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

Hi Inessa, thanks for joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I think happiness is a moving target.
I used to think it was important to pursue my dreams or I’d live with regret. But the truth is…I just have different regrets! Sometimes I wonder about my family and the loves I left behind to chase my dreams. But if I could do it all again, I would do the same thing. Because you only know what you know when you know it, you know? :) Therefore happiness isn’t in what you did or didn’t do, it’s about making the most of this moment, whatever it is. I once heard depression is focus on the past and anxiety is focus on the future and I feel that. Happiness must be in the present.

Inessa, 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’m an actor/writer/comedian! I didn’t really know you could study comedy so I went to theater school on a whim! Someone told me about the Second City and how they had a Conservatory and I decided to try for that. I loved sketch comedy growing up; SNL, Kids in the Hall, In Living Color, so I didn’t know you could study just that. My theatre school had one improv class so I learned about it there. Then I just did the indie/alternative scene for years. That was a way to discover my point of view and what I thought was funny. Also, I didn’t have any expectations back then about what it could lead to so it was just purely for fun. I think everyone needs to give themselves time to fail. Through the community of comedians I’ve always been a part of, I met sooo many people who helped me down the road years later. One of the things I’m most proud of is the series The Amazing Gayl Pile about a home shopping channel and I get to play a deranged host. There was so much improv and it was such a joy to create. It was very indie but then developed a Cult Following. Big, insane characters is my favorite!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The lesson I had to unlearn was that there is one definition of success. That your life should look like someone else’s. That compare and despair thing is so true. If you choose an unconventional path, then you shouldn’t judge yourself by conventional standards. I think because I moved from Toronto to LA, I had to start over in a sense but not really because I had experience under my belt. But still…everything takes time. So, I had to get comfortable with the fact that any idea of had about how success would “happen” was based on other fictionalized accounts of how success “happens”. lol. No one is coming up to you handing you a business card and offering to make you a star lol. And if they do…give them my number. Just kidding, RUN!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I love connecting with the audience. I love interpreting life. Making people feel less alone. Art makes you understand life in a new way. We are all trying to figure it out together. Some people see actors as narcissists who need all this love from the audience, and that’s often true, lol, but I truly see it as an act of service. Comedy especially. I shame myself so you don’t have to!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://inessacomedy.com
• Instagram: @inessacomedy
• Youtube: @inessacomedy
• Other: tiktok: @inessacomedy

Image Credits

@shawheenkeyani for everything but the sequin skirt