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

Leyla, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

First of all thank you for having me, I’m very grateful for this opportunity. If I could’ve done anything differently when I first started out that would be learning the craft of acting. I used to fall into this trap thinking “Me and training? Nah, I’m a natural, I was born talented, that is enough”. But after some bad acting experiences I finally came to my senses and realised that only relying on talent wasn’t enough. That was just my ego talking.  Learning the craft as an actor is very  important if you want to give a good performance. I feel like a lot of people overlook it and think acting is only about talent and you either have it or you don’t but in my opinion that’s not the whole truth, you gotta refine your skills regardless of talent or not.
After I learned my lesson I joined the Tischler Advanced Acting Studio. It’s instructed by the amazing Jesse Tischler, a NY/ LA Acting coach. His sessions made me respect and appreciate acting / filmmaking on another level. I realised that there is so much more to acting than just learning the lines. It’s hard to explain but now acting is such a beautiful, spiritual, profound and therapeutic thing for me. Why? Because I’m prepared and therefore I have more freedom while I’m acting.
You become the character  ONLY through preparation. Who am I? Where am I? What do I want? What do I need? What are the stakes? And that’s just the beginning. I still can’t believe I neglected that but hey we all start somewhere.
The very successful actors are proof that if you take it seriously, have some fun, you learn the craft, you are dedicated to it, you will do amazing work, SHINE and repeat it again.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Of course, where should I start? Uh yes with the basics. I’m Leyla Chykulina. I’m an actor, model and love to entertain people.
I always had a BIG dream for myself, to become a successful actor on a big screen. Acting feeds my soul. I love bringing characters to life with my performances. Ironically that’s when I feel the most alive, by being someone else. But every character I play is an over exaggerated version of me.
I was too afraid to go after it, perhaps I cared too much what others thought of me or how everyone said it’s impossible to make it as an actor and all the other negative talks.
But, I finally had the courage to go after it, after all we only have one life to live so no time to waste.
What sets me apart from the others?
Well I think it’s my approach and mindset of how I view life and acting. I believe all the impossible can be achieved but in order to do so you have to be delusional and work towards your dream!!! That’s my mantra. The mindset plays the biggest factor if you will “make it” or not, after all your experiences are a reflection of your inner beliefs so choose wisely what you believe in.
I am also very grateful to have a wonderful mom, family and friends who support me all the way.
Through acting I found my purpose in life and I’m going ALL OUT with it. Everyday I wake up I’m so excited where life will take me. But sometimes thinking too much of the future steals me away from the present. I try to appreciate the process as much as I can by reminding myself that life is a journey not a destination, all you have is the present.

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

A lesson I had to unlearn was to stop being a people pleaser. It really took the joy out of my life, because instead of living the life I wanted, I was wasting my time by being afraid of what other people thought of me and therefore kept myself small. What I would tell to the younger version of me is: People will judge you no matter what you do, so be loyal to yourself and stop trying to fit in somewhere where you don’t belong. Celebrate your authenticity that god (or whatever you believe in) gave you!

Since I was a child I always cared a lot of how people viewed and perceived me. For some reason their approval was so important for me to feel worthy but respectfully fck that. I grew up in a household where my parents themselves were people pleasers and often valued other people’s opinion more than their own. It also has become a norm in this society which shouldn’t be that way. But I don’t blame them for passing that to me.
The only good thing that came out of it is preparing me to become an actor, because I was acting daily by being someone else to fit in this society. I went through many weird stages in my life. I even once started to drink so the “cool people from town” would like me because when I was sober I couldn’t talk to these people and I actually didn’t even like them but for some reason I  needed their approval.
Sometimes  my old tendencies can come back and it makes me feel like I’m in a cage again. But by reminding myself that I approve of myself and I am more than enough no matter if that person or group approves of me calms my mind. Then I can be my crazy self without trying to please anyone.  Since then I love going out to the city looking all crazy or being in character, just because. Younger me would be too scared of what other people would think of her but I showed her there’s nothing to be afraid of.

But also another beautiful thing since I stopped  being a people pleaser is, having people in my life who like me for me, the authentic me and not for somebody I’m not. So lesson learned, being on self is so crucial or you will live a miserable life trying to fit in where you don’t belong.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

YES, a lot of books have made a big impact on me. They inspire me to be better and I learn so much about myself through them and for that I’m so grateful. There are many books I have read but the ones that really changed my view on life/ creativity are:

– The Artists Way by Julia Cameron
It’s a 12 week program book and each week you learn something new about creativity, how to unblock yourself and become the best creative self.
Also there are weekly tasks for you to do.
I enjoyed doing the morning pages and weekly reflections cause I reflected on my behaviour and reminded myself why I’m meant for this. Often I can get easily distracted by the outside noise and tapping into your inner child is so important! This book has really helped me with my perfectionism and being able to create freely. So I highly recommend it for everyone no matter if they’re an artist or not.

– Meant for this by Erica Wernick
This book holds a special place in my heart.
It’s so good that almost every page has a sticky note.
It’s about how to achieve your dream everyone deems as impossible. It guides you step by step and that starts with the mindset and then leads to the strategy, both is connected. Our mind is the most important factor if you will succeed or not and understanding that has helped me take the actions towards my dream and therefore I’m starting to see results. I SWEAR BY THIS BOOK!! I think everyone who has a big vision for themselves should read it. Erica is such a pure soul and you can feel it while u read it.

– Subtle art of not giving a fck by Mark Manson
A book that should be in everyone’s household. It gives you wonderful approaches on how to live a good meaningful life. Also has funny stories the author experienced and he explains that we have the power to choose what our struggles and values are and knowing that is so important. I read it when I was going through an inner crisis and it really helped me calm my mind and come to my senses. I’ve been procrastinating answering these questions but my friend mark (the author) reminded me that the more something threatens your identity the more you will avoid of doing it. And that’s when I realised there is no threat so I got my lazy ass up and started to answer these exciting questions.
I think everyone should read this book once in their lifetime. Also his NY humour makes it even more enjoyable to read.

– The power is within you by Louise Hay
Wow this book is just beautiful. My mom recommended it to me and I’m so grateful she did. As the title says the power is within us and she explains it beautifully. Something I really learnt from this book is “our experiences are a result of our inner belief” THAT statement changed my viewing on life forever. She also writes about why healing your inner child is crucial and that no matter what upbringing you had you have the power to change. Filled with inspiring affirmations. She was a gem to this world and I think everyone should read this book, especially if u feel lost in life or even if you love life read it. You won’t regret it trust me

– Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
Alright , Alright, Alright
Can’t stop saying that in a southern accent.
This book just wow it’s very inspiring and entertaining. I’ve read it in under a week because it was that good. He shares interesting experiences of his life and what the lessons taught him. What I took away from it is, the red lights eventually turn green. everyone needs a walkabout with themselves so they can be a better human, that life is a journey and not a destination, being in the moment is everything we have, preparation as an actor is a MUST and TURN THE PAGE when you don’t like the direction your life is going in.
Highly recommend it to anyone who wants a fun read but also wants to learn some valuable things.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leylachykulina?igsh=Ym5yNXQ5Y2NhM2h1&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@theleylachykulina?si=Ajp-gch07uSTpbPI