Hi Milica, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Born and raised in Belgrade, Serbia, I have been involved in acting since I was ten years old – though my parents would say that I had many unofficial performances at home starting at the age of four. Studying at our prestigious acting school, Studio Centre, led by Nenad Radovic, I look back with gratitude at the opportunity I had to take lectures from and perform with one of the most renowned acting professionals in my home country.
During my time at Studio Centre, my passion for acting grew as I performed in a number of shows across different theatres in the city – ranging from traditional and modern Serbian works to Shakespeare and even pantomime and movement pieces. For my senior year of high school, I did something completely out of my comfort zone – becoming an exchange student in the United States. In addition to experiencing and learning from a completely new culture, my high school experience also helped me determine that the United States was a place that I wanted to pursue my university studies. And now, here I am as a graduate of Loyola Marymount University, with a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts, who was nominated in the category of “best actress” at the Kennedy Center American College Festival, a milestone that truly has shown me how much I continue to grow.
Today, I am pursuing my career in the arts – both through performing and lecturing in Serbia when I am at home and working here in the United States. While the approaches of each country’s entertainment industry is very different, I have found that my combination of knowledge and experience has helped me grow my success in a way that I could have never imagined. I am grateful to have had my incredible upbringing and experiences in Serbia, which will always have my heart, but I am also looking forward to my future in Southern California – a place that is full of diversity, cross-cultural ideation and unique creativity. Daily, I reflect on how lucky I am to have such a supportive family that has stood by me as I chase my passion. This journey has given me the immense opportunity to learn so much about not only my craft, but also about culture and life outside of Belgrade.
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?
As an international actress, sometimes it is easy to fall into the habit of comparing yourself to others here in the United States, who are also vying for similar roles. It is also easy to get caught up in how the Balkan entertainment industry and casting differs in comparison to here. This was something that I found challenging to adjust to at first, especially while I was also adjusting to a new culture at the same time. However, I now look at this through a different lens. I used to think that my accent and unique look might limit me, but the truth is that anything can work to our advantage or be seen as a disadvantage – it is all about perspective. The world of acting continues to change rapidly – and being different is much more appreciated and embraced than I have ever experienced before, especially in Los Angeles.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love challenging myself and growing as an actress through putting on different hats and transforming into a plethora of unique characters. This is why I embrace each and every project and role that comes my way. I also enjoy bringing this same love and passion to others, which is why I continue to give back to my community through directing and teaching. Most recently, I wrapped filming the hit CW show, “The Outpost,” where I played a supporting character in a breakout role, alongside actors such as Jessica Green and Anand Desai Barochia.
In addition to getting to work with such a great cast and crew, something unique about this experience is that it was filming at a time I was visiting home – the timing truly was perfect. This is why I like acting so much, it can be unpredictable and evolves day-to-day. There are so many facets that go into making all the puzzle pieces come together and I am all for that – no matter how stressful and turbulent it can be. I am also very proud of my experiences and growth in theatre arts both here and abroad. One of my most proud memories was being a lead performer and director of a piece my theatre group, Treehouse Troupe, in Serbia performed at the Butrinti Festival in Albania, representing Serbia. Our performance was a sign of hope and peace between our countries, which have had a historically turbulent political relationship.
To me, this is so important as it is a proof point that art can transcend politics. While it can make important commentary on politics, the socio-economic climate, and current events around the world, it can also go beyond these things – creating relatability and understanding between people of different backgrounds and beliefs. I feel that there are two things that set me apart from peers in my field. Firstly, my intercultural background and experiences have allowed me a unique perspective when approaching roles. I feel that this has allowed me to create empathetic and relatable characters with a global point-of-view. Secondly, I feel that my strong belief that acting is about being a vessel for portraying or personifying something – an emotion, a cause, a character – has allowed me to approach my career in a fresh way. If there’s one thing that I’ve learned throughout my acting career, it’s that I am a blank canvas and every role offered is an exciting opportunity to challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone and grow.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
What do you get when you have a child who likes to dress up and play make-believe in different character costumes, all while watching telenovelas and speaking a language that nobody else in her family speaks? Parents that are going crazy! While it is still unclear to me how these two things came together, my love of storytelling and speaking Spanish have run in parallel most of my life. I used to dress up and stay in character for a whole day at a time, all while trying to speak Spanish – which I am now fluent in. I guess you could describe me as a Renaissance little girl, loving to try many different things all at the same time. My friends and family would probably also describe me as a “nerd” because of my desire to be a lifelong learner. My curiosity and willingness to learn, coupled with my drive to meet new people who are equally passionate about life and creating together, is endless. I am always striving for progress and improvement – taking martial arts and movement classes, practicing my breathing through yoga, and looking for adventure. This passion for learning may have started when I was playing dress-up, but continues to drive me day-in-and-day-out.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milicavrzic/?hl=en
Image Credits
Cameron Radice Photography Nick Arciero Loyola Marymount University San Diego State Ivan Grbin
