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

Rebecca, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I remember my mom taking me to a movie when I was five years old. I pointed up to the screen and I said, “That is what I want to do when I grow up.” My mom, looking at the actress said to me, “Do you want to drink coffee?” I said, “No, silly, I want to do what she’s doing up there.” My mom sweetly said, “No, honey that’s Acting and that is for special people.” She didn’t mean to hurt my feelings; she was a school teacher and wanted me to get a good education and a consistent job.

Cut to 20 + years later when my dad was dying in the hospital from Colon Cancer (and he was also a SAG Actor.) I said to him, “Dad, what I really want to do with my life is be an actor, it’s what I’ve always wanted to do.” He said, “No, honey. Don’t move to LA. You’re much too sweet of a girl and Acting will break your heart.”

After he passed and two years later… I began studying different techniques and taking acting classes. I was in two musicals (because I also teach dance). Then a dream started to come true… I was offered a role on Days of Our Lives… but…I did not take it because I was married at the time, and my husband felt uncomfortable with the intimacy, to which I respected his feelings. I did eventually move to Los Angeles and started working as an actor in various film roles, theater, tv, commercials, and now the Internet/Web/Digital World!!!

I’m currently beyond thrilled to be working as an actor and working on my craft, my dream. I have two college degrees in different fields (Psychology/Human Resources, and Occupational Therapy) but again Acting is truly all I’ve ever wanted to do…and I am feeling very blessed and grateful, every opportunity I receive. And my mother became my biggest supporter of my Acting career!

Rebecca, 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?

Through the fans on Instagram, and when I meet people out every day that recognize my work, they have shared with me how I have been an inspiration to them. When I was an Occupational Therapist, I helped many people with their physical rehabilitation, but being an actor is a different kind of therapy for people. I actually didn’t realize how many people were moved by my performances whether it’s because I’m an antagonist and they are despising me or because I’m a protagonist and they are feeling very connected to my emotions that I portray.

If I can help someone to feel better after watching one of my performances, whether it’s comedy for a laugh or thoughtfulness from a kind act, I am grateful that I have reached so many people in a positive way.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I’m actually a very vulnerable and sensitive person. I do wear my heart on my sleeve as the saying goes. I’m easily affected from others journeys and seem to put myself emotionally in their place. In other words, I believe I do understand what they’re going through… empathy, even though I am not them. I tend to feel very emotionally connected to people’s circumstances.

I’m very hard on myself. My parents were both school teachers, my dad was a Principal, teacher and a SAG actor. As a child, expectations were placed very high on me, for some reason… I have always worked very hard, earned straight A’s, was Valedictorian in high school and was Magna Cum Laude in both of my college degrees. It seemed the harder I worked the more was expected of me. And I eventually started putting higher expectations on myself. Which isn’t always good! That’s a lot of pressure! Lol!

Acting has allowed me to use my sensitivity, and my flaws to create… sometimes I laugh and say, “Hey, these tears have to be used for something good!”

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

You can study for a test, answer all the questions right and get that A+. But with Acting and being creative, it doesn’t work that way. Perfectionism can be a downfall in the acting world, and I have had to forgive myself for not being perfect, over and over again. Wanting that “perfect take.” Well, I have to unlearn this every day. I’m still working on it! Because imperfection is actually the real perfection.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: rebecca_a_ritz
• Other: https://imdb.me/REBECCARITZ

Image Credits

Glass Darkly Photography
Bradley Everett Young Photography
The Actor’s Collective Photography