We were lucky to catch up with Sorika Wolf recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sorika , appreciate you joining us today. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?

I think that anyone who navigates the artistic world as a career is often misunderstood.

People who don’t know me are surprised when they discover how hard I hustle, how serious and steadfast I am, and how grounded and business-oriented I am. They are shocked I love science! LOVE IT! But ultimately, when it came the time to choose between science and acting, acting was what lit a fire in me – to the dismay of every science teacher I’ve ever had, as well as my leaning traditional Filipino mother. Don’t worry. I definitely broke her…In.

The stigma around us is that we are the brain bandits of humanity and that irresponsible behavior is part of our DNA. There is this idea that our pursuit purely lies in a vain desire to gild our lives with the excess of fame. Don’t get me wrong, there are certainly those who pursue it for those reasons alone. And listen, if anyone wants to write me a million-dollar check, I ain’t saying no. In fact, pleeeease, someone write me that million-dollar-motherfucking-holler-check!

But, semi-joke aside, what I truly love about what I do, is the deep knowledge that throughout history, artists have played a crucial role in keeping humanity accountable, flipping the mirror on “routine and tradition” to challenge beliefs that betray our growth as a species. Why do you think well-known performers are often asked to back presidential nominees, speak on behalf of specific organizations etc… It’s because of the power we have to sway hearts. And often, under all the glitz and glamour, that skill goes unnoticed. (Side note: Did you know the heart has its own nervous system?)

Further, I love how complex the brain is, and how so much of acting lies in manipulating this labyrinthine network of neurons and cells.

Wow, I basically hold your brain AND your heart in my hands…Cue maniacal laughter.

I kid I kid.

Seriously though, the misunderstanding of why I choose to do what I do has simply served to ground me in my pursuit. Every time I explain it, I redefine and reinforce it.

To succeed in the acting world, you have to approach it as a business first and creative-endeavor last. And it is a business that’s pretty much equivalent to running naked and unarmed in the Wild Wild West. With paintball guns. So it hurts like hell but never kills you. And the reinforcement I just mentioned? It comes in real handy in Psychological Wild West Nudist Camp Incorporated. When people are out partying, I’m often home studying a new subject, learning a new language, memorizing lines, in bed early so I can wake up early to workout. On top of the hours I pour into my formation as an actor, which is often unpaid, I have to log anywhere between 30-50 hours into side-gigging. It is EXHAUSTING.

And I love it all so much, that I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Sorika , 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?

I lead with my actor self. However, I did study screenwriting and I love that form of storytelling as well. Most recently, I’ve also taken up teaching and coaching actors which has brought unexpected joy in my life.

In teaching my acting clients to “hold space” for themselves and build their artistic integrity and identities, I learn how to do that for myself. They teach me as much as I teach them and it’s become a symbiotic relationship.

What I want people to know the most about me? That I strive to live a life filled with authenticity, curiosity, intention, and clarity. I love big, so underneath my armor, I also hurt big, and I’ll never apologize for that.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My childhood was not shiny and bright. It was tough, violent, and heartbreaking. But guess what, I’m still here. There was a time when I earned a living writing for blogs, and I shared some stories about my childhood. One of my brothers was very upset with me when he read it. However, for me, speaking about openly is releasing the shame and shackles of the past. And if, in doing so, I can let just one person feel a little less alone, let them know that they too can walk through fire and come out stronger, it will always be worth it.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

The importance of community!

For a long time, I stayed away from having actor friends. The ones I had were jealous, catty, dramatic…there was no relationship reciprocity.

Then I realized, I simply had the wrong actor friends. And I slowly rebuilt. The community I now have gives me so much love and support, and I can say with 100% certainty that I would not have met any of my goals without them.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @sorikawolf

Image Credits

Headshots by YellowBellyPhoto

Selfie: from the set of Hallmarks Next Stop Christmas

Screenshots from: FBI: Most Wanted (in the blue blazer), Fargo (the darker one in brown tones), the movie Suze (red dress + ponytail) and a commercial for Spectrum (black eyeglasses and dog)