Today we’d like to introduce you to Yiana Pandelis.
Hi Yiana, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve loved movies my whole life, a lot of my childhood is memories being snuggled up in a blanket in front of a TV. At the age of 12 I figured out that being an actress was THE DREAM. But for so long I felt so embarrassed for some reason to express that. I think I never wanted anyone to have this misconception that I wanted to be famous. What I really wanted to be was an artist. To tell stories. To tell truth. I think that’s why I’m drawn to mostly gritty drama that entail so much rawness.
Playwrights who have inspired me are Martin Mcdonagh, The Pillowman and Tennessee Williams A Street Car Named Desire. I also look up to Lidia Yuknavitch and poets like Emily Dickinson and Maya Angelou. They have all created work that have so much depth and resonance, you literally feel their words touch your skin, and I just hope to do that too with my performances.
At the age of 2 I was diagnosed hard of hearing, and I grew up wearing hearing ages. Therefore my perspective on life felt different. I spent a lot of my time observing people, human behaviour and relationships so that I better understand it. Naturally that became incredible knowledge for my acting.
I started going to acting school after film school, and always continued to build my craft not just as an actress but as a film maker too. I was introduced to phenomenal teachers who I still think about to this day. Sancia Robinson, Briony Dunn, Bronwen Coleman, Tim Mcneil, Chris Thornton, Bonnie McNeil and Laura Leyva. Who’ve helped calve me into the artist I am today.
I booked my debut in 2019 as a leading actress in a film called Unsound. After the huge chapter in my life I chose to move to LA in 2023.
I’ve been lucky enough to book a Google commercial, many shorts and feature films during my time here.
In 2024, I made my own short that I wrote, directed produced and starred in called Wild Rumpus that is now doing the film festival circuit.
You can view the trailer on my Instagram page – @bellyachepictures
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?
My biggest obstacle funny enough isn’t my hearing which a lot of people think it would be. It comes with its challenges for sure, but it’s mostly just hoping people don’t make that my only identity. Getting rid of the label that I’m that “deaf girl.” Which I have no shame about, but we’re all more than that. I believe that’s the case for everyone, we’re not just one thing. Why that’s important is because I don’t also want to JUST play deaf characters, with deaf storyline’s.
I’d have to say being queer has been a bigger obstacle to feeling socially accepted than my hearing. It’s as simple as I just hope not to be boxed or looked at side ways because of it. It’s the constant dialogue you have with yourself that I wish wasn’t necessary. It’s definitely got better, but I’m not going to lie there’s moments where it’s scary especially in this industry, you just don’t know the repercussions, but you try to not care when you can. Like Cher says “if it doesn’t matter in 5 years it doesn’t matter”
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’d have to say what I’m most proud of is never giving up on my career, it’s difficult at times when you feel like you’re not booking for awhile and you question yourself time and time again whether this is what you should be doing. You reach a lot of low points, but a lot of highs. The lifestyle of being an actor is not stable. But that’s why I fell in love with writing and poetry and creating stories. I’m hugely passionate about films that involve substance abuse, mental health, disability (Harding hearing/deaf) and the LGBTQI+ community, and all I hope is to continue representing them on screen.
In the meantime, I’ll be beginning the process of my new short called Where’s Charlie?, which I’ve been doing re-writes for since 2021, I also have a feature film that I wrote, that I’m aiming to get grants for.
My style of content is wildly gritty and raw, I’m inspired by Australian indie films like Angel Baby and Candy. 90’s and early 2000 films had so much authenticity that I always try to encapsulate in my work too.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Trusting my instincts. Most of the time when I’ve gone with my instinct I always felt good about it, we never give ourselves enough credit to just trust ourselves to make decisions. A lot of my life lessons come from Brené Brown, specifically ‘The man in the arena’ speech. I try to listen to a lot of experts (including the guest who go on: The Diary of the CEO) who can help us grow to be better. That’s all it feels like it is, learning, growing, falling and rebuilding.
As hard as it is, I’ve also learned to be incredibly patient, especially in this field. Nothing is over night, but Im hoping even after 17 years of working and training, eventually giving little by little, you just have to hope you get that one step closer to making acting your full time job.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: yianapandelis
- Facebook: Yiana Pandelis
- Other: @bellyachepictures
Image Credits
Sally Burgess
