Life & Work with Freddy Barouh of West Hollywood, Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Freddy Barouh.

Hi Freddy, 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?
I was born and raised in Athens, Greece, where I first fell in love with acting through ancient Greek tragedies and the rich theatrical tradition that surrounds Greek culture. Storytelling fascinated me from an early age, and that passion eventually led me to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.

After high school, I moved to London to study Film Studies at Queen Mary, University of London. While studying filmmaking gave me a deeper understanding of storytelling from behind the camera, I gradually realized that my true passion was performing and bringing characters to life.

That realization brought me to Los Angeles, where I trained in acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. My time there helped elevate my craft and gave me the opportunity to work alongside talented artists from around the world while developing a strong foundation as a professional actor.

Since graduating, I have been actively working in Los Angeles as an actor across both traditional and emerging formats. On the traditional side, I had the opportunity to star in *ACT!*, an award-winning comedy short film. At the same time, I have been fortunate to be cast in several vertical short-form productions, an emerging format that I find incredibly exciting because of its ability to reach massive global audiences. One of the projects I was involved with, *Watch Out, I’m the Lady Boss!*, went on to generate hundreds of millions of views worldwide.

Today, my focus is on continuing to build a career that bridges both traditional film and television and the evolving world of digital storytelling. Looking back, the journey from Athens to London and ultimately Los Angeles has been driven by a simple goal: to keep growing as a storyteller and to be part of projects that connect with audiences around the world.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The entertainment industry is an incredibly competitive environment, and that naturally comes with challenges. However, I’ve always tried to view that as motivation rather than a setback. When you truly love something, the challenge becomes part of what pushes you to keep growing and improving.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that in today’s entertainment landscape, artists often have to think like creators as well. Rather than waiting for the perfect opportunity, sometimes you have to create it yourself. If there’s a story you want to tell or a role you wish existed, there’s nothing stopping you from bringing it to life.

That mindset ultimately led me to write and direct my comedy short film *ACT!*, in which I also played one of the lead roles. I have always loved comedy, and at the time I felt a strong desire to create something that reflected that passion. The project allowed me to combine everything I had learned as an actor, filmmaker, and storyteller into a single piece of work. It later screened for audiences in both Los Angeles and New York, which was incredibly rewarding.

I think every obstacle presents an opportunity to learn something new. For me, the challenge of building a career in a competitive industry became an opportunity to become more proactive, more creative, and more resourceful. That mindset continues to guide me today, and it’s something I would encourage any artist to embrace.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an actor who is passionate about compelling storytelling and creating characters that feel authentic, human, and relatable. Whether I’m working in comedy, drama, or the rapidly growing vertical format, my goal is always the same: to portray people as three-dimensional individuals with real needs, flaws, and motivations.

If there’s one thing that defines my work, it’s versatility. I’ve been fortunate to perform across a wide range of projects, from traditional film productions to vertical series, which require a completely different rhythm and acting approach. That variety has helped me develop both my dramatic and comedic skills and has given me the confidence to adapt to different genres, formats, and audiences.

Many people first became familiar with my work through *ACT!*, an original short film I created. The film screened at festivals in Los Angeles and New York, and it remains one of the works I’m most proud of because it was created entirely out of a love for acting and comedy. The story follows actors in the final moments before stepping on stage, a world I know well and care deeply about. Seeing audiences connect with the humor and the characters was an incredibly rewarding experience.

I’m also very excited about the rise of vertical storytelling. I’ve had the opportunity to act in more than 30 vertical productions, and I find the format fascinating. Vertical series move at an incredibly fast pace, with every episode needing to deliver strong emotional stakes and a clear character arc in just a few minutes. As an actor, that challenge has pushed me to grow and adapt, and I’ve enjoyed being part of a format that continues to reach hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide.

What sets me apart is the combination of those experiences while always remaining focused on the same objective: bringing memorable characters to life and telling stories that audiences can genuinely connect with.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
One acting book I find myself returning to is Tips: Ideas for Actors by Jon Jory, which is full of practical advice that remains useful no matter where you are in your career.

I also enjoy following industry resources such as The Ankler, Deadline, and conversations from film festival and filmmaker podcasts. As someone working in Los Angeles, I find them to be a great way to stay connected to the entertainment industry, and learn from other artists!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/freddybarouh
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@freddybarouh
• Other: IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5451950/

Image Credits
• Adam Chambers

• Tina Vonn

• Serena Jordan

• Eddie Ro