Today we’d like to introduce you to Noa Mazar.
Hi Noa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I can’t really remember a time when I wasn’t performing. Being creative was always my way of coping with anything and actually getting my head straight. I know thats where my love for acting and music came from, it forced me to feel and connect to myself first and I was always searching for more things to feel.
My name is Noa I am 22 years old and generally, my goal in life is to be happy. I always say that is the basis of everything, and I promised myself that what I end up doing for the rest of my life should be what makes me happy. And that is acting and music for me. I am Israeli, But My dad works at a job that required us to move around a lot. Before I was born my parents lived in Thailand, where they had my older brother, and after that they moved to Norway and that’s where I was born. By the time I was 15, I had already lived in Italy too, Where my younger brother was born. After five beautiful years in Rome, we moved back to Israel and then Los Angeles for a few years, the place I knew right away that I would come back to. Growing up all over the world is tough but it’s also the most amazing thing that has happened to me. It gave me the ability to adapt, it gave me confidence to dive into things that Im not familiar with and mature that way. I was introduced to the outside world from such a young age, seeing diversity and understanding what this world has to offer. I recognized all of these amazing things. But having such a deadline on everything made me look for something that I could hold on to and some way that I could express myself and find stability. Something that wouldn’t necessarily end, and something that I was good at, that was mine. As a way to express myself, I found myself gravitating towards the stage, I was always looking to perform. As a kid, no matter where I was I my parents always signed me up for some kind of performance classes. I started taking acting classes as a little girl, as well as dance classes. I later on learned to play the guitar and following that came an intense passion for writing and creating music. I completed a three years acting program here in Los Angeles – Gary Spatz: The Playground” also known as my second home for that time. I was auditioning and making the most of the short time I had before returning to Israel to enlist in the Israeli Defense Forces. I was so afraid of losing everything I had gained In LA and all of the opportunities I had open.
But there was nothing I could do about moving, so I promised myself that I would come back to LA and wouldn’t rest until I made my acting dreams come true, and it wasn’t because of anything other than the way I felt when I was doing it, even as a little girl. The army was an eye-opening experience for me. I served as a fitness instructor, which meant I had to meet physical requirements that were evaluated every few months. I learned what real independence was, acquired true friendships that will not resemble anything else I’ve had in the past. I laughed more than I ever have in my life and I also cried a fair bit. I wouldn’t change it. I took everything I could and shoved it into my emotional toolbox, the place I turn to in my craft, where all the magic comes from. For over two years, I was forced to put my dream to the side for the most part and focus on being a good soldier. After my release, I completed a course at Reacting studio in Tel Aviv, where I found my agent in Israel. I was working, doing music videos and student films, everything I could do to expand my resume but I quickly realized that I couldn’t get LA out of my head. There is a certain vibe in the city. You feel like you can do anything and everything and I craved that. I finally made the move back to Los Angeles by myself as a 21 years old aspiring actress and musician with a suitcase filled with dreams and motivation. I dove straight into it, doing any role I could get my hands on, taking online classes, meeting amazing people that have taught me so much already. I have been writing and recording music.
I work with some really talented and amazing people, Like D-SAB who is a Los Angeles based producer, Jono who is an up and coming recording artist and a lyric genius and Ahrya, who is 1/2 of a Duo called Pixelterror, and produces under the name “Bosquet”. When Covid came along, I wasn’t worried, I tend to look at the bright side of every situation. And staying home, for someone like me, means more time to write, more auditions (everything is self-taped anyways these days !), more recording music. I have been putting time into the things I love most. As well as some older productions that have been released this year, I have been Working on different acting projects I had booked, still auditioning (virtually and a lot), for both Israel and here in LA and locking in projects for post-Covid – I jump on every and any opportunity that I feel will benefit my career. I have been writing and spending much quality time with my guitar, a little cover here and there, planning out my next steps in music with my manager, Rue. My logic says that if you work hard, take risks and sacrifice some things that are easy to keep close, you are destined to make it, no matter what “it” is. I have been enjoying every single part of my journey, This journey that has been going on for 22 years but somehow feels like it has just begun 🙂
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I chose a field that knocks you down before it lifts you up. With acting, as I’m sure everyone knows, you’re an auditioner before you are considered anything else and it’s not that you hear “no” all the time, you mostly don’t even get an answer. Thats a huge challenge with the way it works because you have to develop a super thick skin. Show up, do your absolute best job and leave your heart in there, then exit the audition room and kind of forget so that you don’t get disappointed. It’s all part of the process. For a while, I was afraid of getting into music. I always wrote songs and composed, but I was always afraid that I wouldn’t be taken seriously as an actress or vise versa if I did both things. I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter, it took me a long time but I realized that it is worth sharing regardless. That is all in the works and part of this upcoming chapter that I am so excited about. I’ll be honest, in my personal journey, distance is a huge challenge. My biggest support system is my family and they are all in Israel. It gets hard but I keep reminding myself why I’m here and that it’s worth it. They’re still cheering me on from far away and pushing me to do my best. They’re proud and that is the best sense of accomplishment.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
A character that stands out to me was one I played in an Israeli production called “Al Culana” Because it really challenged me. It was a pilot that won the Best Pilot Award at the Israeli cinema south festival this year. I played the part of “Orel”, an orthodox Jewish teen who realizes that her sexual orientation does not necessarily correlate with her background and religious beliefs. This was challenging because it was very far from who I am as a person, but that is what made it even more interesting. This came at a time where I was mostly doing music videos and small projects, which in a way was a blessing because I got to focus and study this character and ultimately fall in love with her in a way. A few months ago, I had the pleasure of being in the campaign video for the global day of unplugging, which I thought was an amazing concept and really fun to shoot as well, I met the Amazing “Mannafest Media”, a video production company that I continue to work with and absolutely loved. 2021 is a promising year for me with a lot of things already in the works. I’m really excited.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I think that the most important thing is not having fear when it comes to reaching out to people that can help you take the necessary steps to move forward. Whether it’s through an Instagram page or account, emailing or physically showing up (which is harder at this time) and having your resume ready, or anything that showcases your talent. Nothing bad can happen from trying, and you never know where it can lead you. Also, jumping on every opportunity to meet people that can teach you a thing or two about whatever it is that interests you, again, whether it’s at a social event or online. I have met a lot of people that way and I find that those are the people I learn from the most.
Contact Info:
- Email: noamazar7@gmail.com Reutgolan.rg@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noa_mazar/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/noa.mazar.79
- Other: https://www.backstage.com/u/noa-mazar/
Image Credits
Lipaz Barel Michael Mor Moshe Levis Noa Singer Mannafest Media
