops/seminars/etc, costs us money rather than pays us. Many of us have other jobs and side hustles to help pay the bills. Especially when getting started and being newer to the industry. People have a hard time understanding the lack of consistency in the work schedule of an artist. We go from project to project almost always working with all new people every time. Most non-industry people are at the same job with the same people with consistent hours, steady paychecks, and predictability. There is safety in that type of career for sure, and those who choose those paths for themselves rely on that consistency and find comfort in it. It can be scary to even think of how creatives do it. Because our jobs and schedules will never be consistent and in the industry, nothing is predictable or guaranteed. But, speaking for myself, it’s not about a safe, reliable career. Acting is my dream, and I love it so much. The urge to create and to bring to life these stories means so much to me. If the day comes where I can make a living from my acting, that would be amazing, but I don’t do it for the money. I do it because it brings me so much joy and fulfillment. Maybe that’s what non-creatives have a hard time wrapping their heads around. If people haven’t experienced this dream, they may not understand that for those of us who do, not pursuing it would leave an emptiness no amount of money could fill.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Growing up, I struggled with making friends. I became the biggest people pleaser, thinking I needed to “earn” love or earn being liked. I thought that I had to “get people to like me” and that if they didn’t like me, then somehow I had failed and wasn’t good enough. It wasn’t until I was much older that I had to work towards unlearning all of that. I am still a work in progress, but I have come a long way, especially in understanding that not everyone is going to like me, and sometimes, that will have absolutely nothing to do with me. People are entitled to like or dislike whomever they choose and I respect that. I have learned to create distance and protect my energy. The people that genuinely like us, will like us on our worst days as well as our best ones.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @amanda723

Image Credits

Mo Roberts
Ashkan Kohani