Iris Klein of Los Angeles on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Iris Klein shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Iris, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I have found swimming in the mornings is a wonderful way to get my mind meditative and my body active. The first couple of laps are tough but once I get into the pocket of it, the rhythm, the water, the feeling, I can go for an hour. It’s the first couple that are tough, then, it’s smooth sailing.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I teach acting and coach actors. I am currently teaching technique, scene study and human connection classes. In technique, I teach a two year Meisner based program in eight consecutive days. I learned from legendary acting coach, my mother, Janet Alhanti, how to work at a very young age. I studied with her all my life and with Sanford Meisner and Stella Adler. In scene study, the students get to dive deeply into the material, mostly from plays, and develop an instinctive and truthful way of working, where truth is at the center of every moment. I cannot give talent but I can give your talent an opportunity to expand off the page and on the stage or screen. I teach the actor how to work. In human connection class we learn to listen to each other from the heart, how to be present and in time with one another. In discovering the other person, we learn so much about ourselves. As we see and listen we are being seen and heard. It’s very exciting as sometimes this is the first time someone might have the experience of really being seen and heard. It is very touching. My website is: www.actingclassnow.com
AND, I paint to sculpt and work with clay and glazes. I love it all and I’m always creating. My work hangs in private collections and I am currently showing my work at Gogo’s Peace Palace in Los Angeles.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
My mother taught me about acting and teaching. Janet Alhanti was and is a legendary acting teacher and coach. She worked with Meisner in the 60’s and then when on to teach and coach such talents as Robert Downey, Jr., Josh Brolin, Selma Hayek to name just a few. We lived in NY and on weekends she would drive me to acting classes and she would teach. Although i went on to study with Sanford Meisner and Stella Adler as well, my mother was always my teacher.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would teach and tell my younger self how to ground my energy and to breath deeply. I learned how to breath and ground when i was 24 years old through kundalini yoga. I was a very shallow breather with a smallish voice. Although I was athletic, I did not know how to connect my self to the earth and to my breath. The kundalini yoga was a game changer for me. I wish I knew how to connect my roots to the earth and my crown Chakra to infinity. I have incorporated this work in my acting classes as it is very powerful and empowering work.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I teach acting and human connection. It is important to me that we know how to connect, how to listen and how to be present, in the moment with one another. We race time and in that we are not able to be with each other, to look in each others eyes and listen and be seen and see because being present, in the moment is an intimate act. To be able to sit across from a person and really see them and to be seen and to hear them and be heard is a tremendous gift. This is what I teach and what I believe fosters world peace. World peace starts with two and I am committed to that from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Many years ago, a man named Dan Millman, author of, The Way of the Peaceful Warrior and more, told me that my purpose in life is to put people in touch with their feelings. That is what I do in my work. I help people to connect with their feelings while being in connection with one another. Through this connection, we discover ourselves and each other. I love this work and I receive much gratitude from people who have done and do this work with me because they, sometimes for the first time in their lives, feel seen and heard.. Feelings are addressed and people walk away with a sense of themselves and their partner. I love what I do and have been gifted with knowing what is true so that is what I teach.

Contact Info:

• Website: ActingClassnow.com. And. IrisKleinArt.com
• Instagram: @actingcoachirisklein
• Linkedin: actingclassnow
• Facebook: iris Klein
• Yelp: Iris Klein (acting coach) Los Angeles

Image Credits
Painting are titled: The Mother, Isaura, Nursing War, Circa