Check Out Hanna Avlas’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hanna Avlas

Hi Hanna, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and raised in a loving family in Belarus, but my wanderlust truly began when I moved to Lithuania for my Bachelor’s degree. It was there that I earned my European residence permit, and suddenly, the world felt borderless: even though I was a typical “broke student” I couldn’t help my urge to discover new destinations. That’s why I began exploring Europe by hitchhiking, which sparked my passion for adventure and travel. Since then, I’ve visited over 40 countries, each experience deepening my love for exploration.
In 2012, during my third year of university, I went on an Erasmus student exchange to Turkey, where fate introduced me to my future husband. Together, we became travel partners, addicted to exploring the world.
After my graduation from the university, we moved to North Cyprus together, where I pursued a Master’s degree in Media and Communication. I stayed on at the university as a global promoter, which gave me even more opportunities to travel. In 2017, I launched my travel blog – annaavlas.com, sharing my experiences with fellow travelers.
But as life goes, adventure called me elsewhere. I decided to leave it all behind and move to China to dance professionally. Dance had always been a big part of my life — I performed across Belarus, Lithuania, Turkey, and North Cyprus — so when I was offered a contract to perform in a show group at a club in Quanzhou, China, I jumped at the chance. That experience was unforgettable and introduced me closely to a completely new unique culture, as well as allowed me to explore many places in the Far East.
After Asia, I returned to Cyprus and was offered a full-time role as an actress with TheSoul Publishing, one of the largest media companies in the world. I became a regular character on the wildly popular 123Go Challenge, with millions of views on episodes I starred in. While the company treated me well, I wasn’t creatively fulfilled — performing playful, teen-oriented content wasn’t where my heart lay.
Then, fate intervened once again when completely unexpectedly I won the USA Green Card lottery! I took it as a sign and decided it was time to chase my bigger dreams. In 2022, after a long and stressful series of immigration tasks (because winning this lottery, as it turns out, does not make the immigration process easier, but simply provides a legal cause for it), my husband and I finally moved to the United States — the 7th country I’ve called home by the age of 30!
We chose Los Angeles because my best friend lives here, and because for someone pursuing acting like me, in the entire world there’s simply no place like this city — it’s the heart of the industry, where dreams either take flight or fall short.. I also knew California’s stunning nature would fuel my travel-loving soul — its breathtaking landscapes were calling to me, and I couldn’t resist the pull.
LA has been a challenge in so many ways, but I’m finally finding my rhythm here. I’m an aspiring actress, a life enthusiast, and an adventurer at heart — and I know I’m in the right place at the right time.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’d say I’ve been very lucky in life. It’s been filled with pleasant memories, exciting adventures, incredible people, and so much love. I never take that for granted — I’m extremely grateful for it all. However, the last few years, especially since moving to the US, have been the most challenging of my life. Of all the countries I’ve lived in, this one hit me the hardest.
Before I could even begin pursuing acting, I had to face the reality of paying immediate bills. The $20k my husband and I brought with us vanished within the first month. The tough thing about America is that you come here, and suddenly, you’re starting from scratch. No matter who you were or what you’d achieved in your previous life, you have to prove yourself all over again. That was hard for me — coming from a life where I had everything as well as a strong sense of self, only to be thrown into a world that demanded I take baby steps to build my way up from zero.
The challenges were overwhelming — finding a place to live without a credit score, navigating endless bureaucracy, encountering people we couldn’t trust, and facing the highest prices we’d ever seen, even with all our travel experience. Problem after problem. Even adapting to the credit-driven system here was a struggle for us, as we had never relied on credit before. In Cyprus, we bought apartments and cars solely with savings, so the necessity of becoming part of this system felt daunting — and honestly, a bit unsettling.
Even landing a basic job turned into a struggle! I thought working as a server would be the easiest route, but restaurants would turn me away, telling me I was “overqualified.” I heard things like, “It’s great you have a Master’s degree and impressive experience in the creative field, but we need someone with serving experience.” It was incredibly discouraging.
