Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Greene.
Anna, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a simple Afrikaans girl who was born in Stellenbosch, South Africa; I have a very bubbly personality, I laugh a lot, and I am someone with a very big dream. I am also a Child of God, as it is through Him that I got my talent and why I am where I am in life, and why I get to do what I do. If I want to put it in a nutshell. Ever since I was little though, I always wanted to do drama and be on stage and in front of the camera and simply just tell stories. And Hollywood is the place where movies started, and as a child, a career as an actress in Hollywood was my biggest dream, and my parents raised me with the idea that no dream is too big. And I remember my one school teacher always called me “Miss Hollywood” – so it’s weird how things happen in your life and how certain things lead you in a certain direction, and everything in my life fell in line so precisely, that it opened the doors that led me to LA. My parents also play a big part in my story. They have sacrificed so much for me, and I just want to make them proud, which is why I always push myself as hard as I can and give my all in everything I do. Because I owe my entire world to them. They are giving me my dream, and I can’t explain how lucky I am for that. They have always been extremely supportive. Always encouraging me and being with me every step of the way. And I would not be where I am today or be who I am today if it wasn’t for them. So basically, I always told myself that I was going to end up in Hollywood and be on that big screen. And there is something very special about waking up in the mornings now, walking around outside and seeing the Hollywood sign right in front of me. I remember I always acted out little scenes in our living room and I would watch Barbie movies and pretend I was Rapunzel or watch Disney movies and pretend I was Aurora. And as I got older, I was in a drama school and it was just always something I was very good at and that made me happy. When I was younger, I was pretty quiet, which is weird, because I’m like a megaphone now, but my parents always said that when I get on stage, or in front of a camera, I would become like a different person. And it’s honestly where I feel most at ease. Because I know it’s the talent I got from God. And I believe that’s why I was put on this Earth – to tell stories and to hopefully make a difference in people’s lives or to open their eyes by seeing a story or just letting them relax and laugh and forget about the world around them so they can enjoy the movie magic. And fast forward a few years, I came to Los Angeles in 2018, and it really feels like yesterday. I still remember when I got on that plane and I was a little scared, because I was on my way to the other side of the world, on my own, but I was also very excited, because I was on my way to Los Angeles because I was turning my dream of being an actress on the big screen into a reality.
And that’s what I’m doing now. Getting roles and being in movies and auditioning for big projects.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I am very privileged in the sense that certain things have come my way and certain doors have been opened for me. That being said, I work incredibly hard and I do not give up easily, so it takes a lot of perseverance, because one has to keep learning and working all day, whether it is accent work, or breaking down a script and doing character work, or to submit auditions – so it does not just fall into your lap and it isn’t always going to be a smooth road. But, I was very lucky that I was able to book quite a few projects right away, and then I found my Management Team, Metric Talent Management, and with their help, I already got my feet in big casting offices, like Netflix and Amazon and NBC, which is truly incredible. I think one of my biggest challenges that I still have to work hard on is my American accent. I never want to lose my South African accent, because that’s who I am, and I’m proud of my accent, but to be in this industry one must be able to master the American accent. And there are days when it’s not 100%, and then other days it’s perfect, so I just have to work on it every day. I recently adopted a new mindset about myself and when it comes to my work and the industry, but you won’t get everything you audition for or wish for, and it’s difficult, especially if you work hard on a character and you put a lot of time and energy into an audition, but this new mindset teaches me that if I get the role, then it was always meant to be mine, and if I don’t get the role, then it was never mine to get, no matter how hard I try, because you are never going to be right for every role, but if you give your best and you show them who you are and what you can do and how passionate you are, then over time there will be a role and they will think of you, and give it to you or call you in for the role, because you made an impression on them – and that’s what matters. So, that’s something I always have to say to myself and remember. And some days are harder than others, but, I’m sitting here for a reason, and I believe in that reason and everything will happen when it has to happen, and it helps a lot to think about it in that way.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Firstly, I’m international, and what’s special about that, is that my South African Accent separates me from other people, because everyone thinks the South African accent is so
