Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Lynn Cunanan.
Hi Erica, 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?
My parents put me in dance when I was three years old. I started in the baby ballet/tap class and I couldn’t wait until I was old enough to take jazz too. They must have seen some sort of theatrical desire in me because they signed me up for my first play soon after. I played Molly in the musical Annie and by that point I had definitely caught the performing bug. I kind of lost touch with musical theater for a while and focused on competitive dance. I found my way back to the theater through backstage and tech work. I started small with moving set pieces backstage. I eventually learned how to run the spotlight, operate the light and sound board, and I even stage-managed a show for a children’s theater back home. Often kids would get sick, so in between working they would ask me to fill in for various parts of the show. I loved it!!! The stage was definitely my first love, but I knew I wanted to work in film and tv more than anything. I had kind of a late start with film but I was really eager. It wasn’t until after I graduated high school that I was finally able to start working in LA. I was so lucky to have been able to book Netflix’s The Prom. It was my first movie audition and I think I got really lucky. I couldn’t have asked for a better first film experience. The cast was incredible. I learned so much from being on a set for the first time. The entire experience really validated that I wanted to be in this industry forever.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Being a dancer is such a big and important part of my life. Dance has always been one of my biggest loves but one of my biggest struggles. I was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. POTS doesn’t really duet well with dance or any athletic career path really. I started noticing symptoms when I was around 8 or 9 years old without really knowing they were abnormal. I thought the exhaustion or nausea that I was feeling was typical for an athlete. I thought feeling dizzy when dancing was just part of the sport. I had assumed that standing up after a 2-minute routine was just as difficult for everyone and that it would get easier. Well, it didn’t ever get easier. All of my symptoms were chalked up to anxiety. I was told that I was having panic attacks. I didn’t know how to control them and the idea of that was actually giving me a lot of anxiety. 10 years later, I was in a dance class that put me in the hospital. As scary as that experience was, I was finally able to get some answers. My doctor ordered a tilt table test and at 18 years old I was finally given the diagnosis of POTS. I have been able to learn how to manage my symptoms a lot better, but it will always been something that I struggle with. I’ve been so lucky to dance in a couple of films now but I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t terrified each time because I don’t want my POTS to hold me back. But it turns out I can keep pushing my limits to new and better ones. I’m really proud of that.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an actress and dancer. Really, I just love telling stories. I’m also a student. I am almost finished with my Masters of Business Administration. If I could choose my dream life, I’d be a working performer with a big enough platform to start my own business. I think the idea of having my own production company sounds really fun.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
A teacher and friend gave me a peace of advice that really stuck with me. I walked into the room that day, very nervous. She took one look at me and told me to get the idea of perfection out of my head. It doesn’t exist. The thing that will leave the lasting impression are the intentions that you show. That advice kind of blew my mind. It’s really hard not to want to be perfect, but she was right. Perfection doesn’t exist. If you lead with powerful, kind, determined, and strong intentions, that’s what people will remember about you. I think of that advice every time I walk into an audition or onto set, but I also try to remind myself in everyday life because I think it’s so true. As people, we should all be striving to have really good intentions rather than be some sort of perfect. I’m really thankful that she gave me that piece of wisdom.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @thisisericalynn
- All of my social media is @thisisericalynn (Facebook and TikTok) But Instagram is the best way to follow me.
