Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Scerbak
Hi Erin, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have always had a love of performing from a very young age. My siblings and I would put on little skits for my family our entire childhood. We even had a lip sync cover band with our cousins called “The Force”! (We all still very much joke about it at family holidays). Once I got to college I decided to get my degree in graphic design with a minor in photography. I needed one more credit for my Associates Degree and it was either a speech class or an acting class… I took the acting class. And I haven’t stopped since that day on. I started primarily in theatre, which still has a strong hold on my heart, however my main focus these days is more in the film/tv field. I went on to get my Bachelor’s Degree from Kent State University with a focus in Acting and Performance and after graduation I had a set plan to go to New York. It was probably a month or so before my move to NYC that I pivoted out of nowhere and move to Los Angeles instead. And I have been here now for over a decade!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not. There’s a saying that many teachers, coaches, and seasoned actors will say regarding the pursuit of acting – “If there’s anything else in life you’d be happy doing. Do that.” This career is not for the faint of heart. It is rejection after rejection after rejection. Not to mention the intense up and downs and obvious impact that the pandemic and all of the strikes have had on the community as a whole. I feel so incredibly fortunate any time I have an audition or am lucky enough to be setting foot on a set. And even when you’re there and doing it… it’s still not guaranteed! One of the most brutal aspects of this industry is that you can do all of the work and when it comes out, you were cut out completely… and so the feeling of rejection continues. But, I can’t see myself doing anything in life that makes me as happy as performing. So, we keep going!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am primarily an actor. I have dabbled a little bit with writing though too, before the pandemic I co-wrote a fun little web series called Audition Life about all of the crazy experiences we as actors have in audition rooms. We only got through a couple of episodes before we had to shut it down due to the covid lockdown in 2020. I now belong to a writing group with a handful of incredible women. So I am having fun exploring that side of my creativity.
As for acting, I have been so blessed to have been a part of some really awesome projects. I am most proud of The Bikeriders which just came out on June 21st in theaters. It was such an incredible experience and it felt like a masters class every day watching the leads Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy and Austin Butler work. There’s a scene around a campfire and Michael Shannon has this gut wrenching monologue, and truly watching that performance in actual time was one of the most incredible moments in my career so far. Just being in that space with those actors and living in that moment… I mean, wow.
I find that my level of empathy really does set me apart from others. I feel very deeply for others and I find that is actually an incredible tool when acting. You can’t hate your character… even if they are inherently flawed or worse. In my opinion, the most successful actors are the ones who truly understand where their character is coming from, even if it’s someone who is not a great person for whatever that reason may be.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I actually got my Associates Degree at Cuyahoga Community College fully on Scholarship for my design work. I went to a vocational school my junior and senior year of high school for “Digital Design” and my teacher Mrs. Munroe privately submitted my portfolio for the opportunity of a full ride scholarship, books, and materials that I was awarded totally unbeknownst to me. It’s funny to think about the moments of our lives that set us on certain paths… because if it wasn’t for that scholarship I absolutely would have went to an art school and not stayed local. And without the requirements of my local program, I would not have taken an acting class and would not have found my true passion. So, thank you Mrs. Munroe!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.erinscerbak.com
- Instagram: Nirekabrecs
Image Credits
Stephanie Girard
Cameron Thrower
Focus Features
