We recently connected with Marcha Kia and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Marcha thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with 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.

I learned how to do what I do by simply doing it and showing up for myself every day. Sign up for an audition class, read books, watch movies, expand your network in the industry. Be curious, and ask questions. Show up (on time)—don’t flake, especially on yourself.

The rest of the “how” sorts itself out on its own. There is so much out of my control in my career and life, so I had to practice focusing my energy on what I could control and trust that the rest will work out; that is, let go.

Now, how does one “let go?”

Making this mental shift was and still is very challenging at times. However, living intentionally in the present moment makes it much more manageable and recently, even fun.

The amount of energy I used to spend agonizing over WHEN and HOW things would happen for me was draining and time-consuming. I realized these thoughts were doing nothing for me, so I decided to explore why they were there. Whenever our minds are in the past or future, there is some pain that we are avoiding waiting for us in the present.

The only thing I needed to do to speed up my learning process was to slow down. I needed to learn how to be in the present moment and allow myself to feel whatever comes up, even when it is uncomfortable. As an actor, our job requires us to be present. We must be present if we are to react to our scene partner and our surroundings. The reason why some of the most beautiful moments in film are accidents is because the reaction is genuinely in the moment. Being present is the only way to get out of your head, which many actors struggle with.

Finding presence takes practice, and it is the most essential skill for any actor to learn. Acting teachers often instruct us to listen to our scene partner and not move around or blink too much. If they know us well, they will point out our ticks and tells in our self-tape auditions. All of these technicalities are simply proof that we are not present.

Being present can look different for everybody. For some, it may be a walk in nature every day or your morning coffee routine. My daily practice consists of meditating twice a day and sitting with tea in ceremony. Have fun with finding a practice that works for you!

By having the diligence and patience daily to show up for myself, I finally allowed space in my mind for creativity and new learning. Now that I don’t spend hours ruminating over aspects of my life I cannot control, I spend my time reading books and expanding my knowledge to deepen my craft. I am (re)learning to use my imagination, and one must feel light and free to do so, especially in this industry. I feel my auditions getting sharper and more interesting, reflected in my 1 in 4 callback and 1 in 10 booking ratio. [Side note: it is helpful to keep track of your auditions, callbacks/avails, and bookings to see your progress.] In essence, presence, in conjunction with preparation, allows room for creativity and imagination to flow into the work and me.

Most importantly, I feel like I am finally having fun. I remembered that’s why I wanted to do this in the first place.

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 am an actress!

Recent TV/Film credits include “Terry McMillan Presents: Forever” on Lifetime, “Prom Dates” on Hulu, and “FBI” on CBS. Also, an audiobook I just worked on called “Rejection” by Tony Tulathimutte just came out. Upcoming projects include Scarlett Johannson’s directorial debut “Eleanor the Great” and the audiobook for “The Squad” by Christina Soontornvat. I love tapping into different parts of my life and identity for my work. I’ve enjoyed exploring my Thai American identity through the audiobooks “Rejection” and “The Squad” I worked on this year.

Although these are the results that people may see on TV or my IMDb resume, I am most proud of the work I do at home, diving into characters and scripts during the audition process. It’s been a long journey of understanding and loving the process of the work, that is, auditioning. I have explored my emotions, my identity, and my values through the ups and downs in my journey of deepening and loving my craft. I’m proud of the work I put in and the intentions I set every day to further my goal. All the cliché things people say about acting like “it’s a marathon, not a sprint” and “auditioning is the work” are true! It can sometimes just take a long time to believe it, as it did for me.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I have three books that I come back to often and recommend for any artist or entrepreneur. “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle, “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield, and “The Creative Act: A Way of Being” by Rick Rubin. Each of these three books serves a purpose in my creative process and growth. I read “The Power of Now” whenever my mind is distracted and needs a little nudge back to the present moment. I have listened to the audiobook countless times, and every time, I am reminded of what I need to hear to move forward. “The War of Art” helps me get unstuck when I am in my own way. The author consolidates the artist and entrepreneur’s experience in a deeply relatable way and guides me back to my purpose as an actor when I feel astray. “The Creative Act,” which I am reading now, is for inspiration in all the ways creativity flows through me. I love delving into how being a creative is truly a way of life. When reading the book, I find connections between all parts of my life and beauty in the mundane.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goals in my creative journey continue to shift. I love my job because I can continue to grow.

When I was first starting my career as an actor, my goals were very outward, using my voice to make a difference in the world, inspiring others, etc. However, as I continued my journey, I found my focus shift inward. My goals became more about my own growth in the craft. In “The War of Art,” Steven Pressfield has a section titled, “Resistance and Being a Star,” in which he says, “Grandiose fantasies are a symptom of Resistance. They’re the sign of an amateur. The professional has learned that success, like happiness, comes as a by-product of work. The professional concentrates on the work and allows rewards to come or not come, whatever they like.” Another question he poses in his book is whether we would continue our craft if we were the last person on Earth. I realized my goals could not be contingent on fame but rather should be based on how I can grow and find my truth and creative flow.

Right now, my goal is to learn to tap into my flow state more easily to embody any character. I also am reading books and taking classes to learn different ways to analyze scripts and develop characters thoughtfully. Learning how to prepare more efficiently and specifically allows me more freedom to explore each character physically, mentally, and emotionally. As I continue my journey and face new challenges, my goals will inevitably shift and force me to grow. What a gift and thrill it is to have a job where I continue to learn more about myself, the world, and the human experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://imdb.me/marcha
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marchaitea/
• Linkedin: ttps://www.linkedin.com/in/marcha-kiatrungrit/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@marchakia2418
• Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/ujfHqaJ8fxgnv11a8

Image Credits

Stephanie Girard