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

Clara, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I wondered if pursuing an artistic career was the correct choice for a very long time. Although it was safe, would it be the right decision? I wasn’t encouraged to pursue artistic interests in the educational system I was raised in. “Artistic hobbies are perfectly acceptable, but turning them into a career will only bring you disgrace,” they said.
Even though the renowned Sorbonne University in Paris accepted me for a program in History, I felt that my true place was at the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles, where I had been accepted a few months earlier.
I would frequently think about what my life could have been in Paris if I had pursued this History degree. My love of the camera would have likely led me to produce and present historical shows for television or other media.
The beautiful and magical part is that movies unite all of my passions. I have hundreds of film ideas that revolve around my love of History and I’m confident they’ll appeal to the largest audience.
In spite of all the hardships I have had to endure, I consider being an artist to be one of my greatest blessings. One’s passions shouldn’t be sacrificed for another. Finding satisfaction and balance in one’s profession is what matters most. An idea is worth living if it remains in your thoughts.
Being an artist is one of my greatest blessings. Although, amazingly, I moved across the globe at the age of 18 to follow my dream, nothing can prepare you for living a double life in which one is constantly on hold, never knowing where “home” is, unable to be present for loved ones during major events. These elements may all be frightening and lead us to believe that it would be wiser not to pursue a career as an artist; nevertheless, I prefer to remind myself that I follow my passions and that at least if tomorrow everything is over, I’ll leave without any regrets.

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 Clara Bach and I was born in a small town in western France. Because my parents were passionate movie fans, I grew up loving movies from all over the world. My ambition to be a part of the film industry developed rather early. I had to grow up fast when I first had to deal with the adult world and all its problems, creating many differences with other people my age. I was able to fully surrender myself to other worlds that were far happier than the one I lived in by acting as an escape. I applied to the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles and was accepted when I was eighteen years old, where I pursued a BFA in acting for film.
Being French in the United States, understanding many languages, and studying the diverse cinema cultures of my European neighbors was not only beneficial but also highly inspiring. It made me stand out as well.
After receiving my diploma from the New York Film Academy, I went on to actively work in various independent films and tell new stories. I also directed my short film, “Limérence,” (available on my website) which was directed by Mohammed Alshehhi, with whom I share the poster with Brayden Barfield.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Reading biographies and/or historical testimonials is one of the things that truly helps me connect with my characters. As an actor, nothing is more valuable than being able to draw lessons from the experiences of individuals. Everyone – does not matter when they were born – has lived a wide range of situations in their life. As for me, I make an effort to comprehend the reasoning behind this person’s decision, its causes, and its outcomes. Books are pure treasures full of details. Reading one is almost like experiencing life through their eyes. Of course, I could name hundreds of books that I believe to be outstanding but here are two that have helped me understand ‘Acting’, the hard work that actors put in, and the emotional and psychological effects that a character may have on us.
First, Matthew McConaughey’s “Greenlights,” in which he addresses his aspirations, challenges, and strategy for accepting his destiny in spite of failures in both his personal and professional lives. Somewhat, a lot that has been said in “Greenlights”, became advice that I try to follow.
Then, Faustine Saint-Geniès’ biography “Romy Schneider: Les actrices se brisent si facilement” (Romy Schneider: Actresses break so easily) which most affected me. One of my greatest heroes is actress Romy Schneider, born Rosemarie Albach-Retty, a German-French’s actress, who has influenced me since I was a little girl. Her ecstatic admiration from the public, her ups and downs, and her personal struggle to remain faultless as an actor are all revealed to us. “Without Roles, I Can’t Live.” is an iconic statement in which I recognize myself. My urge to be someone else for a bit, my ability to remain grounded and modest, and perceiving life from a different perspective are all made possible by the roles I became. It’s my belief that acting is one of the most amazing and interesting careers there is, and I would hardly struggle to love another job as much as this one.

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

Yes of course! I need to have goals to move forward, it is a source of motivation. Some of these objectives are to be achieved in the current year, and concerns me professionalizing in the movie industry, others are far more distant dreams, but I work on them day by day to make those project, hopefully, happen. All are challenges but they are worth the risk!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.clarabach.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarabach_/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clara-bach-306b5b276/
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14150334/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk

Image Credits
@mattleemorgan @suryatookthese @nuha.imagery @bymaryhalebian