Today we’d like to introduce you to Mathieu Szymkowiak.
Mathieu, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Raised as a child on the French countryside, I could not have imagined one day living the life that I do now as a working actor and model. My career journey actually begins with a fairytale love story. 8 yrs. ago, I met my wife on the dance floor in the middle of Europe. She was an American who spoke no French, and I was a Frenchman that spoke very little English. It was upon meeting her that the idea of a life outside of France was planted. As our relationship grew more serious, life handed me the opportunity to work in the US, where I furthered my career as a Dental Technician, perfected my English, discovered the beauty of America, and married my wife! Moving to LA was always her dream, not mine. In moving to California and seeing her passion for life and her work, I quickly realized that the dental field I had studied and worked in for roughly 7 years did not bring to me that same joy. So, with the support of my wife, I took a leap of faith and pursued a dream I never realized I had. A shared dream with thousands of others …to be an actor and model. In addition to my newly found fervor for what I did on a daily basis, I knew I was on the right path when I booked the first major job I pursued in the first week I started this crazy journey! That job led me to securing my first agent. All along the way the Universe has put amazing people and opportunities in my path leaving me with zero doubt that I am doing what I was meant to do.
Has it been a smooth road?
Overall my experience has been very smooth and I’ve been amazed at how much success I’ve been able to achieve in such a short time, and the positivity and encouragement I’ve been met with by so many in the industry.
But, being new to America definitely comes with its challenges! My initial challenges include those that most foreigners face: learning the language, understanding the culture, making friends, etc.
Career wise, being bilingual has been an asset to me, but my accent has limited my opportunities, so I’m taking accent reduction lessons to ensure I am able to play a greater range of roles. Additionally, being new to acting requires that I remain diligent in my study of the craft, and hone my skills by taking classes, workshops, and participating in projects that stretch me. This is a strategy that I plan to execute for the entirety of my career, as I encourage everyone to do in any career. Being a lifelong learner is a way of life.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Mathieu Szymkowiak – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am an Actor and Model. Much of my time is spent working on commercials and print ads. I am most proud of the most recent national commercial I was in. It was the “23andMe” commercial that aired with the voice over of Warren Buffett. It’s an amazing product and I was proud to have been a part of it.
I am known for a few things including my look, (my wife jokes that my hair has its own fan club! LOL :), my accent, language skills, but most of all what I am most proud of is the positive feedback I get from my Agents, peers, and clients I have worked for. I take pride in being someone that is cool headed and easy to work with, adaptable, positive, and someone that can be counted on to get the job done. I remain humbled to do the work I do and I never leave a job without thanking those around me.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Hermosa Beach is exactly that… the Beautiful Beach. It’s clean, quiet, has a ton of public volleyball courts, great restaurants, great bars, and fashion-filled retail shops. The people are nice, down to earth, and fun!
There’s literally nothing I don’t like about this city!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mat_szymko/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matszymko/
- Other: http://www.imdb.me/mathieuszymkowiak
Image Credit:
Tim Jones, Dexter Brown, David Villalva and Brian Min
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
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