Today we’d like to introduce you to Ralph Merant.
Ralph, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always loved to entertain. One of my first memories was putting on a dance show in the living room for my family in our Manhattan apartment. I was born to immigrant parents, so an entertainment career never felt like a realistic path. It wasn’t until the beginning of the pandemic that I chose to start living for myself and follow my dreams. I lived in San Francisco at the time and quit my job to focus on acting full-time. I got headshots and signed with MDT Agency. I began to have a little success with commercials, and with that momentum, I decided to move to LA. After navigating the industry in SoCal for about a year, I signed with Aqua Talent. In that time, I’ve booked over 15 national spots and multiple plays. My goal is to break into the TV and film industry and continue living out my dreams.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, but I’ve been lucky. For every yes, I’ve gotten one hundred nos. I’ve missed out on roles I thought I’d be perfect for and, at times, felt hopeless. But life has taught me you have to keep pushing. What’s for me will come to me.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
While I’ve had great commercial success, my true passion is telling stories. I’ve been a part of several plays and short films that I’m really proud of. It is always an honor and a privilege to help a story come alive.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I think the key to living a truly fulfilling life is to take risks, regardless of the size. Quitting my stable job at the beginning of the pandemic and betting on myself was the biggest risk I’ve ever taken, but it’s paid off. I’m not telling you to quit your job and go all in, but at least take a small step towards your goal and see where you land.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/ralphmerant
- Instagram: @theonlyRalph
- Twitter: @theonlyRalph
- Other: https://vimeo.com/835901137
Image Credits
Stephanie Girard Photography
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