At one point, I was juggling two part-time jobs while accepting background acting gigs in TV shows just to get by. I’d work late nights as a game master at an escape room until midnight, be on set at 5 a.m. “camera-ready,” and then head straight to another evening shift at a Turkish restaurant. I repeated that exhausting cycle for days on end.
Still, I found time and energy to attend acting classes because they gave me a sense of purpose. In those moments, I felt like my presence in LA had meaning, and I could grow in something I loved. Slowly, I started figuring things out. It took me two years, but I’m in a much better place now. I have the energy and determination to keep pushing toward success.
I would like to conclude with the following: Many immigrants come to America to escape a life they are unhappy with, seeking a better life, chasing their version of the American Dream, that’s why they initially have a large reserve of willpower and fighting spirit. But my problem was that I came from a paradise — living on the beautiful island of Cyprus where I had everything and more — that’s why it was even more painful to start all over here, and there were many moments when I wanted to break away and run back. That definitely was a “total exit from the comfort zone,” and honestly I have to constantly remind myself why I’m doing it — what I’m striving for.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As I mentioned earlier, I started my professional journey as a dancer before transitioning into full-time acting in Cyprus, a year before moving to the US. I worked for a massive media company there, primarily acting for their teen-oriented channel, 123 Go Challenge. That experience ignited my love for “becoming someone else” in front of the camera. It gave me the chance to embody different roles and explore the diverse, colorful aspects of life, and I absolutely loved it.
When I moved to LA, I knew I’d have to start from scratch in the acting world. I immediately began participating as a background actress in various popular TV shows. Along the way, I took numerous acting classes, including Meisner technique at Playhouse West and Ruskin School of Acting, voice-over training at LA City College Extension, and I completed three levels of improv at Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, plus a variety of workshops to hone my craft.
Of course, I also had to find a good way to pay the bills while still having the flexibility to pursue acting. That’s how I became a poker dealer. I’ve worked in casinos and even dealt at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, where I relocated for the duration of the event this summer. It’s a job that provides financial stability while allowing me to continue working towards my acting goals.
Beyond small business commercials, my latest projects include starring in a short film, Lovewaves, and a feature film, The Elephant. It might sound cliché, but as an Eastern European woman, my first roles were playing a “villain aligned with the Russian mafia” and a “Russian immigrant woman navigating life in LA,” these are the roles that deeply resonate with me given my own experiences.
Focusing on what I truly love — acting — gives me the strength to stay in LA, and even fall in love with the city, especially when I reflect on the small accomplishments and progress I’ve made along the way.

What makes you happy?
I feel truly happy when I’m acting, traveling, doing yoga, dancing, snowboarding, or swimming. When I’m acting, it feels like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, genuinely having fun. Whether I’m on stage doing improv, which brings me so much joy, or in front of the camera and hearing the director say “Action,” I experience this deep sense of fulfillment — like I’m doing what I’m meant to do. That feeling of satisfaction is pure happiness for me.
I also find joy in moving my body in ways that feel natural and freeing. Pure moments of happiness for me look like dancing to a great tune on the dance floor or performing a choreography I love on stage.
Or when I’m free-riding down fresh snow on my snowboard in the beautiful mountains — that’s a perfect happy moment.
Yoga also brings me joy, especially when I’m stretching my body in a dynamic flow.
Swimming in the clear waters of a gentle sea or a pristine river in the middle of a forest fills me with peace and contentment.
In general, when I’m active and trying new experiences, I feel truly alive.
Travel is another source of happiness. Wandering around a new city, exploring the breathtaking landscapes of a new country or island, connecting with nature, — it all gives me a sense of excitement and life satisfaction. These experiences make me feel alive and connected to the world, and they remind me just how much I love life. I’m definitely someone who lusts for life and all its adventures.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://annaavlas.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_avlas_/