We recently connected with Leia Jacoutot and have shared our conversation below.

Leia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

For me it was really important to learn the craft. Both of my parents were actors (my mother still is) and they really pushed me to take acting lessons and read all Stanislavski’s books among others and see all the movie classics. My goal was to learn as much technique as I could to then feel free when I would be working professionally, and not be scared to try things on the spot.
I was very lucky to be able to study acting in France, London and New York. That really allowed me to learn the different “approaches” or “methods” of acting. In addition, this helped me to know what works for me or not, and to be capable of creating my own personal method. This last one changes or evolves according to the project I am working on.
I loved my acting schools, I learnt so much thanks to my teachers, and also just by observing the other students. Learning the craft around talented people is a real gift.
I also realized that you never fully learn this craft, there is always something else to discover in each job and each character. That’s what makes this work so exciting.
A few months ago I did a commercial and even if acting wise it was not very intense I still learned a lot about the more practical aspect of the craft. I had to work fast, think on my feet and really play with the camera to sell the product. So you always learn something in every little job you do.
I am really happy to be only in the beginning of this journey because it means I still have so much more to discover.

Leia, 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?

My name is Leia, like the princess in “Star Wars” (my parents are huge fans…) and I’m an actress currently based in NYC. I was born and raised in Paris by an actress mother, a computer engineer father and I come from a very artistic family overall. I also have a little brother named Arthur.
I got the acting bug early because of my mother who would bring me to set a lot. I remember observing everybody there and being so fascinated.
I really decided that I wanted to work in this industry a few years later after seeing “Pulp Fiction” by Quentin Tarantino and a production of Hamlet at the Globe Theatre. It was really inspiring to me.
I’ve always been very curious and wanted to travel the world. So I went to study acting in England and then in New York, at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, before establishing myself there. My goal would be to be able to work internationally and not just in one country.
Recently I worked on a play called “La Ruta” about human trafficking across the Mexican and American border. We had to tackle a very important and still current subject and I felt the need and pressure to do justice to these women. It was a very challenging and rewarding experience. Projects like these really excite me.
My main artistic inspirations are Quentin Tarantino (whom I just admire), old French cinema and John Cassavetes whose movies are very powerful, raw and human and I really thrive to one day give an acting performance worthy of his art. The Monty Pythons are also a big inspiration. I think they are geniuses and comedy is very important for me. I think laughter is our greatest weapon and we can convey many emotions and messages through comedy. .
I’m not sure I have a specific focus or mission but I do know that I want to work on projects (whether a play or a movie or something else) that leave you with a certain feeling of hope. I want to make people excited about life. In my opinion this is an important part of my job, And finally if I can make people laugh hard I would consider myself happy and fulfilled.
Aside from acting I like dancing a lot and telling stories with my body. I think it can sometimes be way more powerful than words. I’ve been dancing for many years now and not long ago I had the chance to choreograph a piece (a music video) for the first time which was really fun.
I’m a huge fan of music as well, especially old rock n’ roll and Jazz and I go listen to it live as often as I can.
I tend to write also during my free time. I think it helps unlock creativity in general and I would love one day, when I’m a bit older, to write my own feature film.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The biggest lesson I had to unlearn would be to think everything through. I’ve always liked to plan everything and overthink about every situation but I realized quickly that I had to let that go.
Growing up, at school (in France) you were pushed to reach perfection in every subject, avoid making too many mistakes and be sure to have a plan once you were done with school.
However, arriving in acting school all of this changed for me. I had to really learn how to follow my instincts and not my brain if I wanted to get better and freer in my acting. So basically unlearn how to be a self conscious adult and go back to being a child.
I really had to allow myself to make mistakes and embrace not knowing what is gonna happen in the next few minutes while doing a scene. To be in the present moment as my teachers would say. The more you make mistakes in acting (or any artistic disciplines) the better you get. It also shows that you are taking risks. Your brain cannot be your first or only source of reliance.
I try to apply this in my art and everyday life as much as I can. And it’s not always easy especially if you have lived your entire life the opposite way. But when you succeed it’s very empowering.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

In my job what’s amazing is that you get to live many lives in one and share incredible moments with your co stars. But to be an artist in general is so rewarding in many ways. Maybe the most gratifying thing would be that you get to experience so many different aspects about life and yourself as a human being, that you can share with the whole world. And if it impacts even just one person, the reward is huge.
Also one of my teachers kept telling us “it’s no brain surgery”; if we mess up nothing bad really happens (which is very freeing) but if we create something good and truthful and it reaches people then art can be a salvation and this is greatly satisfying. There is no wrong way to do this.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.leiajacoutot.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leia.jacoutot/ or @leiajacoutot
• Facebook: Leia Jacoutot

Image Credits
Headshot-Pamela Torres Black and White picture-Paris Match Magazine