We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Arianna Wellmoney a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Arianna, thanks for joining us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

The first time I made money as an actor, I was 21 and was in my first Off Broadway show! It was so exciting, I was part of the Chorus of an adaptation of Sophocle’s Antigone and it was showcased at the Queens Theater. It was directed by Leonidas Loizides.

It felt rewarding to be paid for my work as an actor – it made me feel really respected and appreciated. The theater was immense, I got my own dressing room and even my parents were able to come and see me. It was a special day, I felt like a real professional actor.

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 am a theater, tv and film actress based in New York City. I trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where I graduated in 2016. Since then, I have been working non stop on different projects: plays, musicals, webseries, TV pilots, shorts and feature films.

I am really proud of the projects I have participated in over the years and I am so grateful for having had the chance to work on so many different roles. Directors and playwrights/screenwriters appreciate my authenticity and I am well respected by my peers for my good work ethic. I am passionate about telling stories and bringing characters to life.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

One of the most rewarding things of being an actor is when someone from the creative team, like a director or the playwright of the project I am working on, admires the way I bring their character to life. It is so important for me to be as accurate as possible to the vision of the creative team when it comes to portraying a character, while at the same time making my own choices.

I also appreciate when a friend in the audience or even a stranger, compliments me after a show I am performing in. Theater can be a good escape for an hour or two from the busy city life, and giving someone a moment of distraction to help them immerse in a different, fictional universe is so rewarding.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

A lot of non-creatives struggle to understand, in my opinion, about how complex the acting business really is. I think a lot of them assume that, in a moment when your career is stagnant for example, that you are being lazy by not auditioning.

The reality is, the life of a creative is like an iceberg – all you see is the tip of it, with the successes, the awards, the film festivals, the articles – but you do not see that underneath there is a lot of rejection, missed opportunities, frustration, bad auditions, etc.

I feel that a lot of non-creatives do not understand how difficult it is to have an entrepreneurial and aggressive attitude while being in touch with your emotions and not losing sight of your passion.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ariannawellmoney.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ariannawellmoney/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ariannawellmoneyactor
• Other: IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8333604/

Image Credits
Mark Wyville Photography Ben Kalish Keith DiRienzo Andrea Gavazzi