Life & Work with Andrew of Downtown LA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew.

Hi Andrew, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in Spokane, Washington, and from a young age I loved performing, always coming up with characters to entertain my family. When I was 9, I discovered skateboarding, and it quickly became my entire world. By 11th grade I dropped out of high school, got my GED, and moved to Portland to pursue skateboarding. Over time, I picked up multiple sponsors, and one of the more prominent companies I rode for asked me to move to San Diego to film a video part. But while filming, I blew out my knee, tearing my ACL, MCL, and both menisci, and just like that, my dream of going pro ended.

Instead of moving back home to Spokane, I decided to stay in San Diego and figure out what was next. That decision changed everything. I stumbled into an acting class and immediately fell in love with the craft. Acting gave me a way to channel my creativity and experiences, and I quickly became fascinated with the process of bringing characters to life. Around that same time, while bartending a private party in La Jolla, I was scouted by fashion photographer Wander Aguiar, which launched me into the world of modeling.

That journey eventually led me to my greatest blessing, meeting the love of my life, my wife Michelle. We met during LA Fashion Week: I was modeling, and she was assisting one of the designers while still a student at FIDM. Today, she is the head designer for a clothing brand in downtown LA. Her love, support, and belief in me gave me a confidence I had never felt before. With her by my side, I truly felt like I could do anything, and that belief became the foundation for the real success I started to find in acting.

Since then, I have been fortunate to take on leading roles in films, appear in television shows, and continue challenging myself with every new role. Along the way, Michelle and I also started our podcast, Between Us Only, where we share our lives, experiences, and thoughts on everything from creativity to everyday adventures, giving listeners a personal glimpse into our world. Today, I live in Los Angeles with Michelle, continuing to grow both personally and professionally while pursuing this journey together.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but we survived a pandemic, strikes, and everything in between and came out stronger. COVID was tough, especially for Michelle since her family is in Sweden and we couldn’t see them for two years. The SAG strikes were also brutal since there was no work at all, but we figured out how to push through together.

On a personal level, life has thrown some challenges our way, but they’ve also brought amazing blessings. We rescued Ellie from the dog meat trade in South Korea; she’s blind in one eye. Our cat Oliver is a rescue and has epilepsy. And we found Lucy when she was just three months old; the people at the construction site thought she was a coyote. Lucy later had major surgery when her stomach flipped, and caring for all three has been a lot of work, but also one of the most rewarding parts of our lives.

The biggest challenge for me has been getting sober. Alcohol and drugs were struggles for me from a young age, and finally learning to live sober has been one of the greatest accomplishments of my life. I couldn’t have done it without my amazing wife, Michelle, by my side. This October, I’ll be two years sober, and it’s given me the clarity and strength to take on everything in my life and my career with more purpose than ever.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an actor. I’m not really sure I specialize in any one thing, and I think that’s part of what I love about it. Acting gives me a chance to dive into lives that are both familiar and completely foreign, to see the world from a different perspective. No matter the role, I try to bring depth and authenticity to every character I play. I’m probably best known for playing Miles in Wait With Me. He’s a mechanic who’s rugged and a little mysterious but also kind and vulnerable, the kind of person who notices the small things and leans into what feels real.

I’m also proud of my role in the new series The Black Dagger Brotherhood, where I get to explore a character with a lot of trauma and complexity. Both projects were special, mostly because of the people I got to work with. They’re some of the most talented and kind-hearted people I’ve ever met.

If there’s one thing that sets me apart, it’s my commitment to every role. I approach acting the same way I approached skating. I give it everything I’ve got. I love creating and telling stories with a group of people. It’s one of the best feelings I’ve ever experienced.

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is my wife, my family, my friends, and our animals. None of the success I’ve had would mean anything without them to share it with. I love telling stories and playing characters, but when I think about what I’ll really remember at the end of my life, it’s the little, quiet moments. Like slow mornings with my wife, having breakfast, laughing about something stupid, cuddling on the couch, and our dogs and cat hanging out with us. That’s what really matters to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm9247492/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrew.biernat?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrew.biernat.418723?mibextid=wwXIfr
• LinkedIn: https://linktr.ee/andrew.biernat
• Twitter: https://x.com/andrewmbiernat?s=21&t=5ALkSqcmpfL9RaeGNHw2FA
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@between_us_only?si=mQlW1g1IhpHscvKW