Today we’d like to introduce you to Leyla Chykulina
Leyla, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
As a child, I always LOVED entertaining people, being creative, and acting, it was my greatest passion. However, after hearing so much negativity about the industry—people saying you’ll never make it, it’s impossible, and it’s too unpredictable. I pushed those dreams to the back of my mind. When I began my office apprenticeship, I quickly realized that I couldn’t die in that environment and let my creativity/soul suffocate.
So, I started searching for opportunities close to where I live.
Although I still consider myself new to the industry and at the beginning of my journey as an actor/filmmaker. I’m focused on building a strong foundation.
What keeps me going is a mix of determination and being delusional and working towards it.
I’m not waiting for opportunities to come to me. I’m busy creating them myself, just like I’m doing now with my directorial debut, The Magic Trick, a psychological thriller. I’m all about creating your own luck rather than waiting for someone to hand it to you, otherwise, I’d be waiting forever.
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?
Good question, it comes in waves. Some days, I feel like I’m meant for this, like I’m in my highest energy flow and on the right path. But then there are days when I listen to the song ‘Audition’ from La La Land and completely relate to the fools who dream, crying non-stop because it feels like nothing’s working out.
It’s in moments like that when all my struggles and insecurities about myself and my career come to the surface. One of my biggest challenges is finding balance between my personal life and career. It comes with sacrifices—you can do anything you want, but not everything.
Lately, I’ve been mostly focused on my short film, The Magic Trick, and I’ve faced so many obstacles along the way—just part of filmmaking, I guess. But I’ve really learned the power of perseverance. If you truly want something, you have to keep pushing, face the challenges, and not give up. That’s exactly what I’ve been doing.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m primarily an actor, which has always been my greatest passion, but I’ve recently developed a love for filmmaking. Acting is my main focus, but when a story feels personal and worth telling, I step into the director’s role. My first short film, The Magic Trick, is a psychological thriller, and it’s been an incredible journey stepping behind the camera. I didn’t attend film school but I’m proud of creating my own opportunities, proving that you can make things happen regardless of formal education. Moving forward, I’ll continue prioritizing my acting career, refining my craft at the Tischler Studio constructed by Jesse Tischler while directing films on the side when I’m deeply connected to the story.
Additionally, I’ve worked in commercials, so people may recognize my face from that side of the industry as well, which has helped me stay visible as an actor. Beyond traditional acting roles, I love performing as iconic characters like Marilyn Monroe and The Joker—it’s always exciting to step into larger-than-life personas and bring them to life in my own way.
What sets me apart is my drive, multicultural background (Russia/Kenya & India), versatility and LOVE for exploring different creative roles. I thrive in acting, filmmaking, and performing in fashion. I don’t like to be boxed in—I follow my own path, even when it’s unconventional. Even in moments when I feel ambitious or a little crazy, I always find a way to shine. That determination, combined with my love for fashion, iconic characters, and storytelling , keeps me evolving and helps me stand out.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up was an interesting experience. On the outside, I seemed like a cute, extroverted girl—pretty innocent. But inside, I was a chaotic creative, always pulling crazy pranks on people. I had a big passion for drawing, especially in manga style. I remember waking up early every morning to watch Russian kids’ shows and draw, but my perfectionism was intense. If I didn’t like a drawing, I’d throw away the entire piece, and at one point, I even quit drawing for a while because of it.
I’ve always loved acting, a passion that started with watching The Amazing Spider-Man movies. I fell in love with Emma Stone’s performances and thought, ‘That’s what I want to do.’ As a kid, doing improv and participating in school plays brought me so much joy. Entertaining was a huge part of my life. I was also a big people pleaser and a sensitive kid, always doing anything to be liked, which sometimes led to difficult consequences.
As a teenager, my people-pleasing tendencies grew stronger, and I began to neglect the things that truly fueled my soul just to fit in. I abandoned my creative passions and fashion interests, which made life feel meaningless. It wasn’t until I reconnected with my inner child and returned to the activities that brought me joy as a kid that I began to feel alive again.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/leylachykulina
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theleylachykulina
- Other: https://www.filmmakers.eu/en/actors/leyla-chykulina
Image Credits
@kellenberger
@ilakyan
@rob
