Today we’d like to introduce you to Alessandra Williams.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Alessandra. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I lived with my Father in NYC, on the UWS, and was exposed to the world of entertainment by osmosis. He is a brilliant creator/artist of many mediums, especially music. He always supported my artistic side. When I would visit my mother in NJ I would work part time at a high-end boutique in RedBank NJ. I remember helping Bruce Springsteen in the boutique on and off for a few months. He asked me what my dreams are and I told him I had to one day work as an actress, that I had done theater as a child, and competitive cheerleading. I always enjoyed the art of play and storytelling. I told him as a young child I would write scripts, shoot them with my friends, and edit them on the first version of iMovie.
He responded by telling me that I must go for it. That if he can do it, so can I. If I don’t go for it right now, then I’ll always regret it. I was 15 in 2009. The next week I started acting workshops in Manhattan, landed a manager right away, and booked work straight away. It felt like it was meant to be. I continued to work in non-union commercials and then booked a national commercial for ESPN which got me into SAG. At that point, I started working on mainstream TV shows in guest star and co-star roles. I landed a studio Bollywood movie and began traveling the world for work as a teenager.
I was quickly introduced to the Actors Studio and would work in their office and cleaned the stage, kitchen, and bathrooms to be allowed to attend their sessions until I was old enough to persistently audition and eventually became a Lifetime Member.
I moved to Los Angeles, where I continued to work in theater and on screen. I traveled making movies everywhere such as Colombia, India, Thailand, Malta, Boston, Philadelphia, New York City and Los Angeles.
Today I continue to work on both coasts on stage, on screen, in voice-over and I have expanded into Directing, Writing and Producing. I’ve learned to sing with a band and have done shows around Manhattan. I tried a bit of stand up comedy as well… and I will continue developing my own projects. The first two films I produced and or Directed took home awards at every film festival we went into.
Sony pictures fired me to produce and direct a pilot pitch, shooting on the original MGM lot in Culver City after visiting me on set directing a music video for an upcoming rap artist.
I’m obsessed with my work. I don’t take time off. My avocation is painting and writing. The work I do is diverse. Some of the art is large scaling up to twelve feet tall. I will have my first solo gallery opening in Manhattan Spring of 2020!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Not a smooth road at all! I will say in the beginning, it felt very smooth. I worked all the time and had a great reputation with my colleagues, agents, and casting directors. I made many mistakes along the way. Mostly naiveté, thinking I knew better than my very experienced agents! They told me not to leave NYC for LA and I went anyway. Causing a lot of damage to our relationship. Saying yes later on to the wrong reps over and over again, where they never truly had the power to satisfy me like my original team. Always trying to get back to where I was in NYC in LA, in a world where nobody cares about you much.
NYC has always been the better place of opportunity for me, causing me to return after a while, but I still keep a place on both coasts. I allowed relationships and false promises to derail me on a few occasions. My biggest regret was diverting form my natural state. I dyed my hair dark, put in breast implants, and lip injections! I had them removed after about 4-5 years of hell. I finally felt like myself again. I thought those things would make me better and more confident, but they actually did the opposite. I didn’t recognize myself anymore and my false sense of self created a lot of insecurity that I never had before. It also type cast me into a category that my intellect didn’t match up with.
This for sure, got in the way for a long time. I learned from this and returned to my natural self. It was a painful process, though it was worth it to look in the mirror and see ME again. I was riveted when I recognized myself. After that I reached a new level of work that surpassed the talent I thought I had into a realm of discovery and surprise. I needed to find it within myself in order to allow the freedom and confidence to shine through me in my work, both on stage, on-screen, and off!
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I specialize in Method Acting work and have a rather keen sense on phycology. I am most proud of being a member of The Actor’s Studio. It was the most difficult process I have ever gone through and becoming a member was the dream I made true. The day I was accepted was one of the best days of my life, and every moment I am there I continue to feel the gratitude for the community there. We put in the hours and the work. It makes a huge difference when you go into the professional world.
I may be most known for my work in, “Paul the Apostle of Christ.” It’s a successful faith-based Sony Picture with Jim Caveziel. Working in Malta was truly an epic experience. I also LOVED working with Director Steve McQueen on his movie, “Shame” with Carey Mulligan and Michael Fassbender. Back to mistakes… one of my scenes in the movie was cut out. I was early into my professional work and I was rather offended with the scene being cut. I should have shown the director how grateful I was to work with him, because I was! But, I allowed my insecurities to get the best of me and actually told him, “lucky if you’ll be able to get me for your next movie.” OH MY GOSH!!! How unbelievably idiotic of me!!!
The roughest part of this experience was that he was one of my favorite directors and I would have loved to continue working with him. I likely would have, had I not showed how upset I was. At the time, I didn’t understand the creative necessary choices in film. The moment I see him again I will apologize and let him know that I’ve never forgotten the wonderful experience I had working on his set, and I cherish the time we worked together.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I am not certain about this question. I have never received anything through luck. Though, maybe I did get the ESPN commercial that got me into SAG. I was cast off of my headshot. That is rather lucky!
Bad luck… maybe more like bad judgement… not realizing that the internet saves everything. I advise young artists never to have even one drink at a premier. try not to be seen in public with people that the public doesn’t like.
I grew up in an in-between place. Almost a millennial. The online photos and the social media wasn’t something I was prepared for. Media can be pretty brutal and it can hurt you, so keep it clean out there! Their criteria and motives are not always in your best favor.
Never give up on yourself. Be tenacious. Be honest with yourself. Try not to be impulsive. Focus on your health, rest, exercise, good diet, and positive thinking… You will make your dreams a reality.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @tastethevino
Image Credit:
Andrew Brucker
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
