Today we’d like to introduce you to Gaya Verneuil.
Hi Gaya, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
How does a wild, curly-haired kid turn into an actress and end up in California? I was born in Paris to a French-Spaniard multipotentialite mom and to an Armenian immigrant dad, who also happens to be the Golden Globe, Oscar nominee iconic filmmaker Henri Verneuil. From the get-go, my brother and I indulged in an environment where artistic expression, travel, culture, and sport were highly encouraged. My father loved sharing his passion and inspiration with us. Exposing us early on to his work and other’s masterpieces such as “Mystic River”, “Silence of the Lambs”, and “Sleepers”, to name a few. Above all, my father was an iconic dad. Extremely affectionate and supportive. Needless to say, I grew up cultivating a fascination for him and for American cinema.
When I was twelve years old, he passed away, and my entire world came crashing down. I didn’t know how to deal with all the anger and sadness within me. I would consistently seek refuge, which I found horseback riding and religiously watching the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I identified with the brutal fatality this young woman was facing. Having to survive on a constant while other teenagers were living a normal life. Having what seemed like at the time, an unusual family situation (when most kids had a sturdy home, my parents were divorced, I had been living with my Mom in Cairo, Egypt, 4000kms away from my Valley of Kings, my brother and my father, and dad passed away shortly after). Buffy comforted and influenced me to the point of sleeping with a wooden stake under my pillow, yes, but also inspired me to become as brave as her. To face my own demons and kick their asses. And I was going to do so as an actress.
I turned 16, left mom and moved back to Paris, where I took youth theatre classes as I completed my last high school years. At 18, I enrolled at the New York Film Academy in New York, where I graduated from a two-year acting conservatory program. I was granted an extra year in the US, so I learned how to drive in two weeks and moved to LA. I hunted down every audition I could find and honed my first paid acting experiences. Two features, a dozen shorts, a few indie plays under my belt I figured would be enough to grant me an artist visa and continue to pursue my American dream. Well, it wasn’t, yet again I moved back to Paris, this time my tail between my legs. I felt very disappointed and discouraged the first few months but finally got back up. I researched agencies and managed to get represented by one of the top three. Within a few months, I booked my first “legit” gig as a series regular on the TV show Candice Renoir. I played a young, tough rebellious cop, Chrystelle DaSilva. The show exceeded everyone’s expectations and became really popular in France. It even made it to the international stage! Five seasons in, I was very comfortable, I loved the team I was working with (literally, the whole crew felt like family), I’d been sustaining myself financially with my craft, I was on people’s TVs every Friday night. For the first time, I felt I truly earned the right to call myself an actress.
Five seasons in, I wanted to expand my range, I needed diversity. I feared getting typecast as the young cop on French TV. I had a plan to go back to the US all along, except this time around I had the professional baggage to support my visa, so I did. I amicably parted with the show, packed my cat, my American dream, my French vibes and California here I am!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing smooth about this road. Particularly because of the inconsistencies which come with the job. I booked my first gig as a series regular so quickly… it gave me the impression that it was common and easy for one to sustain themselves as an actor. When I parted with the show, I also decided to leave my agent and try a different collaboration. Well, I got one audition in a whole year, didn’t like the relationship I had with my new rep because it was nonexistent, she ended up dumping me via an e-mail, and to top it all, I fell off my horse while jumping and broke my spine. Time to hit pause. From being a trendy new-wave TV actress, I became an unemployed one. I was agentless, both in France and in the US for a whole year and wasn’t getting opportunities. I felt empty and resentful. I decided to go have some fun and went on a date with the hot surf instructor, so I took a surf lesson in Huntington Beach and ended up on a date with the hot surf instructor. The following months, I discovered a whole new side to California. Orange County, Oceanside, Encinitas…
Now that was what I called a coastal lifestyle; that’s what California was all about, not Hollywood! I became obsessed with surfing and yoga, and quit acting. I eventually moved to Oceanside in a beach bungalow right by the Ocean and read, tanned, surfed for a year and a half. It wasn’t much longer until something started missing again. I was having fun, but I wasn’t creating anymore, I had nothing to be proud of, and I missed expressing myself artistically. Luckily, a French casting director who I developed a relationship with over the years contacted me for a role she thought I would nail. The same week, the producers of Candice Renoir asked if I’d be down to come back for an episode. I thought great, perfect way to get closure; I’ll end my acting career with the people I started it with. The writers got excited, and I went in on two episodes. I shot with them for a whole month and had an absolute blast. It wasn’t over yet; I wanted to act again! I came back to Cali and found myself an acting studio, where I still train today in the Master class of Marjorie Ballentine. Since, I’ve booked a few more Guest Star roles and I just signed with my first US agent. I’m super excited to see where our collaboration takes us! And I just signed with my first US agent, so I’m super excited to see where our collaboration takes us.
I still get homesick at times, I miss my brother and my culture. But this journey has been so rewarding. I feel so fortunate to live in California and to have found a lifestyle which keeps me fueled and happy. Did I mention I get to share all of this with my amazing, smart, handsome Texan boyfriend?!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Growing up, I was made fun of for being hypersensitive. Wearing my emotions on my sleeve seemed like a curse and the more I tried to fight it, the harder it was to contain. One of my acting teachers at NYFA, Lea Brandenburg, had us perform a short monologue in front of the class. I was to declare my flame to a loved one. First go, felt pretty neutral, I knew my lines and yep that was it. She told me to think about someone specific I would want to say these words to. To address this person in French first, then in English. I exposed myself for all to see; my heart started pumping hard, echoing in my ears, my throat tightened, my chin trembled, and tears filled up my eyes and rolled down my cheeks.
This was the first time I was praised for being emotional. Funny enough, most of the work I’ve booked has been in drama. Being told that having such “easy access” (Oh boy, if they only knew) to my emotions is a gift. Or as my dear friend and acting Messiah Marjorie Ballentine puts it: “Do you know how many actresses would give up their right tit to be able to cry like you?!” My revenge upon the cruel world which had previously received my tears with such disdain. Mouhahahahahah.
I’ve been very inspired lately and would like to expand storytelling further than acting. I’m writing tales; through them, I hope to encourage people to be vulnerable and follow their hearts even when the journey is scary. Your heart will surprise you if you let it. Other people’s will too. Hearts Break. Hearts forgive. Hearts heal. Hearts learn to love again. And we become better people for it.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Yep, to not let myself get defeated by external factors which are out of my control. THERE ARE NO RULES! I actually got really fortunate during Covid. I found a place to rent in Oceanside, right by the Ocean, and the city wasn’t on lockdown like most others were. I booked two gigs in a row and even got to travel all the way to Martinique Island for one of them. It was a struggle to come back to California because France was considered a red Covid zone at the time, so I had to spend two weeks in Mexico (as though it were a bummer, Ha!) in order to come back. I had a total blast; I’m fond of Hispanic culture, people are so warm and welcoming! I got to perfect my Spanish too, come to find, adding “a” or “o” at the end of a French word usually translates into Spanish.
Contact Info:
- Website: gayaverneuil.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wakatepebabun/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070664621993
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaya-verneuil-129a08128/
Image Credits
1) Headshot by Paul Smith
