Rising Stars: Meet Ben Ulrich

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Ulrich.

Hi Ben, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am an actor, originally from Germany. Born and raised in Munich, where I took my first steps in acting. I vividly remember how in my youth movies often gave me a sense of inspiration. I looked up to the movie hero who saved the town, the detective who solved the mystery, and the guy next door who accomplished something big against all odds. Making stories come to life with my acting created a spark in me.

During high school, I applied to acting agencies and eventually started booking TV roles. Meanwhile, my burning desire to go to America also grew—a lot. I absolutely had to see the endless nature, skyscrapers, and six-lane highways, and it just seemed every blockbuster came from the United States. Fortunately, after finishing school, I got the opportunity to spend time in Santa Barbara, attending a film festival close to LA. During the weekend, I always took the Amtrak Pacific train to Union Station LA to audition for short films and attend workshops.

Eventually, after auditioning, an acting school offered me a scholarship in the arts (Los Angeles Performing Arts), which then, after graduation made it possible for me to live and now work in America.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There had been plenty of obstacles along the way, but I would say that going against the tide always brings unpredictable challenges and obstacles that I needed to adapt to and learn from – which I continue to do so.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
According to an article, mastering a craft takes at least 10,000 dedicated hours. I started acting at 13, and now I am 21, so I definitely have still a few more hours ahead of me. Basically, I am in the business of constantly improving my skills. For instance, in the movie ‘Featuring Ella,’ which recently premiered in German cinemas, I had a scene with over 100 extras. I remember mumbling to myself, ‘Oh boy, if you mess that line up, you can watch 100 extras plus a whole film crew go back to the starting position – which will definitely take a while, and no one will be too happy about it. As you probably can guess…it did happen, haha. Luckily, the crew took it on a light note, and the extras didn’t mind since it was a party scene. It’s one of the things where you just get more at ease with yourself over time and through experience.

Actually, a tale just reminded me – there was a very skilled mechanic who started building a sports car in his own garage without telling anyone. After a few years of hard work, the car was finally ready to drive. But the mechanic felt it wasn’t good enough, so he spent many more years perfecting the car. It must have been a truly beautiful red convertible, probably my dream car, on a short side note. He said to himself, ‘One more year, and I am ready to show it to the world.’ Decades went by, and eventually, the garage collapsed. No one besides him ever saw the car, and his life work was shattered. I can very much relate to it since we, as artists/businesses, constantly create and might feel the need to always add a new nuance to make it even better. In conclusion, my takeaway is that mistakes happen along the way. As long as you’re dedicated to your craft, have faith in your work, and put it out there, it will turn out positively!

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Please reach out to me via Instagram, or if you want to stay updated with my latest projects, view my IMDb page.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14957404/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benulr1ch/?hl=en

Image Credits
Merryl Simon