Meet Lara Clear

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lara Clear.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Lara. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am originally from a small town in Surrey, England, just outside of London. After always having a passion to perform in high school plays, I started leaning towards studying Performing Arts at a professional level once I graduated high school. I went on to do so and trained at The Urdang Academy, studying Acting, Singing, and Dancing for three years.

After graduating the vocational conservatory, I began working in the London theatre scene, performing in big UK shows. I also booked a lot of work in independent film, voice-over and commercially. When the opportunity arose I moved to NYC to perform in multiple theatre shows and with some very reputable theatre companies. Enjoying work stateside after gaining working papers for the USA I stayed in NYC for some years, enjoying much success commercially and theatrically. Once I attained my Green Card I decided to make the move to LA and continued to pursue a career in the arts but more focused on TV and Film in LALA Land!

As a child, I did do some child modeling commercially but I started acting very late in my career. I also spend a lot of my time working in voice over now, both commercially and in video games, as well as narration!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has most certainly not been a smooth road! Nothing about the entertainment industry is easy. Trying to carve a new life for yourself in a different continent without family and friends by your side is no easy feat.

Getting the initial 0-1 Visa to perform in the USA was extremely taxing and difficult. That was the first major challenge in my USA career for sure, followed by applying for the Green card. That was triple the cost and quadruple the effort! How I got approved for my extraordinary artist green card was nothing short of a miracle and so much hard work. The body of work that you had to acquire to prove to immigration that you are worthy of a Green Card is a substantial size.

What seems like never-ending rejection that you face in this industry is a daily struggle. Just to keep positive and motivated is a hard task. Alongside the professional challenges that I have faced I have had some major personal ones too. Just before I moved to LA, my father passed away in a shock death and for the last three years I have been struggling to deal with the emotional turmoil of this trauma as well as having to navigate my move to the west coast. Meeting new friends and making new professional connections whilst you are suffering emotionally is very hard. But I have carved out a lovely life for myself in LA which I am proud of.

Despite all odds I do keep getting little wins in my personal and professional life that keep the dream and journey alive, making me grateful for the career path that I have chosen. I love spending time with my boyfriend and my Bernedoodle puppy Dakota!

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am an actor and producer. Most recently I have starred in NCIS:LA, Shadow Wolves and many worldwide Voice over campaigns. I have been producing many of my own projects for many years. I have a body of work producing short films, parodies, web series and focus. Currently, I’m working on producing a live show which I will star in, two short films, a documentary and a mini-series. Of late I have been cast in many action, villain and spy type of roles which I am enjoying! In September I will be shooting a fantastic film role which I can’t say much about but it involves me playing a leader of a cult.

I think what sets me apart from others, is my life experience and resilience I have from the strength gained from living in three of the toughest cities in the world. London, NY and LA. This, alongside the hardship of losing a parent and still powering on with a tough career path has really made a strong, determined actor. The losses have actually given my acting work depth and a vulnerability that wasn’t necessarily there before.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success can be defined as the accomplishment of an aim or a purpose. With that being said I think the hardest component of that is to actually figure out your genuine purpose. Once you know your purpose you can align all your decisions to serve that purpose! Like most artists, I do struggle to recognize my own successes and am always aiming to achieve the next goal. But the next marker I personally am going for is to book a major network series regular role, on a show that I admire.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.laraclear.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @laraclear
• Facebook: Lara Clear
• Twitter: Lara Clear

Image Credit:
Getty, Ruth Crafer

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