Conversations with Aaron Dalla Villa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Dalla Villa.

Hi Aaron, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started as a ballet dancer in Nashville, Tennessee. That was really my first relationship with performance, discipline, and storytelling. Ballet taught me how much emotion can live in the body, how much work it takes to make something look effortless, and how important it is to fully commit to a moment.

From there, I eventually found my way to acting and moved to New York, where I came up through the independent film and theater world. I took every opportunity I could to build, learn, and create. Early on, I was drawn to bold, character-driven stories, the kind of projects that live a little outside the box and give actors room to take real risks.

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to work across film, television, and theater, with credits including The Wrath of Becky, Pledge, Life & Trust, Alpha Rift, Citizen Weiner, Gotham, FBI, Madam Secretary, On the Verge, and Late Night with Seth Meyers. A lot of my work has lived in the independent and genre space, which has been an incredible training ground because those projects often require you to be fearless, resourceful, and fully committed.

Eventually, I also moved into producing and founded One Man Army Productions. What started as a way to support underground and unconventional artists has grown into a company developing and producing feature films and series. I’ve always believed in building your own doors instead of waiting for someone else to open them.

Right now, I’m in an exciting chapter. I recently appeared in The Plastic Men, which is under Primetime Emmy consideration, and I just wrapped a series regular role in the forthcoming series West Village. I’m continuing to grow both as an actor and producer, with the goal of telling stories that are intense, human, strange, funny, and emotionally honest.

At the core of it, my story has always been about persistence, staying in the game, betting on myself, and finding ways to turn every opportunity into the next step forward.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. For a long time, the biggest challenge was simply surviving while trying to keep the dream alive. There were years where I had very little money and lived from place to place, often finding rooms on Craigslist and moving with everything I owned in two suitcases.

I bounced around Nashville, Florida, Portland, Chicago, and eventually New York, doing whatever work I could find to stay afloat. I worked catering jobs, restaurants, temp jobs, Chipotle Mexican Grill, and anything else that helped me pay rent while still auditioning, training, and trying to build a career.

That period taught me a lot about humility and endurance. There is nothing glamorous about trying to chase a creative life when you are also worried about basic stability, but it also gave me a real work ethic. I learned how badly I wanted this, because even when things were uncomfortable or uncertain, I kept going.

The challenge has always been finding a way to keep moving forward when there was no clear path, no safety net, and no guarantee that any of it would work out. But I think that is also where a lot of my drive comes from. I know what it feels like to start from very little, to bet on yourself anyway, and to keep showing up until the next door opens.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an actor and producer, and most of my work has been rooted in character-driven film, television, and theater. As an actor, I’m drawn to roles that are intense, specific, human, and sometimes a little strange. I’ve always loved characters who have contradictions, people who can be dangerous and vulnerable, funny and heartbreaking, damaged and still searching for something good.

I’ve worked across independent film, genre films, television, and stage, with credits including The Wrath of Becky, Pledge, Life & Trust, Alpha Rift, Citizen Weiner, Gotham, FBI, Madam Secretary, On the Verge, and Late Night with Seth Meyers. I think the independent world has shaped me the most because it forces you to be resourceful, brave, and collaborative. You do not always have the luxury of time or money, so you have to show up fully prepared and ready to make something real.

As a producer, I founded One Man Army Productions, which grew out of my love for bold, underground, and unconventional storytelling. The company started by highlighting artists and films that were weird, original, and outside the mainstream, and it has grown into developing and producing feature films and series. I’m interested in stories that take risks, whether they are dark, funny, emotional, violent, surreal, or deeply personal.

What I’m most proud of is that I’ve built a career by continuing to create. I have never wanted to just wait around for permission. Acting will always be my first love, but producing has allowed me to help build worlds, support other artists, and create opportunities instead of only chasing them.

What sets me apart is probably my mix of discipline and fearlessness. I came from ballet, which gave me a deep respect for preparation, discipline, physicality, and precision. But I also came up through the indie world, where you have to be scrappy, adaptable, and willing to take big swings. I think that combination has shaped the kind of artist I am today.

How do you define success?
I define success as freedom. The freedom to choose work that means something to me, to collaborate with people I respect, and to keep building a life around storytelling.

Of course, awards, recognition, and career milestones matter. I would be lying if I said they did not. They can open doors and help more people see the work. But I do not think success can only be measured by the outside result. For me, success is also being able to look at the body of work I am building and feel like it reflects who I am, what I care about, and what I was willing to fight for.

I also define success as endurance. This business can test you in a thousand different ways, so there is something powerful about simply continuing. Continuing to create, continuing to grow, continuing to take risks, and continuing to bet on yourself even when the path is uncertain.

Ultimately, success for me is doing work that lasts, building opportunities for myself and others, and staying connected to the reason I started in the first place. It is not just about getting somewhere. It is about becoming the kind of artist and person who can handle the journey.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aarondallavilla/?hl=en

Image Credits
The Wrath of Becky (2023)
Seann William Scott and Aaron Dalla Villa in The Wrath of Becky (2023)

Plastic Men Emmy FYC Party. Gregori J Martin, James Preston, Melanie Martyn, Matt Fahey, Aaron Dalla Villa
Photography credit @j.o.seph_photography

The Blind (2023)
Amelia Eve and Aaron Dalla Villa in The Blind (2023)

Bronx Frame One Man Army Spring 2026 Event

The Plastic Men Still @sashadylanbellphoto

Aaron Dalla Villa attends The Wrath of Becky Premiere at SXSW