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

Iryna, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.

My parents taught me the most important things: to be brave, free, and know my worth. That doesn’t mean I’m never afraid. It means I move forward even when I am. I remember asking my dad when I was younger, “Do you think I can do it? Will I succeed?”
And he always answered, “If not you, then who?”

I think that deep sense of being unconditionally loved—even if they don’t understand, even if they disagree, even if they think you’re making a mistake—gives you the courage to try, to express yourself, and to pursue only what you truly believe in and love.

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 had a fairly successful career as an actress and theater director in Ukraine. But I always dreamed of acting in international projects, creating work that holds meaning and artistic value on a global scale.

The first time I came to New York was in 2010, and I cried tears of joy when I saw a Broadway show live. Sitting in the audience, I made a promise to myself that one day I would step onto a New York stage. And 12 years later, that dream came true.

In the 2.5 years I’ve been in New York, I’ve performed in three theater productions and appeared in four films. Currently, I’m working on a theater project based on a play written specifically for this production by a renowned American playwright.

The play is set in Ukraine and is filled with references to Ukrainian authentic culture and traditions. We’re planning to premiere in August 2025, and I can’t wait to share the story of my homeland with New York audiences and show them how rich and profound Ukrainian culture truly is.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

You’ll always encounter obstacles along the way, and that’s okay. I used to worry a lot about speaking English with an accent. But I knew there would always be roles that allowed for a European accent. Still, it was crucial to speak clearly and follow the melody of the language.

I needed speaking practice and constant exposure to native speakers to pick up on the nuances of pronunciation. To achieve that, I worked in a restaurant for six months and in a store for another year. Yes, it delayed my active work in film, but it gave me the foundation I needed to book roles because, over those 18 months, my English improved significantly.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

One of the most important aspects of an actor’s work is networking and building connections with people. As soon as I started working on theater projects, I began meeting other artists in New York. During one of the productions, I met my future partner, and now we’re launching our own theater production company together.

In my opinion, the best way to find partners is among those you’ve already worked with on other projects. This allows you to see their professionalism, personal qualities, passions, and ability to work as part of a team in practice.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://irynamalygina.com
• Instagram: @Iryna_Malygina
• Facebook: Iryna Malygina