We recently connected with Mia Scornavacca and have shared our conversation below.

Mia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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?

My acting career started with improv training in Miami. I graduated from Just the Funny Theater in 2008 and performed in the cast for about eight years on and off. I really enjoyed performing in front of a live audience and hearing the laughter while on stage. Improv taught me acting basics such as listening and being in the moment. It also gave me tons of self-confidence. I feel improv acting came naturally to me and eventually I got the desire to act in films. Probably the biggest obstacle to getting more training is there weren’t too many options in Miami. Because I really wanted to pursue acting on camera, I began networking in the growing film community and was able to land some roles in several local indie short films. Bascically I got on-the-job training.

Cut to the present, I moved to Atlanta in March 2021, to pursue acting more intensely. It was kind of a no-brainer with the film industry in Georgia being the largest in the US. Of course with that brings a wide selection of acting classes and agents. However getting an agent is not that easy due to the number of actors here, but I am thrilled to say I was able to sign with one.

Looking back, I wish I had explored Miami theater for training and performing. I know that theater is probably the best way to learn how to act and get tremendous experience. Since I’ve been in Georgia, I have been taking classes and have attended several workshops. I have had several auditions for some major productions and lots of commercials. It’s been wonderful so far. I am going to be auditioning for theater soon so that I can keep learning and build on the skills I already have. I am looking forward to seeing what I can do.

Mia, 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 was in a 14-year marriage to a very oppressive man. I had no sense of self, no independence. He controlled everything about my life. Over time, he became more abusive. On my 40th Birthday in 2004, I couldn’t take it anymore and I got out with my children. From that moment, I began to create myself. I was a single mom with three young children, but I was determined to live my life how I wanted to. I came out in 2010, and was finally living authentically. During this time I got into improv acting and took up karaoke as a passionate hobby; it’s where I met some of my closest friends. In 2019 I made a short film entitled “The Wrong Door” based on my life, where I leave my abusive husband. That year I also met one of my now best friends who agreed to be my headwriter for a series I am developing. It’s about coming out in middle age while being a single mom of three teenage kids. Our pilot has already won awards and we are working with a producer to start shopping to production companies. I am very, very excited because I know it’s going to get picked up and do well.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

As far as acting, I just love playing and bringing a writer’s story and vision to life through the characters. Actors are storytellers and for me it’s just fun. It allows me to express myself while being someone else. It’s like what children get to do because they’re children. So in what other career can you basically act like a kid? It keeps me young at heart.

As far as my series, I am bringing my story of coming out later to life. It’s a story that is all too common and it needs to be told. It is very relatable and I know will ring true for many, many people, possibly worldwide. I am hoping it can help people to see that it’s not only ok to be true to yourself, but it’s vital to being happy, in my opinion.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of acting for me is it’s fun and it makes me happy. It’s as simple as that. Of course, honoring the writer’s vision while entertaining people is of course a wonderful outcome, as well..

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @miascorna
• Facebook: Mia Scornavacca

Image Credits
Headshots: Lynn Parks Photography