Today we’d like to introduce you to Leesa Kadirah.
Hi Leesa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I did theatre for years in New York where I was born and raised. I started focusing more on tv/film when I was about 16 and I did a summer intensive program with my college. I then did the intensive again in Los Angeles the next year and loved it so much that I came here for college. Covid happened so things slowed down but then in 2023 I did a little bit of background and then appeared on Equal Justice With Eboni K Williams 2 months after graduating. I continue to train and work on my craft while selling sunglasses to boost my career
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has NOT been a smooth ride. I think most would say the pandemic really threw a lot of people off and I can agree. I had to finish high school in the pandemic along with doing my first year of college online. That wasn’t easy because my college was in LA and I was still in New York doing classes in LA time. One of the biggest struggles was I had to take a stage combat class on zoom and I did not have the space in my tiny New York apartment. I remember my grades for that class started slipping because I could never go full out during assignments because of space. I then was offered to move onto campus but had to still take classes online but it was a bit easier because I had more room. Moving to LA during the pandemic though was scary. I had ten days and a dream to do it. My mom helped me and after I did my ten day quarantine, she went back to NY. I thought I would be okay and then I realized living on my own was a bit hard. I struggle with anxiety and at one point my anxiety was taking over and I felt like I had made the wrong decision. I was lucky to have my bestfriend and now roommate out there but for some reason I still felt lonely and helpless. I was crying in my dorm almost everyday from feeling like I wasn’t enough or that I didn’t know what I was doing. I remember I started to take more walks on Sunset Blvd to clear my head and that’s when things got a bit better. I feel like because I survived that time, I’m stronger than I was before and I’m glad to have that experience because now I know when to ask for help along with taking better care of myself.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Well for starters, I am a black queer actor. I love that I identify as that because I never saw that growing up. I always just saw black actors or queer actors and I never saw them combined because being queer in the black community was never easy. I speak out on black and queer issues all the time and continue to even write my own stories where there is black and queer excellence. I am also dark skinned and want to shed more light and representation for us. I don’t want us to just be a token character or just the character for comedic effect. We have more depth and character than just being the help or a laughing stock. We are creative and the foundation of too many things in this world to go unheard. While being an actor I also work at a sunglasses store called Quay, pronounced like key. I love that job honestly. I meet interesting new people everyday while styling them in sunglasses. I have a passion for fashion so this job scratches that itch a little.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I see myself as a full time working actor and having a side business to take care of. I want to always be in some sort of class setting for my acting as well just because I know I will always have a place to learn, fail and have a support system. I hope to have at least 5 short films discussing black and queer issues while also making love stories with the two. I am a big romcom girl so I am always working on little ideas. Right now I am adding on to a short that I did in college where a manikin comes to life and learns about real life and love. Kinda corny but I love corny ideas because they are just so camp. I would also love to teach acting to younger kids because they have such a bright future ahead of them and I’ve always wanted to be some sort of teacher. Business wise, I would love to have my own fashion line where I turn sleepwear into everyday wear. Yes I know that sounds very niche but that’s who I am. I know so many people who wish they could just wear Pj’s everyday but I want to make it a bit more normalized. I also am a big accessories person. You will never catch me without my rings. So I want a jewelry line along with my Pj’s.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.leesakadirah.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leesa.kadirah/?igsh=NzBmMjdhZWRiYQ%3D%3D
Image Credits
Joanna DeGeneres: red top photo
Robert Borowski: Black sparkly dress
Chris Jon Photography: Pink top, leather jacket
