We were lucky to catch up with Cara Fay recently and have shared our conversation below.

Cara, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. – Wayne Gretzky” – Michael Scott

Silly yet poignant, this famous quote from The Office sums it up perfectly; the bumbling Dunder Mifflin Regional Manager had a point. Life requires risk. It requires effort. It requires a willingness to fail… for all of these qualities are implicit to life itself.

I’ve never been afraid to be embarrassed in the arts. Perhaps it’s the open-hearted, inclusive culture, or the mutual vulnerability often found in these spaces. To act, one must be very comfortable with risk and the potential of failure. Because to try, and fail, and try again is to be human. It is how we grow. How else, if not by making mistakes? A child must attempt to force a square peg into a round hole in order to discover why that won’t work. We guess and check. We learn and grow. And as such, as artists exploring what it means to be human, it is vital for us to stay vulnerable and open. We try and try again. We wear our hearts on our  sleeves, to learn what makes us say “ouch”. What makes us cry. What makes us laugh.

So too then are vulnerability, chance of failure, and therein, risk, inherent to the business of acting, just as they are inherent to the craft. Emotion is so often integrated into our art that it flows through the very lifeblood of our industry. We care deeply, which makes us vulnerable. It is a risk to love, because to love means the possibility of loss.

I love acting, and I always have. I love my career, the projects I’ve worked on, and the people I’ve collaborated with. So, I have to accept the risk. There are no guarantees in this industry, or in this life, or in this world. The whims of fate are oftentimes beyond our control. But no matter what, we have to try. We must love without fear of loss. We must put effort into our growth and toward our goals. It is always a risk to pursue one’s passion or purpose, but it is an even bigger risk to turn our backs on love. So, I risk it all. It’s worth it.

Cara, 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 discovered acting at the age of four, when my very supportive parents encouraged me to participate in my first musical. I fell head over heels and started acting nonstop in as much theatre as I could get my hands on. I became infatuated with the entire experience, from the deep connections I formed, to the empathy I developed from living so many different lifetimes, to the platform it provided me to inspire others, encouraging them to think and feel and explore their own humanity. This fire I have in me has only gotten stronger with time.

After years of youth theatre, community theatre, and drama club, I was blessed with the opportunity to attend the NYSSSA School of Theatre, continuing my studies and furthering my enthusiasm for the craft. I also learned a great deal working as a Washer Wench at the Sterling Renaissance Festival, training intensively for a month before performing in-character improv for 12-hour days. At the same time, I was minoring in Theatre at SUNY Binghamton, with a major in Politics, Philsophy, Law (PPL), but I was forced to drop the minor after moving abroad to finish my education at UCL. Yet, there was a method to my madness; I garnered my first professional representation while living in London, and at long last I began to pursue a career in film, television, and commercial work.

After two incredible years soaking up all the UK and Europe had to offer, I made the leap to Los Angeles, the city of dreams. There, I came to be represented across the board by the amazing Brogan Agency, whose team has only gotten stronger the longer we’ve collaborated, and whose team I am proud and honored to remain a part of. I am extremely grateful for any fellow collaborator who puts in the work, as I do, and who can furthermore treat others with empathy and respect. (Because unfortunately, for every passionate artist in the industry, it seems there are just as many corporate jerks just trying to find the bottom line.)

We artists must stay strong, and stay true to our values and our goals. As the industry changes, I am proud to continue developing my skills as a filmmaker, exploring new areas of interest in my work, such as directing, production design, and costume design. I am grateful to work with talent in many different cities, on many different levels. I am passionate and determined to continue to grow, no matter what the business side of things ends up looking like over the next few years. It must be clear to any outsider that a true artist is in it for sake of the art, not the riches, fame, or glory. We will always survive and thrive, doing what we love, fueled by the fire inside. When there’s a will, there’s a way, and I will always know the way, simply by following my heart.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I’ve always had two main goals when it comes to my acting work. Number one has simply been to do what I love for a living. This goal stems, I believe, from a common millennial dilemma; that is, we were sold the idea that we could do anything in life. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” we were asked. “A ballerina,” “An astronaut,” “The President!” we responded. “An actress,” I said. “It will be hard,” they said. “I can handle it,” I said.

And perhaps, for some of us, we can. The jobs we commonly referred to are, in actuality, extremely rare, requiring vast amounts of effort and sacrifice to achieve. I still believe it is important to dream big, a mentality which inspires the lucky few to strive to achieve the greatest accomplishments they can. I believe I am one of these lucky few, driven by my passion to work extra hard, and sacrifice more, to achieve my goal.

Goal two, of course, is to have a platform to affect people’s hearts and minds. In modern America, there has been a recent uptick in shameless hate, animosity, and segregation. Have we forgotten all the lessons we learned in our youth? Have we forgotten The Golden Rule: to treat others as you would like to be treated?

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

The Covid pandemic turned my snow-globe of a world upside-down and shook it. Yet, I was incredibly fortunate and grateful to find shelter from the storm, and to enjoy the pretty ways the glitter sparkled and settled around me. Indeed, I found many silver linings.

In more practical terms, I had to pivot my entire lifestyle when that disaster struck. At the time, I was over-paying for rent in Los Angeles, sharing a crowded apartment with four near-strangers. But in March of 2020, we thought the world was ending. Entire cities shut down and holed up. Hollywood went on pause. My survival jobs were snuffed out. And all I could think of was one person: my 95-year-old grandfather, whose stubbornness and lack of access to information could have very easily led to his imminent death. So, I packed up my car, brought my cat, and drove swiftly back across the country from the West Coast to the East. I hunkered down with Grandpa through the worst of the pandemic, sanitizing groceries, cooking, reading, and bonding. Turns out, he was the best friend I could have asked for. Smart, funny, empathetic, and capable, my grandfather provided me with the support and companionship I had been missing for years living on my own, and I did the same for him. We were extremely grateful for the opportunity to spend that much quality time together, and as the world opened up again, we went out together to restaurants, museums, gardens, bars, and more! He was always the life of the party, and we made a dynamic duo. He taught me a great deal, and I often discover his best qualities in myself. I will forever appreciate the opportunity I was given to connect with him as an adult, as well as the love and support he provided me on my life’s journey.

Ironically, I also discovered a great deal of acting opportunities during this time. I was shocked to see so much growth in my industry happening right in my own backyard of Western NY. Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Ithaca… let alone Albany, Pittsburgh, and of course, the Big Apple itself: suddenly all of these cities were providing opportunities right on my doorstep. Suddenly, I was able to have my cake and eat it too; while maintaining my Los Angeles representation and continuing to audition for bigger jobs out west, I was simultaneously able to develop new relationships and collaborations on smaller projects out east.

This chapter laid the groundwork for my success during the 2023 strikes as well. Being a SAG-Eligible actor, I have been able to work consistently on non-union, independent projects while Hollywood undergoes some major changes. As such, I feel I have absolutely pivoted in the right direction. By becoming a bi-coastal performer, I have doubled or even tripled my access to opportunities. I have inherited a family home which now houses my beloved studio space, and I get to enjoy the splendor of the seasons (autumn in New York State is a treasure to behold), as well as the sunshine and good vibes of the Golden Coast! Life is truly full of surprises, but the best we can do is make the most of the opportunities we are given, and to always look for the silver linings. Through it all, I am grateful that my silver linings shine bright!

Contact Info:

• Website: CaraFayActress.com
• Instagram: @CaraFayActress
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaraFayActress/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-fay-224aa3132
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCThq5lCBM8Y27EXASyYY5PQ

Image Credits
Headshots by J. Demetrie Photography