Check Out Stephanie Arapian’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Arapian

Hi Stephanie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
How I got started – when people ask me how I ended up in LA, I tell them: I took the long way from Maryland.
I mean that both physically and metaphorically 😉

My storytelling journey started in a surprising place: as a Catholic Youth Liturgical Minister. (Yes, this now-proud lesbian finds the irony hilarious.) But honestly, standing up in front of people, playing with words spoken aloud, relating a story in such a way that people might find connection, or even learn from? I was hooked for life, though it’s taken on various forms through the years.

I’m quite proud to be in the Theatre Hall of Fame at St. John’s College High School, where I graduated a c/LTC from the JRTOC program (Irony – check!). From there, I went to Fairfield University for a BA in Theatre Performance, skipped down to the sunshine state for an interning stint at Florida Studio Theatre, hit a hard stop, wondering what to do, how to move forward when I didn’t feel ready to be a “starving artist in NYC”.

Then I received a piece of Airmail that changed my life.

One of my fellow counselors from Girl Scout camp (a lovely Scottish friend) wrote me, detailing her experience as an assistant English teacher in Japan; teaching, staying with a host family, exploring the country. It sounded amazing, and I kept thinking, “I could do that…” which eventually became: “Let’s do that!”
I ended up spending nearly five years teaching English abroad, first in China, then in Germany. It was in Germany that I rediscovered my passion for acting, performing with ex-pat theatre groups (in English), and eventually applied to acting schools in England, moving to London where I earned my MFA and developed my love of tea. (My inner anglophile was ecstatic!)

It’s hard to explain the draw that led from London to Los Angeles – or maybe it isn’t. After eight years, dreaming of a career in television and film, the California life was like a siren – the obvious choice (and one that made my family a little happier, even if I was on the ‘wrong coast’).

Coming into my own as a storyteller has been another long journey of learning from failures and mistakes, changing the way I looked at “success”, and trusting that I am capable of everything I dream of achieving. I’ve been in LA over a decade now, working my thrival jobs, taking classes, writing, creating, and especially since Covid- making time for what matters to me. In the last two years, I’ve made time for family and friends, started my own business in corporate housing, created a slate of concepts I’m excited about, and digging deep into the hard work of leveling up on the inside.
So, I took the long way, and so grateful for it.

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?
I’ve learned to accept and even love challenges – because they always raise me up in some way. Some are exciting and terrifying, some I’d rather have avoided for the rest of my life. On the hardest day of my life, I shot “Voyeur”.

When my father was diagnosed with cancer, I processed my feelings in a surprising writing sprint and committed to my first foray as an actor/writer/producer. Less than a week before the shoot, he was admitted to hospice. I rebooked my flight to leave as soon as we were done filming.

On the day of the shoot, I woke up before my alarm – and I knew. My sister called, my mom texted – “Do what you need to do, you’re already on your way – we’ll see you soon.”

It was a painful truth, stark and raw. (I was in CA, they were East – what exactly could I do?) Reality didn’t have time to set in, my crew were arriving in less than an hour to shoot my film – now a tribute to my dad – my flight was already booked, and everything was on me to get things done. So I carried on, kept the day moving, laughed with the crew, dipping into the raw emotional work as an actor, able to smile and laugh and cry and tell the story. I sent them off with a smile – in the behind the scenes pics, you’d never know I’d just lost my father.

In the car headed for the airport, I was finally able to let the grief take me. I have… so many things I’ve learned from this experience, many I never would’ve asked for. This is the path given to me, so I do my best to learn, and grow a tiny bit stronger, wiser.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As an artist and creative, my work spans multiple disciplines – acting, writing, and producing – tied together by a passion for storytelling. I specialize in crafting narratives that explore complex characters and emotional truths, often with themes of resilience, identity, and connection. I love bringing richly layered characters to life on screen, imagining and writing genre-blending worlds that push boundaries, try to amplify underrepresented voices, and build bridges of connection. I believe we are all more alike than different – that being human transcends any label of orientation, religion, or origin.

I’m particularly proud of “Rewind to Her,” a short film I wrote, produced, and acted in. It’s an emotionally intimate story about love, loss, and memory, set against the backdrop of a subtly dystopian future. This project was a challenge creatively, allowed me to explore the nuances of grief and healing, of stillness as an act of resistance. Seeing it come to life has been so rewarding (such an amazing team!), I’m curious and so excited for what’s coming next.

I’d say what sets me apart is authenticity – the line drawn between public/private, too muich and not enough – has meant that I now weave authenticity into everything I do with a grounded, yet imaginative perspective, shaped by years teaching English around the world and training in London. I’m also a proud queer storyteller, creating space for narratives that are bold, inclusive, and thought-provoking. I’m at the point in my life where I’m owning the whole of myself, allowing strength, vulnerability and imperfection, trusting in the value of what I do.

Ultimately, I’m driven by the belief that storytelling is a powerful tool for connection and empathy. Whether it’s through a lens, a script, or on the screen, I aspire to create stories that linger after the credits roll.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Stories! Haha, I could share so many stories – in my thrival job, I work as a hotel bartender and therefore unofficial therapist. (Yes, even the most outlandish characters on screen are based on real people – I’ve met them!) I’m coming to own that my purpose is to share stories, however they come to me. I’ve won some film awards, accomplished personal goals around health and fitness, started my own business (Haus Haven, www.haushaven.org) housing for corporate clients and displaced families. All of which contributes to a life rich with stories, so I’ll always be creating and so amazingly grateful and happy for it, despite the many challenges.

With “Rewind to Her” in the can as of January 2025, we’re now preparing for festivals (Shoutout to Melissa Blue, the film would not be nearly as brilliant without her!) and I’ll be posting about our journey on social.

Can’t wait to hear, learn and see more of YOUR stories!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.stephaniearapian.co,
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniearapian/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.arapian
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-arapian/

Image Credits
Anthony Bryce, Paulina Acebal, Stephanie Arapian, Joe Hubbard