Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Laura Patalano. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Laura, appreciate you joining 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.
Moving from New York to Los Angeles to pursue my dream of acting, I risked it all leaving my family and everything I had behind to follow my passion. One night, I had a dream where I was on a balcony overlooking a beautiful yard, wearing a stunning red dress. In the dream, I thought to myself, “Wow, my acting career gives me all of this.” Not long after, I had a deep conversation with my twin daughters, and I decided to make the big move to Los Angeles with only a couple hundred bucks in my pocket and a place to stay for a couple of months. Throughout my journey, I bounced from room to room, enduring a difficult time while pursuing my career. I used to take public transportation to auditions, sometimes spending up to two hours to get there. The hardest part, though, was being apart from my twins, as we were very close.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I took a course about “How to transition from NY to LA in the Film Industry” that educated me on how to break into the industry. In that course, I learned that I needed an agent, so I decided to reach out to different agents and interview with them until I finally found the right fit. What sets me apart from others is the fact that I am a trained actor, I went to school for it and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Acting. Whenever I get an audition, I research the casting director, producers, and the show to be more prepared. I always try to leave a lasting impression because second chances in this industry are rare. I’ve also taken many different courses to educate myself on areas I’m not yet knowledgeable about, and I network extensively, which I believe is very important. I’m most proud of the fact that, at my age, I’m able to make a living off acting because I decided to take that risk.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I know that through my acting and the characters I portray, I touch people’s lives in a very unique way. Most of the time, you don’t get to see how you’ve changed someone’s life, but sometimes you meet people who tell you. One day, at least two people approached me about This Fool and one of them had described it as “medicine for the soul.” Another person shared that her mom had just come out of rehabilitation, was feeling very depressed, and then found the show, it made her laugh, and that laughter helped her break free from her depression. Hearing stories like that feels so rewarding. It’s amazing to know that I’ve been able to do something that helps someone in such a meaningful way.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My goal is to book more lead roles where I can tell beautiful stories about elderly people, stories that are often overlooked. I want to prove that stories led by elderly characters can be just as compelling and interesting as any other. Too often, we aren’t given the recognition we deserve, and I’m determined to change that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.laurapatalano.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lpatalano/profilecard/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lpatalano?mibextid=ZbWKwL
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-patalano-20602b18?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app
- Twitter: https://x.com/LPatalano?s=09
Image Credits
The Burbank Picture Company