Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia Stambouliah.
Hi Olivia, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Growing up, I always dreamed of neon lights and sunsets not really understanding why. Being the second born out of 5 my extroverted introvert tendencies expressed themselves through impersonations of people, in both real life and on screen. Once I’d felt that magic of thrilling and connecting with people by becoming someone else, I have chased that dragon ever since. After graduating with a degree in theatre, I began auditioning and landed my first screen role in Cate Shortland’s telemovie The Silence for ABC whilst I was playing Medea on stage. These two jobs were defining moments for me because they had validated my gut instinct to pursue my dreams with rigour and not fall victim to the remarks of past people that I was “not commercial enough” for the industry.
My career steadily grew over 16 years in Australia. I worked at the Sydney Theatre Company, was cast by Jane Campion in a film, played Amy Winehouse on Ben Elton’s live sketch comedy series, and was a guest star on Australia’s number one series Packed to the Rafters. This history is condensed into a neat package, but if I am honest there were frustrations I had, hitting a number of ceilings in Australia with the types of roles I was being seen for. I wanted more: more depth, more time, more leading roles. I decided to apply for my green card to cross the pond to the mecca of movie-making- Hollywood. It was a rude shock when I arrived in April 2017. I had to start again like I had just graduated from acting school. Working 3 side hustles to keep the lights on as my wage was $10.50 an hour and this was not the Australian wage I was used to. I cried a lot. Pushed uphill a lot. And questioned my choice a lot. The one thing I was certain of, was my need to tell stories. The biggest win was securing my management team. At last, auditions started to come in. Here I was, a POC, bi-coastal, bisexual actor trying to find my place. A year in, I found myself signing a test deal with Netflix and Warner Brothers for a pilot as a lead cast member of a drama series starring Renee Zelweger. It felt like forever to happen and then a whirlwind once the ball was rolling. I was quickly having a studio test audition in front of executives and the two other women going for the role. Suddenly, I was so thankful for the 16 years of experience I had. I could trust myself. I was on hold but ultimately didn’t get the role. It had confirmed to me that yes, indeed you have made the right choice to move, and you are only one audition away from that dream. The neon lights and sunsets made sense; I was destined to be in this place, working away at securing my place in Hollywood. My first job in LA came in an episode of The Walking Dead. This came after a day of crying at a kids Karate school in Beverly Hills, where I worked reception, as I asked my late grandmother’s spirit ‘if this was what I had moved to do at 37?”
I happily took that town car to LAX and flew to Atlanta to shoot for 3 weeks! THIS was what I had uprooted my life for. You couldn’t wipe the smile off my face except for between action and cut. It is a zombie series after all. Fast forward to a Pandemic in 2020 and the same scenario of being at a nannying job whilst I got the call that I was Michael Bay’s number one choice for the role of Lieutenant Dzaghig in his action thriller Ambulance, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul Mateen, and Eiza Gonzales. I couldn’t believe it! 3 months had passed since I’d auditioned! I called my family to share this life-changing moment! We shot Ambulance around downtown LA in 39 days, and every time I saw the sunset, which is Bay’s iconic backdrop, the young girl who had dreamed of neon lights and that sky, suddenly understood why.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Having to start again in a town that didn’t know my previous body of work. Traditionally being 35 moving to Hollywood would have been considered laughable. However, I persisted and ultimately had the biggest premiere of my career a few days before turning 40.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an actor, and I love reflecting the human experience to help us grow as a collective. I adore comedy, there is nothing like eliciting a knee slap from an audience, and I have often been cast for my comedic sensibilities. However, like most attuned comedic actors, we can often shine in dramatic roles, which is why I love working in many genres. I remember Jane Campion saying, “you have the ability to tell a story without words. Not many people can do that”. I’ve held that sentiment closely ever since. I would say being a character actor is one of my biggest strengths. Playing Amy Winehouse in Ben Elton’s live-sketch comedy series was a real highlight and challenge I am proud of.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I want to acknowledge my incredible family and friends for always riding the ups and downs alongside me. To my wonderful team of women who are my managers and agents. Your belief in me Carries me to, especially on the hardest days. I also want to mention how incredibly grateful I am to the casting agents of our industry, especially Denise Chamian, who cast me in the Michael Bay film, Ambulance. She has championed me since I walked into her office two years ago. It is with her trust and belief that artists with my sensibilities can be welcomed into people’s homes and on movie screens. I believe casting agents are the unsung heroines/heroes of the entertainment industry. Their own award category is long overdue.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Oliviastambouliah
Image Credits
Mike Ruiz Photographer
