Today we’d like to introduce you to Margo Della-Guardia.
Hi Margo, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born in Lyon, France and lived there until graduating from high school at 18. My mom used to take me to many cultural events in the city, which quickly developed my creativity. When I was five years old, I told my parents that I wanted to be an actress and a singer. I would sing and act in front of them all the time. I’d ask them to give me a situation, an emotion, a word; something that I could play with. I put the focus on acting and writing and started my first novel when I was nine. I had been writing stories for fun since the age of five, always getting excited at school when the teachers would ask us to write.
I started taking acting classes and singing lessons to develop my skills. I kept writing, imagining one day turning all my ideas into movies. My grandmother is another important figure in the shaping of my creative self, she’s the one who would recommend me books or proofread all my writing! She’s also the one who would take me out to watch plays or pick me up after my acting classes! As I grew up, my passion for cinema just grew bigger and bigger, I got interested in directing, producing… And I’m now in LA doing all of it!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth is not the first word I’d use to describe this road! Stressful would be a better term, and you have to wear the right pair of shoes to be prepared to walk a long way… Patience is the best tool to have with you!
Despite being from the town where the cinema was born, it didn’t feel like there was a big existing movie industry in Lyon. Most opportunities were in Paris. So I didn’t grow up surrounded by sound stages and casting calls. It was just me, my dreams and my words. This wait only made me dream bigger, crave something more, and I knew very young that I wanted to move to Los Angeles to find all those opportunities. With that said and the world now changing, I’d say it doesn’t matter in which city you are based: if you believe in your capacities, in your talent, in your skills, you can create your own opportunities. Nothing is impossible, and if it was too simple: it would not be funny!
I finished my first novel at 13 and directly sent it to publishing houses in France. I got a few feedbacks, one saying they liked the story but that they thought it deserved more work. They were encouraging me to ameliorate it and then send it back to them. I’m glad they said that cause my writing was quite “childish” at the time! I corrected the book two times and sent it back to them, both times getting the same feedback. (good but need more work) I was still so young and now looking back at my first drafts, I see how far I’ve come in my writing!
After understanding the work that I really needed to get done, I took time off from this story to write others. This taught me patience and how important it is to invest time in your art to make it better. It also taught me to never give up. This story is still in the works and I’m determined to get it on papers and on the screens soon!
It’s also a road with a lot of opinions. I had to face a lot of negative comments. How many people have laughed at me when I told them I’ll become an actress or simply that I’ll move to LA? This is such an uncommon path where I’m from! However, I was never affected by it, I actually always liked getting those comments cause I knew one day I could say “Look at me now!” And that day has happened 🙂
A journey is never meant to be easy, but the destination will always bring you tremendous joy and satisfaction! Just like in adventure movies!
I’m also extremely grateful for my family, who has always supported me and helped me move to LA. Their support makes everything a little more smoother!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an artist. I’m an actress, a writer, a producer… I recently founded my own production company called MDG Productions, and I’ve spent the last year writing. I have finished two screenplays and a book (a different one than the one I was talking about) that I’m now in the process of producing and publishing! I’m very proud of those stories, I’ve given my heart and soul into them and I’m very excited to share them with the world! I’ve been writing a lot of romance lately, but I also love to write fantasy and adventure stories, so stay tune cause I’ll make you travel in many places 🙂
What sets me apart? Good question! Firstly, being a Frenchy in LA! I’m not the only one there but we’re not a lot either! I feel like Americans love “the French touch”. But what really sets me apart in terms of my crafts is my passion, my enthusiasm, my truth. I always want to help people and create characters they can relate to. I want to understand them and the world more, and acting and writing help me with this. My friends say I always make them smile, and I want to give light and joy and hope to the world 🙂 I’m also always excited about discoveries, excited to be on set and I’m easy to adapt to new situations.
I also love to make videos, whether it’s for TikTok or Youtube. I started a YouTube channel when I moved to LA, vlogging all my move-in and all the fun events happening to me in this city! Or if I’m not vlogging, I’ll talk about movies and books!
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was always very sociable and outgoing. I would always take initiative to do something, plan outings with my friends, plan events in my schools. We were supposed to do a play in my English class, but for some reason it didn’t happen. I kept insisting with the school, ended up writing my own play and performed it with my classmates! When I want something, I’ll do everything to get it. I was also a fangirl. When I love something, I become obsessed with it. Two of the biggest inspirations of my childhood were Taylor Swift and The Vampire Diaries. Later on, came superheroes and Marvel. I’m dreaming to play a superhero for them one day! Of course, books, movies, romcoms, music and so many others stories have made me who I am today! I also always loved sports and just moving my body in general. One thing I miss about France is being able to walk or bike everywhere, which is not the best option in LA. But as long as I have a gym and Lesmills classes, I’m satisfied! I even gave a fitness class in my school for a few months, which is something I’m always happy and proud to talk about 🙂
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margodguardia/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margo-della-guardia-48b50b211/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/margodguardia
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeG6GkiR3H_TOyemSJKLCng
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/mdgproductions_/
