We recently had the chance to connect with Leslie Augustine and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Leslie, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
My cats! Seriously, if you get me started on talking about cats I’ll never stop! I have 3 . They are my babies. Cats are such weird and wonderful creatures. They are super loving, but that comes with respecting them. They also love their personal space. Each one has their own personality. My oldest, Hades, is extremely smart and devious. His love for food knows no boundaries and he is always trying to steal food. He also loves dressing up and posing for the camera. Echo, is a little elegant lady. She’s like a little dancer waking around on her top toes. The youngest, Lucina, is crazy! She’s very sweet but she’s always zooming around and diving under furniture. Whenever I feel stressed or unhappy they always cheer me up.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a dancer and actress from the east coast, currently living in Los Angeles. My main styles of dance are ballet, jazz, bellydance, and modern dance. I perform a lot in cabaret style shows. I’m also a choreographer and love creating unique pieces that can range between vintage elegance and modern gothic.
As an actress I specialize is horror and suspense. Last year, my fiancé and I worked on a short film together. It is titled“Beneath the Surface”. I was happy that I was able to produce as well as star in it. Im also proud that it was accepted into numerous festivals and won many awards. I am very proud of that project and would really love to collaborate more on horror and suspense films and television.
We are also currently working on starting a dance and live entertainment company. There’s a lack of live entertainment in the style that I’m interested in and I want to build something unique and interesting. I can’t give too much away quite yet, but I am looking for trained dancers.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I am not the type of person who allows others to dictate who I am or who I need to be. I’m stubborn now just as I was as a child. I do credit my mother for supporting me and allowing my creativity to flow. She might not always understand where I’m coming from, but she’s always been there to support me. I’ve always been a little bit odd. I’ve always embraced that though. Going against the grain and not following the crowd is something I’m very familiar with. While my style and opinions might have changed over the years, I’ve always been consistent in the fact that I do not care what is fashionable, popular, or the latest trend. I’ve always loved vintage style. From Victorian era to the 80s, I’ve always loved dressing in other eras. The only time I’m casual is when I’m rehearsing, teaching dance, or working out!
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Well, I’ve felt that a lot recently. More than ever. There have been so many set backs, many of which are out of my control. The pandemic did a number on finding work. Then the Union strikes really put the entertainment industry on hold. The current politics aren’t helping. It’s become hard to even get auditions or work because there’s so much less being produced. Money is extremely tight right now so it’s difficult to do much of anything. But I love performing more than anything else, and I truly believe I can become successful with my business. It’s going to take a lot of hard work and help from people who believe in me.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
Oh my there are so many lies in the talent industry! They tell you talent matters but just look at the quality of films, television shows and some live performances that are being produced. It’s been inundated with talentless influencers and the need to be overly politically correct. Yes, variety matters, but it seems that we’ve forgotten to look at talent first. And let’s be honest, it’s all about who you know and if you know how to play the game. I truly want to work with real talented people, regardless of how many followers they have on social media. Yes, of course connections matter, but I’m not going to just disregard my art for money. It’s a very tricky industry with no set rules.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
Honestly, when I’m performing. Whether on the stage or in front of a camera, there’s truly a sense of confidence and peace that I feel. Now, granted we all have “off” days. Days where we just don’t feel like we’re connecting with the audience, or we’re making silly mistakes or just not connecting with the material. But overall I truly feel the most confident and comfortable with myself when I’m performing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://leslieaugustine.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslieaugustineofficial/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Leslie.augustine
- Other: Patreon- https://www.patreon.com/leslieaugustine?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator
Image Credits
Saint Sinner Photography, Adrian Roup, Joe Welkie
