Today we’d like to introduce you to Ulka Simone Mohanty.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
What is my story? I am a voice actor… What is my story? I am a dancer and choreographer… What is my story? I am a theatre, tv and film actor… What is my story? I am a chef and food stylist… What is my story? I am a programmer and web designer…
All of these stories are true, but it didn’t start out that way. Growing up in Montreal, Canada, I always wanted to be a performer ever since I can remember. My parents had enrolled me in dance classes when I was three, and though my many voice impressions, dance shows and school theatre productions were appreciated, I was strongly encouraged to pursue a more “stable” career in science.
So naturally, I graduated from university in computer science and began a robust career in tech while I “figured out” how I would become an actor. I did plays, voice work, dance shows and even professional cooking on the side until one day, I decided I simply couldn’t keep putting it off. So, I quit my job in Montreal, packed two suitcases and bought a one-way ticket to Hollywood armed with little more than my clothes, some savings, my chef’s knife and my sheer determination to just “give it a shot.” I knew two friends who lived in Los Angeles, but other than that, I was very much starting from scratch.
I studied, I shadowed, I networked, I auditioned, I worked, and I began to see that my computer science skills actually came very much in handy navigating this new world, most especially in voice-over. After eight long years, I looked around and realized that I had not only expanded into the dance and chef worlds but that I had indeed “become an actor,” as I had aspired to from the start.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Immigrating to a new country, even from neighbouring Canada and starting over was definitely the most challenging part of my journey. The other challenge was of course navigating Hollywood, an industry where no strategy ever guarantees success. All you can do is work hard, hope for the best and keep going. Being bombarded with the constant messaging of “you won’t make it” is a lot to ignore, and the only thing to do is to realize that everyone’s path to success is truly unique and so, “why not mine?”
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I suppose what sets me apart is my versatility of skillset. That, and my facility with accents, languages and dialects. I have been fortunate to have had a lot of meaningful work, but I would say my top three things that I am most proud of would be: choreographing “Rivers of Light,” a nighttime spectacular show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom; playing the militant Commander Gulal in Madhuri Shekar’s “House of Joy” at San Diego Rep, and voicing several fun characters in the Pixar movies “Soul” and “Turning Red.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ulkamohanty.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ulkam/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ulkam
- Other: https://www.imdb.me/ulkam
Image Credits
Andrea Hausmann Gene Reed Teren Oddo Laria Saunders
