Alexandra Ryan shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Alexandra, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
The funny thing is there really isn’t any such thing as a normal day for me. My schedule is often dependent on external factors: whether I’m heading to set or a recording studio… maybe I’m recording an audiobook at home, maybe I’m writing at a coffee shop, or prepping an on-camera audition. But I do try to hit certain things daily so that I can show up to my life as the best me. I try to workout, I TRY to meditate. And I work to have some social interaction every day. Especially if I’m not on set or in the studio, my day to day can get isolating and humans are kind of like emotional oxygen for me. I crave connection! So that’s also something I try to make sure happens every day, even if it’s striking up conversations with strangers while I run errands.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Sure! My name is Alexandra Ryan, but minutes after you meet me you’re going to call me Alex because everyone does and I’m good with that. I’m an actor, a voice actor, and an audiobook narrator. I’m also a writer, mostly for content I act in: films, stage shows, television. And there’s always the fun of creating for social media. My personality is like my hair: frizzy, whacky, and loud, POSSIBLY controllable if you work really hard at it. I love collaborating on all sorts of creative projects. The kind of projects I love to work on are those that show the cracks of being human so that others feel it’s ok to share theirs, usually through humor. Because we all need to laugh at life, even the painful bits.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Oh, wow that question hits me in all the feels. Mostly because my wish is that the world never tells us who we have to be. Ok, pipe dream. So how about my hope is that we learn to not cave to the pressure of being told who we are. I was definitely shoved into boxes of who others needed me to be so young that I’m not sure I know the answer to be honest. I’ve always been incredibly sensitive and an empath, and I think they both caused me to be aware super early on what others needed from me. I have a photo of me at around 3 or 4 and I had wrapped ribbons around my head, wearing tap shoes, dancing by myself. I think there’s always been a different drummer in my head. So maybe her? I started acting very early. So between being who others needed me to be and performing as others I think it’s only recently that I’m starting to return to that sweet little weirdo with music constantly running through her head, and embracing that it’s not a curse to be sensitive. I’ll also say that I don’t think we are one person. I think a lot of the world has become very black and white. You are this and therefore you’re not that. Nuance is shrinking; we seem to be afraid of paradoxes both in ideas and in people. Humans are meant to grow and change and fail and fix it and try and reinvent. We’re not meant to be a “brand”. I clearly feel strongly about this, ha! My solo show Will the Real Me Please Stand Up was actually about a woman trying to figure out who she is and realizing that’s an unanswerable question because she’s so many things and they’re always shifting and that it’s all ok.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Honestly I don’t think so. I do question my path frequently though. Not in a doubting sort of way but more because I started acting so early I need to do a self-check to make sure it’s still my passion not my ego that keeps me on my path. So a couple times a year I have a conversation with myself about whether acting and creating are still really what I want to do and could I do anything else and be happy. So far the answer keeps coming back that this is it the right path for me.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Hmm…I think they would say bringing people joy, connecting with people on a genuine level, meeting them where they truly are. Pretty sure my least favorite conversation is the “how are you?” “good, you?” “good” one. So dissatisfying! Also I’m a bit of a perfectionist and, although that’s like the kiss of death for creativity, But high standards and continuing to grow in all my craft buckets are important to me (They’d also probably add that I’m way too hard on myself. They’re not wrong.)
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Since pandemic, it’s become easy for me to hide out a bit at home with my dog (Total dog mom), and if I knew I only had 10 years left I would stop hiding out. I also think, or rather I hope, that my people pleasing tendencies would immediately be put on the shelf. A little more “my oxygen mask first” in my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alexryanentertainment.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealalexryan/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-ryan-7b609038/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexandra.ryan.737/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@therealalexryan
- Other: Thru Nelson Paredez-Parks at ESI Network Management
cell: (310) 901-7033
email: [email protected]
Image Credits
first photo (with flower) credit: Josh Fogel