beautiful and unique, so it’s quite nice to stand out in that way as a South African actress in LA. Overall, I am just very privileged for everything that has come my way. Every role, every big audition I’ve done, the stories I get to tell, because that is all I want to do. I just want to tell stories. And I want to tell the kind of stories that open people’s eyes or make them think differently about the world or that can make an impact. And if I can do that through using the talent God has given me, then what more can I ask for. One of the projects that I am very excited about, is coming out this year, and it’s an Indie Feature Film called “Play It Cool.” It’s a neo-modern crime romance set in the style of a 1970’s new-wave film, and I am super excited for the world to see it, because the story is very interesting and it has some twists that one will see coming. There is also a film called “It’s Not You, It’s Me”, which will be released on Amazon Prime in April which is very exciting. And then just all the movies I have been a part of. They are all going to go to festivals, which I am very grateful for, especially since there is talk that one of them might be able to go to the Cannes Festival. And then one of the movies I worked on, “Missing Daughters” was a TV Pilot Episode, and it was about human trafficking. And it’s roles like that that I want to do. Roles where you have to do research and walk in someone else’s shoes and understand them and it’s stories like that that can make a difference and make people think differently about the world. And I’m happy that a lot of the roles I get tell such stories. And I think during this time, it has also made me evaluate what I want out of life and what I want to do with my craft. And I haven’t quite figured out a way to do this exactly, but I know what it is I want to do. Being from South Africa, wild animals play a big role in my life; Rhino’s especially. And I have always donated as much as I can to help saving them, but if I want to feel fulfilled one day in my life and my career, I want to use acting to bring awareness to the horrors of Rhino poaching and help to stop it. I believe that animals don’t have a voice, so we need to be that voice for them. I’ve always used that as my little slogan, but that is what I aim to do one day through acting. And in saying that, I think I am most proud of keeping true to my roots. I am unapologetically myself. I am extremely loud and I have a loud laugh and I will laugh at a joke for 20 minutes even if the joke wasn’t that funny and ended 10 minutes ago. But I think that is what sets me apart as well. Someone I worked with on a project recently, after only working with them for a few hours, said I was like a unicorn, and that pretty much sums up my nature. I’m really just a quirky Afrikaans girl making her name known. So, I am really excited to see what the future brings, both in America and in South Africa.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Firstly, just believe in yourself. I know it sounds like a cliché, but in today’s world it’s so easy to lose sight of who you are and what you can do and the impact you have on the world. I’m a big Winnie the Pooh lover, and yes it may sound weird, but there is a quote I live by, and it says “you are braver thank you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” So, if you believe in yourself, anything is possible. And I know it’s easier said than done sometimes, but every one of us has been put on this earth for a purpose. I believe that in my heart. So, show the world who you are. And believe in yourself. Even if the future is uncertain, that’s still part of the magic that is life. I gave myself a new mindset in the middle of last year; to stop worrying about things which I have no control over, and to not cling onto bad thoughts. The world is so precious and time does not stand still, so make every moment you have special and meaningful. I got advice from a mentor, and they kind of crossed my path in a time in my life when I needed them, but didn’t realize the impact they would eventually have. But, their advice was to just stay yourself. It’s very easy to try to change yourself because you want to fit in, but be who you are, and do it unapologetically, because the world needs more people who are just themselves. I think we as artists forget that. We get so wrapped up in performing for others and getting reactions out of others, and wanting to sound smart for this casting director and this agent, that we forget we are all just people. You were put here on Earth for a reason, and you are you for a reason, so go show the world who that is. I also put my faith in God, and it’s honestly what makes a big difference in my life. And it keeps me grounded and keeps me on a path where I am happy with who I am as a person and where I believe in myself 100% and where I know anything is possible. And I think this counts for anyone’s dreams, because no dream is too big. It’s like Disney says “if you can dream it… you can do it.”
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: imdb.me/annagreene
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theannaoriginal/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theannaoriginal/
Image Credits:
Justin Munitz, Andrew Koltuniuk, Kenneth Dolin, Andrew Lane
