Life & Work with Nataliia of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nataliia.

Nataliia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Some lives are carefully planned. Mine was shaped by instinct, risk, and the courage to keep going without knowing where it would lead.

I am Ukrainian, but life has taken me across four different countries — and each one has shaped who I am today.

I started modeling at 12 — runway shows, photography, beauty pageants. I traveled across the country for competitions and commercials, stepping into a world of lights, stages, and expectations. By 14, I became the official face of my modeling agency.

Around that same time, I began appearing in television programs in Ukraine, and I truly believed I would become a TV host.

But there was also a part of me that followed the path you feel like you have to follow — because everyone does. I earned a Master’s degree in Logistics, studying at two universities, and built a boutique creative business in Ukraine, producing fashion shows and styling projects.

From the outside, everything looked right.

But inside, the question never left me:
What do I really want?

I kept searching.

And when you don’t know where to go next… you travel.
That’s what I did.

I met my future husband on a Mediterranean cruise — and that chapter took me to Mexico, where I lived for ten years. My son was later born in Texas, and becoming a mother gave me a different kind of strength.

Today, I speak four languages — English, Ukrainian, Russian, and Spanish — and each one feels like a different part of who I am.

During those years, we traveled constantly. At times, I felt like I was living on a plane.

Travel expanded everything — how I see the world, and more importantly, how I see myself.

At some point, I truly began to feel like a citizen of the world.

And then everything shifted.

I saw a casting announcement for the New York Film Academy in Mexico City. I had never truly believed acting was possible for me — but something inside me said: try.

So I did.

At first, there was silence. No response. I thought maybe it wasn’t meant to be.

But just before the program started, they found me. There had been an issue with my contact information, and they couldn’t reach me — but somehow, it worked out. I was accepted and received a talent-based scholarship.

That moment changed everything.

I continued my training in Los Angeles, and stepping into that world felt like stepping into myself for the first time.

Acting is not just a profession. It is a space where you are allowed to live a thousand lives — where you can be anyone, anywhere, at any time. Where your feelings are not something to hide, but the most valuable thing you have.

It is one of the few places in this world where your soul is not just welcomed — it is required.

Then 2020 came, and everything paused. We returned to Mexico and lived in isolation for over a year and a half.

I remember one of my coaches once told me:
“Go live your life — then come back to acting.”

And I did.

I returned to Los Angeles with a stronger sense of purpose. That path led me to LAPAC, where I earned my AOS degree in Acting. Theater came back into my life — The Good Doctor, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Murder on the Orient Express — and being on stage reminded me why I chose this path.

And then, somehow, stand-up comedy entered my life — almost as if it found me when I needed it most.
I always believed I belonged in drama, but suddenly I was standing on stage, making people laugh.
It was unexpected, raw, and alive — and it revealed a new part of me I didn’t even know was there.
Performing at places like the Ice House and Kookaburra Lounge opened a completely new side of me.

At the same time, I continued working in film — short films, vertical formats, and independent projects — and recently, a project I was part of premiered at the Pasadena International Film Festival.

I feel incredibly grateful to be creatively fulfilled and actively working, with several upcoming projects already ahead.

Today, I am a mother.
I am a woman who has lived in different worlds.
I am someone who is still discovering, still growing, still learning.

And that’s what I’ve come to understand:

This journey is not about arriving somewhere.

It’s about becoming.

And if there is one thing I would say, it’s this:

Don’t look outside for approval, belief, or permission.

Everything you are looking for… is already within you.

We think we live in this world — but in truth, the world lives within us. Everything begins from the inside.

If your soul desires something, it’s not random. It means it already exists for you. It means it is already on its way.

Sometimes it’s not that we are waiting for our dreams.

It’s that our dreams are waiting for us… to be ready.

Because in the end, it’s not about the destination.

It’s about the journey.

Enjoy the ride.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There are always moments when we hit the bottom — but when you do, look for the pearls there… then push off and rise back to the surface.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ve worked across film, theater, and live performance. My recent film Sake Battle screened at the Pasadena International Film Festival, alongside other projects including Love After Despair and Quiet Confession.

On stage, I’ve performed in The Good Doctor, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (as Satan), Murder on the Orient Express (as Mrs. Hubbard), and Power and Glory.

Stand-up comedy has also become a natural extension of my work. I’ve performed at venues such as the Ice House and Kookaburra Lounge for” Deez Nuts “ and Vargus Mason.

What I’m most proud of is the path itself — I think I am brave enough to start from scratch. This is something I’ve done four times, changing countries, cultures, languages, friends, work, and even my profession.

What sets me apart is that I don’t just perform characters — I experience them. Every character teaches me something, heals something in me, and opens new sides of who I am.

My life, my background, and everything I’ve lived through become part of my work — and that’s what allows me to bring something real and honest to every role.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I’ve always been drawn to voices that speak to something deeper — like Louise Hay, whose work has influenced me profoundly. I also love Gone with the Wind, a story of strength and transformation.

But more than anything, I believe we already have all the answers within us. The key is learning to listen — not to the noise of our thoughts, but to our inner voice.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @nata_mtzep