Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lia Corbitt. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Lia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I think I first considered a creative path professionally when I was in middle school. During my middle school years, I was introduced to drama and orchestra. I began playing the violin and harp in the 6th grade and also took my first theatre class. I enjoyed both, but initially, I thought my future would be with an orchestra. It wasn’t until about midway through the 7th grade that I began to really embrace theatre and I decided that I wanted to do more.

In my freshman year of high school, I became more active in theatre at school and in my community. After performing in my first community theatre production, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe I was hooked. I realized how much I loved performing in live theatre and that I felt like I wanted to do it for the rest of my life.

During the following summer, I worked my first extra role for a television series. At first, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it. It felt so different from live theater. I just wasn’t sure if it was the right fit for me. But it didn’t take long for me to warm up to it. Television and film are totally different from theater, but I love them both.

Lia, 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 a regular girl. I’m a 16-year-old junior in high school. I currently live in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. However, I’m originally from Winter Haven, Florida (a small town not far from Orlando, Florida). I have always been a Disney kid. My parents were Disney cast members and I was lucky enough to be totally immersed in Disney during my early years. I have visited Walt Disney World more times than I can count. But I mostly enjoy hanging out with my friends, watching movies, shopping, traveling, and eating good food.

I pretty much have always been creative. I started singing when I was 2 years old, making up my own songs before I could read and write, and I loved to create things. When I was in the first grade, I once made a high-heeled shoe out of printer paper and a toilet paper roll and it was actually wearable. I also liked to perform, whether it was signing, banging on my toy piano, or dressing up and acting out a character.

So, I guess pursuing a career in the arts was natural for me. I considered other paths. For example, I love animals so I considered being a veterinarian. I have also become interested in politics since I have become politically aware. I will always love animals and maybe someday I can get involved in politics, but an arts career feels right for me.

I have been blessed to have worked on the set of several television series, films, and a commercial. I’m most proud of the commercial and excited about the new project I just started working on. It’s a film and I have a more prominent speaking role.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

That lesson would be to always be prepared. I am a natural procrastinator. I have learned and am still learning to always be ready and prepared. Whenever I respond to a casting call, I begin preparing in my mind, and doing a little research as I think about the character and the setting. Things like what my character would wear and how they would style their hair is important.

I didn’t know what to expect when I worked my first television background role. I had to travel to a town a few hours away for filming and I bought with me several outfits that I thought would be good for my character. As a newbie, I wasn’t aware that the casting director would send me an email with pictures of the looks they wanted. When I later saw the email, I panicked. Everything I had was wrong for the show and I lived too far to return home. Yes, wardrobe always has options, but I thought I would feel most comfortable wearing my clothes if possible. This was my first time and I wanted to make a good impression, so my mother and I went shopping for some new clothing. Since then, I have learned to always check for the look information before deciding what to take on set. It’s great to come prepared, but I want to come prepared with the right tools.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I have learned that nothing in life is absolute. Life can sometimes throw you a curveball. A year and a half ago I got COVID-19 and unfortunately, I am still living with after effects caused by the virus. I have been diagnosed with Long Covid, which affects my life daily. This makes it more difficult to do all of the things I would like to do. Before Covid, I was a high achiever. I still am today; I just have to pace myself. I have also had to make some changes to help me better navigate my life and continue to pursue my dreams.

This first involved school. Attending classes in person, especially early morning classes was a challenge. I tend to feel worse in the early morning hours. So last year I was able to take my core classes virtually and my arts classes in person. This year I am taking all of my classes virtually. I miss in-person learning. However, I hope that I will have more time to focus on one-on-one learning, coaching, and hopefully some new film and television projects.

In addition, I have been trying to prepare myself to return to in-person learning next school year. My ultimate goal is to be accepted into a drama-intensive program for my senior year. So, I just completed two additional courses over the summer that are required for graduation. This will make my senior year much easier with only 1-2 required classes.

I always envisioned myself attending high school as normal, having the same experiences that I saw on television and in the movies. I never thought that I would spend most of my high school years at home. So, I’m just trying to make the best of it. I guess it’s like the saying; When life gives you lemons – make lemonade.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lianoel_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087058054011
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lianoel_0

Image Credits
Cover Photo, David Silverthorn Photography