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

Rachel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

Since I was 11, I knew storytelling was what I wanted to do with my life. As I continued down that path throughout high school, going to college for acting seemed like the logical move. As I began preparing for college applications, my parents nudged me in a different direction. They advised me to expand my interests and study something else. At first, I was upset by this, but looking back, it ultimately was a great decision. It allowed me to pursue other interests I had and create foundational memories that have truly shaped me as a person, and I was still able to audition and take classes at an acting studio apart from school. I was also able to get a ‘head start’ on exposure to the industry, while many kids I know had to wait until they graduated to start auditioning outside of school.

Rachel, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Who am I: I am an actor/storyteller/writer/artist/creative. Originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, I moved to Los Angeles for college and have stayed to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. I have had the opportunity to be a part of many exciting stories for TV, film, and live theater performances. I have also produced some amazing stories and am writing some of my own.

How I got into the industry: I, really, for lack of a better word, forced my way in (and it’s still a work in progress!). Growing up, my only connection to the industry was through the movies and TV I watched. I started doing theater in late elementary school, and remember this feeling, even then, that I had found something really special. I always thought “everyone must want to be an actor”. But when I realized that wasn’t true, I knew it was something I had to pursue, and I did everything I could to get from Knoxville, Tennessee to Los Angeles. And to this day, almost more than fifteen years later, I still hold that same love for it.

What I am most proud of: I am always proud when I complete a work and know that I have poured my whole soul into it. While acting is my greatest form of happiness, I find a lot of freedom through writing. The pandemic allowed me to have the time and space to sit down and finally put some ideas onto a page. Out of that came my first complete work–a pilot about college football. I am very proud of this for many reasons: Ultimately because it is my first project and it resonates very deeply with me, but also because of what it became. This idea that had been marinating for years took on a life of its own. The characters started writing themselves, and the topics it touches on are so important. I hope that I get the chance to bring it to life.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Yes! Definitely. And I can tell you from experience, too. I went to a university (and was in a major) where most of the people I knew got recruited into corporate jobs. Seeing those people now, it’s hard to talk about having a creative career because most people don’t know how to talk to you about it. And I don’t blame them! But sometimes it’s hard to watch peers have a stable, financially secure job with a predictable schedule and a routine. I wouldn’t trade it for the world (and I know I would not be truly happy in a job like that), but I think a lot of non-creatives don’t understand what there is to gain from this kind of career. On the surface, it doesn’t seem great all the time: you have to interview for a new job multiple times a week, you face so much rejection, you don’t make money for a while, your schedule is at the mercy of casting offices (24 hour turnaround time for an audition? Guess I’m canceling everything I have to do today!). But ultimately, this is what makes us happy. We live to tell stories. We live to play. We live for connection, for empathy, for understanding. I don’t think a lot of people understand that.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My goal has always been to tell important stories of those less heard–to give a voice to those who don’t have one. I love storytelling, especially in film, because it allows others to see through the eyes of someone different from them. That aspect has always been so beautiful to me. I hope that through the stories I tell in the future, both my own and others’, I will maintain that goal. I am also so in love with the indescribable feeling of being connected to life through different characters in a way that is not as accessible otherwise. Each character I play, read, or watch allows me to immerse myself in a completely different world, allowing me to discover new thoughts, feel new feelings, and see through different lenses. It opens my eyes to the world in totally different ways. And I only hope that I can help others see the world in many different ways too.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @rachelthundat
• Twitter: @rachelthundat

Image Credits
Rachael Humphries