Today we’d like to introduce you to Annabel Barrett.
Annabel, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Oh wow, ok, well, back in NYC, I always loved Broadway and movies. I always knew I was going to be an actor. There was never a second of doubt. Because of that, my parents agreed to let me switch to a Professional Children’s School in Manhattan. It was a kind of private school for working professional kids. I landed my first agent at 13 but didn’t start taking myself seriously until I enrolled in a two years Conservatory Program at The William Esper Studio with the infamous Terry Knickerbocker.
Between June 2018 and now, I starred in three Indie features. I also worked on two other principal roles in bigger feature films. 4 of these I booked myself. In my 28 years, I have fought for my life (sometimes figuratively, sometimes literally) to be an actor and an example to young women and men who struggle with this crazy world.
While it feels like the whole world is on pause, I’ve been working on writing and creating content to produce projects of my own, or with my partner, Ian Ostroot. But my true love is being gifted a character someone else has written. I’ve had the honor of playing some pretty mentally unstable, complicated, and strong women. I’ve also been lucky to work on more bubbly and comedic roles in features such as the upcoming “Clifford the Big Red Dog”.
The last few years of self-bookings have been a non-stop hustle. I cannot believe how lucky I am. My First two indie leads were the perfect fit, to the point where I was the only seriously considered actress. My third project came by reaching out to director Dana Gonzales (Fargo, Legion). I’d worked on his daughter’s short film years back and stayed in touch. After countless update emails, he responded. He offered me a small role in his $2 million indie(!), starring Amber Midthunder and Billy Zane. While shooting that in Napa Valley, I didn’t stop. I trolled the breakdowns in NYC and realized I knew one of the producers on the new Clifford movie. I reached out and he asked if I wanted to tape for a N.Y. Local Principal role. 2 weeks later, I got the call that I booked it. On the flight home from that shoot, I was doing research on upcoming project and saw another movie that fit me perfectly: This Games Called Murder (Dir. Adam Sherman). Knowing the casting director, Mormon Boling Casting, I reached out to my manager, Liz Fuller at Citizen Skull Management, and by the time I landed, I had an audition. Once I got a callback and read the script, I felt convinced that I fit the lead role, so I went in for the callback, reading in the tone of role I wanted. A few weeks go by, and I get a call from my manager, with an offer for the lead! I screamed. Cried. I worked so hard on this role. I wanted it so badly. And I got it. That was the last movie, and it was a game changer for me. I can’t wait for all those movies to come out.
Has it been a smooth road?
Ha, nothing about a career in the arts is smooth. I just finished a movie with Ron Perlman (This Game’s Called Murder) where I played one of the leads, and I’m still terrified I’ll never work again!
I actually moved to LA not for acting, but to join a Buddhist community and program to learn mindfulness, the 4 Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path and to apply it to recovery from addiction. Without diving too deep, I am proud to be free from drugs. I used to think not doing drugs would ruin my creativity, but instead, it has inspired a lot of my writing, and fueled many of my characters. Before I moved to LA and began a life in recovery, I was unable to act and create the way I wanted. I constantly ran away from presumed failure and disappointment, convinced that I needed to “buffer” the world around me. I thank everyone who has helped get and keep me here cause I’m so happy to be alive and thriving, but I’ll save the details of that for another day.
I am proud of how far I’ve come personally and professionally in the last few years, but it will always be a hustle. I’m well aware that there is no “making it” and that the gift is in the journey, not the destination. I’ve never wanted to be “a famous celebrity”. I just want to spend a solid 60% of my life on set, creating, and so I hustle as hard as I have to do it.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I love bringing incredibly raw and often dark characters to life: “To go there”. I enjoy an opportunity more if it brings me in a headspace that terrifies me. I recently played a character that I described to my friends as a Female Joker. She would lick her lips before making a kill. While I’ve often played the tough, badass and broken, I like comedic characters too. I had the opportunity to play one in the upcoming “Clifford the Big Red Dog”, and it was so nice to be able to relax and show that playful side of me that I’m not often brought in the rooms for. But let’s talk more about dramatic roles. in “This Game’s Called Murder”, coming out next year, I was able to do most of my own fight and other stunts. I had never done any of that before, and it made me excited to continue building on that martial arts training.
I feel like I’ve finally growing into my casting. It doesn’t take much of a stretch for me to drop into deeply traumatic scenes or dark headspaces as I’ve lived a lot of it. It makes my range authentic. I hold my trauma and life experiences on my sleeve, trying to be as giving with them as possible.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
That’s a great question. Los Angeles is a great city, but to be honest, its’ a better city to end up in when you have a good amount of credits. These days I feel like New York City, although expensive and stressful, gives you a good foundation for your hustle, without getting distracted by the sun and the illusion that everyone in LA is on vacation AT ALL TIMES. Even though it’s a massively saturated city, if you’re starting out right out of college, and still look like a teenager, you WILL be seen. There is a lot to learn before you dive in headfirst. And if you don’t you could get used and scammed no matter where you live, but ESPECIALLY in LA.
Truthfully, there is no “better place”, it’s about how you utilize it. This business is cutthroat. So much of it has nothing to do with being talented. To have longevity you have to be talented, but the sooner you realize that about 75% is business, and about 25% is show, the better off you’ll be. I wish LA had more theater, where young actors who don’t have training could learn to play more, so they don’t become an idea of an actor and really learn to love the craft in acting, but otherwise LA is great. It is easier to survive in, but harder to get seen than in New York I feel.
Pricing:
- Coaching For Self Tapes, Auditions, Character Development (in person or Video Call): $50/hr, $80/2hrs, $120/3hrs + $50 per hour added.
- Hustle Coaching (In Person or Video Call): Similar to a life coach, this is more for young actors starting. I see where you’re at, and help you take the right steps forward. I support while keeping you on track and hustling: $25 intro session $30/hr
Contact Info:
- Website: imdb.me/annabelbarrett
- Phone: 6465996307
- Email: [email protected]
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