Conversations with Sebastian Saad

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sebastian Saad.

Hi Sebastian, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
From an early age, I was drawn to storytelling and carried an instinctive curiosity about the human experience—what compels people to make the choices they do, and how the unfolding of a life shapes its narrative. I have always searched for the silver lining between chapters, refusing to let ordinary moments pass without inviting exploration or deeper insight.

My first true passion emerged in childhood through skateboarding. I was immediately consumed by it—love at first sight. Like many young dreamers at that age, decisive and unburdened by doubt, I was ready to abandon everything else in pursuit of it as a career. That path, however, was abruptly interrupted at fifteen, when an accident while filming a “sponsor me” video led to years of extensive reconstructive surgeries on my arm, ultimately closing the door on that dream.

Following a period of what I would refer to at the time as a loss of my sense of self, I fell into drug addiction throughout high school—a domino effect that began with being prescribed pain medication to manage my surgeries. During this time, I found myself drawn increasingly toward writing, poetry, music, and an inner world shaped by creative exploration. Unfortunately, the magnitude of the demons I was facing consumed most meaningful opportunities in my life, leaving little space to fully pursue or develop those interests.

At nineteen, what I can only describe as a divine intervention—paired with a run-in with the law and an unexpected saving grace—led me into recovery. I entered a deeply transformative process at a behavioral modification house called Ethos Recovery. The sense of community and brotherhood within that environment helped rebuild me at a time when I was at my lowest.

After spending a couple years working on a clothing brand, working on helping others struggling with addiction find what had been so freely given to me, and continuing to search for purpose along my path, I realized there was something more I wanted to explore. That realization came one night while working for my mentor in Atlanta. The desire to further my creative expression led me to take an acting class, which eventually introduced me to the Ivanna Chubbuck Studio in Hollywood.

Over the past few years, I have immersed myself in consistent training with the studio’s 12-step technique, exploring different modalities in which I could help other people, and continuing to search for what rings true on my path. I continue to seek new ways to confront, transmute, and integrate experiences from my past into my craft, while further developing my work in writing—always looking for ways to inspire, tell stories, and dream big.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As I mentioned earlier, the years I spent in addiction unfolded during a time when I was too young to fully understand what was happening, yet old enough to know that something had to change. Those years took more than they gave, and when I was finally offered a second chance at life, it didn’t arrive with answers—only the quiet work of beginning again. The years since have been spent gathering what was left behind, uncovering truths I had long avoided, and learning how to build a steadier foundation from experience, loss, and growth—one that might carry me, with intention, into whatever comes next.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an actor, and I also mentor and volunteer with individuals struggling with addiction. I would define my specialties in the creative field as a focus on the raw, emotional, and authentic human experience. I believe in using past trauma, pain, and suppressed emotions as opportunities for healing through the medium of the craft.

I am currently known for playing the role of Nicky in the HBO show I Love LA, along with a few other projects that are still in pre-production / unannounced. What sets me apart, I believe, is my commitment to truth—I do not shy away from it, but instead lean into it, seeking to understand life on a deeper, more authentic level. I am most proud of my commitment to pushing the boundaries of creative expression, and the ability to help and guide others in the ways I was once, always remaining a student of life.

I hold an unwavering belief in staying true to my values and continuing to push beyond the limitations often created by the false narratives people tell themselves. I strongly believe in understanding the power one has over their own life and not allowing doubt or limiting beliefs to prevent growth or the realization of one’s dreams.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is building a stone-patterned staircase into the mountainside of my family’s backyard. I remember exploring nature with my friends, using that creation as a gateway for our imaginations—turning ordinary afternoons into adventures.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sebast1ansaad/