Today we’d like to introduce you to Mikkel Simons.
Mikkel, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Well, like many actors I started out performing in youth theatre and choirs. I knew from a very young age that I was a performer and an actor. I was captivated by greats such as Lucille Ball, Patricia Routledge, Whoopi Goldberg, Robin Williams, Rowan Atkinson, and Jim Carrey, to name a few. It might seem weird that a young kid would want to watch “I Love Lucy”, “Keeping Up Appearances”, and “Mr. Bean” reruns, extensively quote Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy, have a killer Ethel Merman impression all the while belting out Disney Classics such as “Colors of the Wind,” but I was indeed that kid. I knew at that early age that I enjoyed performing. I discovered that I liked connecting with an audience. That I wanted to make people laugh, take them places and make them feel things through performance.
My mother saw this spark in me. She is the one who encouraged me to start performing in youth theatre and choir. My father was always very supportive of me as well. I’m fortunate to have two parents who encouraged me from the very beginning to be creative and they both remain very supportive of me, my craft, and my career to this day.
Looking back on my childhood, I think I grew up looking at art, films, music, literature, etc. through three lenses. The first lens was for the entertainment and joy of it. The second lens was for the technical aspects of what I was experiencing. The third lens was for the meaning and subtext behind it. My parents would often have discussions with my brother and myself about what we just watched and what we thought it meant. It might seem a bit heavy to be talking with young children about the theme, allegory, metaphor, and simile seen in movies, but my honest opinion is without that influence, I don’t think I would be the artist or the adult I am today. I’m very grateful to both of my parents for that gift. They instilled a deep love and appreciation for the arts on many different levels.
By the time I turned 14 I knew that I wanted to pursue acting as a career and I knew I wanted to get a four-year degree. Throughout high school I performed in a lot of musicals, studied singing with a wonderful coach Anna Johnson-Combs, and took drama and film production classes at school. The first film I acted in was one that I created for a film class my senior year of high school. It was called “Attack of The Hosiery”. My goal for the project was to create a campy horror-esque short film about killer socks. Yup. Killer shocks. Well, you gotta start somewhere, right? However, those that know me know, in a nutshell, that this is my sense of humor. Even though it was just a little high school film project, I learned a lot from making that short and had a lot of fun working on it.
Around the time of my high school graduation, I auditioned and was accepted into a two-year acting conservatory program at Solano Community College (SCC) called, The Actor Training Program, which was created by George Maguire. I received a certificate of completion from the program. A year later I received my Associates Degree in Theatre Arts from SCC. That fall I transferred into San Francisco State University where I earned my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Drama. Post college I trained under Cody Dorkin, Kirk Baltz and various other coaches.
While I was attending college (and post college), I was also performing in numerous theatre productions throughout the Northern California Bay Area. As well as working on numerous Indie film projects. The year I graduated from college I signed with Marla Dell Talent in San Francisco, where I booked commercial and modeling work.
While I am still represented and work with my San Francisco agency, I am now based in the Los Angeles area where I am expanding into this market. Since moving to LA I’ve trained with Lesly Kahn & Co. and I’m currently training in The Second City Hollywood Conservatory Program. I also have some Indie film projects on the horizon.
Has it been a smooth road?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road let me tell you, but that’s all a part of the journey. I think one of the biggest struggles most actors and artists face is being able to support themselves while pursuing and working in their craft. Most of us have had or currently have the restaurant job, the bar job, the overnight or early morning job and so on just to make ends meet. You have good months and you have not so good months but bouncing back and forth between the two can wear and tear on you, physically, mentally, and emotionally if you let it.
I can only speak from my own experiences but what I have learned is to take each day one day at a time. Don’t stress about the things you can’t control. Of course, have plans and goals but don’t live too far in the future with them. Living too far in the future (for me anyway) only creates anxiety and worry, which isn’t helpful and can be counterproductive. Since I’ve had these realizations for myself, I do find that I am enjoying not only my career journey more, but also my personal life journey as well.
Another thing that I have learned the hard way is that the people you surround yourself with are important. Be sure your circle such as family, friends, partners, romantic relationships, etc. clap for you when you win, are there for you when you fall, and bust you on your BS when necessary. Your circle should support your growth and in return be sure to support theirs. Trust your gut. You know the people who truly have your best interests at heart.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am an actor, so it goes without saying that I am always in some stage of auditioning for projects, working on projects, or collaborating with fellow artists about projects.
Currently I am in the early stages of researching roles for two Indie films. I’m also working on several projects with my creative partner. I can’t really go into detail right now about these projects, but some fun and thought-provoking things are on the horizon. Stay tuned!
I also continue to train and explore my craft at The Second City Hollywood. Having focused mostly on drama the last couple of years, it feels good to get back to my comedic roots.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I like least about this city is no shocker, the traffic! That comes with the territory though, so I knew what I was signing up for. While commuting, I just sing show tunes, rehearse lines, and listen to audiobooks or podcasts. There is always a way to be productive even in traffic. Also, I’ve learned to leave at least 20 minutes earlier than I was originally planning to; that has saved me many times.
What I like about LA is the hustle and bustle. I love the energy of area. It is a lot different down here than in Northern California. But being a native Californian, I have visited LA a lot while growing up, so it wasn’t a super hard transition for me when I moved down. But I will admit, The Bay Area is special to me and I’ll always be that Bay Area Girl at heart.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mikkelsimons.com
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Brynna Bryant. Brandin Shaeffer, Brandin Shaeffer, Brandin Shaeffer, Katie Koeblitz, still photo from the film “The Great Controversy Ended”, Brynna Bryan, Brynna Bryan and behind the scenes snapshot on the short “Special”.
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