We were lucky to catch up with Grace Newton recently and have shared our conversation below.

Grace, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I feel like my move to Los Angeles last year was a big risk! I actually attended a small liberal arts college in the midwest called Millikin University where I graduated in 2022 with my BFA in musical theatre. I knew I wanted to act, the question was more ‘in what capacity’ and where. I’m from San Diego originally and love California, so when I was deciding where I wanted to go after I finally finished my degree, I took a little time back home to work and think about where would be the best fit. It was during that time that I started booking some work up here and I absolutely loved the atmosphere and opportunities that were starting to open up for me. It became a really easy choice to get out to LA as soon as I could. Since then I’ve been really fortunate to work on some great projects, from commercial work to feature films. I’ve loved it ever since and haven’t looked back!

Grace, 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?

I definitely started as a high school theatre kid– absolutely anything that you could audition for I attempted to participate in! It was a hugely individual, exploratory process of reading and watching and absorbing as much content as I could. In the mean time, I did some commercial and modeling work in San Diego and here in LA. I ended up majoring in musical theatre, so that passion just got stronger. I really focused on the Stanislavski method during college, and definitely lean on that technique all the time now that I’m working professionally. I was fortunate to get in contact with a casting director out in New York shortly after my graduation who really introduced me to the professional world of film and tv. I continued doing those auditions as well as jobs in Los Angeles, and I haven’t stopped! I worked on an independent feature film earlier this year called The Black Mass which was such an incredible experience– its amazing to get to work alongside other creative folk who are ready to dive deep into a project. With the strike currently happening, I’m really looking forward to supporting and participating in more indie film! I love telling a story, no matter how large or small, and I’m always trying to look at a script or sides with an equally technical and creative eye.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

The best thing people can do right now to support artists is to support the WGA and SAG in striking! It’s incredibly important that everyone who is a part of this creative process is being paid and treated equitably. We ALL need to be supporting these unions– major networks are unfairly treating every person that’s a part of this chain, including those of us not yet in a union– and it’s imperative that we not give in and offer our valuable work to companies who do not see or respect that value. What we do cannot be replaced or replicated, and it is worthy of a livable and fair wage. A thriving creative eco system requires solidarity during this time especially.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding part is definitely the community. I’ve made such incredible friends and met so many wonderful people who are excited to be here and to be creating anything they can get their hands on. It feels like if I’m not currently trying to put some creative endeavor together, there’s at least two other people I know who are writing, directing or filming a project, and their passion for what they do only makes me feel more driven to pursue my own. It’s such an amazing feeling to watch your mix of friends from all over the place find their successes, to cheer them on as they go after their aspirations, and to know that those same people are rooting for you on your journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: gracenewtonactor.com
• Instagram: grace__newton

Image Credits
Seth Garden