Today we’d like to introduce you to Nora Sommerkamp.
Nora, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born and raised in the city “Freiburg im Breisgau” in the scenic Black Forest region in Germany. Growing up, I was always the tallest in class which made me really shy. My happy place was dancing ballet and playing the piano (I started both when I was four years old). My aunt was a prima ballerina at the Berlin Opera, so naturally I wanted to follow her footsteps and become a dancer. Unfortunately, my knees didn’t agree and I was told at 12 years old that I had to stop dancing ballet altogether. I was heartbroken, but it made me discover my love for Ballroom & Latin dance a few years later and I also began swimming competitively.
It was not until high school and after much encouragement from my friends that I finally took my first modeling pictures. To my surprise, I really enjoyed being in front of the camera. Over time my portfolio kept growing and I started walking in my first fashion shows. I loved the process of getting hair and makeup done and dressing up for the runway. It was almost like becoming a different persona each time.
When we traveled with my parents, I always had a fascination with hotels, so my career choice after school was easy. After graduating high school, I went on to do an apprenticeship in a renowned luxury hotel in my hometown, where I learned everything about each department. From the 1 Star Michelin Restaurant to accounting – you name it – I did it all. On my days off, I continued modeling and even made it among the Top 30 for Miss Universe Germany. I continued my education with a degree in Hospitality & Restaurant Management, as well as in Business Administration. After an exchange semester at UC Santa Barbara, I knew I was going to return to the US eventually.
In 2009, my hotel career brought me to Washington DC. I connected quickly with the fashion industry there, which included some amazing photographers, hairstylists, makeup artists and designers. We collaborated on many projects and remain close friends to this day.
When a hotel opportunity brought me to Rhode Island in 2012, I figured that my modeling days were over. I took a year off, focused on my career and met the man who I now get to call my husband.
In 2013 my mother suffered a severe stroke. I flew back to Germany the next day, quit my job and spent four months with my family until she had fully recovered. While I was in Germany, I was offered a modeling contract from a big international modeling agency in NYC. Supported by my family and husband, I decided to accept and moved to NYC in 2014. I took many on camera classes, studied method acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute and have been working in fashion, commercials, voice-over and TV/Film ever since.
2020 marks my 20th anniversary since I started modeling. I now have representation in Germany, Switzerland and across the US and I am so grateful for all the support and the incredible opportunities I’ve had thus far.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting over after such a long career in hotels, was definitely very hard. Especially after the difficult time, we went through with my mom. I remember how hard the first year in NYC was. The city is so expensive and the competition so hard, especially when you get signed at a later age – I was 29! There were many times when I wanted to give up, but I had incredible friends that supported me and helped me get through it. They told me if I made it through the first year, things would get better and they did.
In 2017, I lost both my dad and later that year also my aunt suddenly. It was the hardest time of my life and put a lot in perspective – especially in regards to self-doubts and self-imposed limitations. But I also got married that year which gave me strength. I realized that everyone else around me had the courage to try all sorts of things. For years I considered myself not worthy for certain jobs – especially when it came to acting – since I had stage freight and didn’t come from a traditional acting background. Studying Method Acting at Lee Strasberg was therapeutic for me. I learned to accept my emotions – whether they were sadness, anger, fear or joy and use them for my craft as an actor instead of trying to ignore them.
Since then, the universe has definitely aligned a bunch of stars and is watching out for me.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
My most recent work includes being a model on Project Runway Season 17 & 18, an appearance on “Isn’t it Romantic” and playing an underground fighter in the film “Girl Boxer”.
I am proud to speak German, English and French fluently which I get to use often in my work as an actor and voice over artist. Having a Green Card as well as a European passport also helps with international jobs.
I’ve trained in martial arts for many years and practice Taekwondo and Kickboxing. Many of my roles require physical fitness or stunts. Even though I am not a fully trained stunt actor, I learned so much from my husband Randall Trang, who is a lifelong martial artist and professional stuntman, that I know I will be safe during action scenes.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Gosh there are so many, but I’m gonna narrow it down to my Top 3:
1) Walking my first New York Fashion Week in 2011 (and each year since then)
2) Joining SAG-AFTRA for my first national commercial in 2015
3) Working on two full seasons of Project Runway on Bravo (17 & 18) with Karlie Kloss, Christian Siriano, Brandon Maxwell, Nina Garcia and Elaine Welteroth
Contact Info:
- Website: www.norasommerkamp.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/norasommerkamp
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/official.norasommerkamp
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/noraso
Image Credit:
Lea Pfandler Photography; Rhubarb Pictures / Colin Key; Project Runway / Bravo, Joseph Bradley Photography
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