Today we’d like to introduce you to Jannica Olin.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I moved to LA in 2012, with the same dream as many; to work as an actor. I had great training in my back pocket from the two years conservatory at The Neighborhood Playhouse in New York as well as having worked in theatre, film and commercials in Sweden, the UK and of course, New York.
I grew up in Sweden and knew that as soon as I finished high school, I would study acting. So I did. I spent a couple of years diving into the world of theatre and also spent six months as part of a touring theatre company. And then I caught the travel bug and left to go backpack around New Zealand and Australia. I ended up staying in Australia for almost three years! Whilst there, I took a few film/tv classes and then I found a four week acting intensive in the Meisner technique, in Melbourne, and that’s when I knew I needed to go to New York and receive the full two years training at the home of the Meisner technique; The Neighborhood Playhouse. I moved to London after New York, before moving on to where I always knew I wanted to “end up”; Los Angeles.
After my first year in LA, I began losing my hair. I was diagnosed with the auto immune condition Alopecia in 2013 and six months later, I was bald. This was, as you can imagine, my worst nightmare. How was I possibly going to work as an actress here?! My long blonde hair was gone, and what I thought, my identity.
I was lucky to realize fairly quickly that the sooner I gave up attachment to my hair, the better off I’d be. So I embraced my new look and started looking at the Problem being the Solution. I got with a good commercial agent and began booking some really cool work. Sure, there were the cancer patient roles, but I also got to be a part of some really powerful and empowering commercials and music videos that celebrate diversity and standing proud in one’s own unique beauty. BoomChickaPop and LG were a couple that stand out. As well as being in Jessie J’s music video for Queen as well as Janelle Monae’s “Emotion” Picture, Dirty Computer.
Last year, I was invited to do a TEDx talk in Normal, Illinois and that inspired me to develop my story into a one hour one woman show, which ran to sold out houses at the Hollywood Fringe Festival this June. My show (IM)PERFEKT is centered around my hair loss but is a universal story as it deals with identity, labels and how our culture and conditioning often times leave us feeling like we are never good enough the way we are. I am excited to share that (IM)PERFEKT will be part of the Binge Fringe Festival at Santa Monica Playhouse this fall (October 12 at 9:30 with a Q&A after).
Has it been a smooth road?
It is never smooth. Nor should it be. I don’t believe we can grow and expand if it isn’t rocky. The most important thing is to always keep checking in with yourself. Is your dream still the dream? If not, that is perfectly ok. You really don’t have to prove anything, to anyone. So if your dream changes through your growing older and developing, then honor that.
And what initially was my biggest obstacle; losing my hair; turned into the greatest blessing. But that was because I chose it to be.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I used to think; “I just wanna get hired to act.” Well, it isn’t very rewarding to just sit around and wait for other people to say Yes to you. There also isn’t a whole lot of power in that. I am really excited to start touring my solo show around the country and the world, to schools and organizations. Then of course there is the developing of my own TV series based on my story. I went from just wanting to “be hired” to stepping into leadership in creating what I care about.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love Griffith park! I love my neighborhood and that I can walk so many places there. My biggest dislike right now, are the atrocious rents. It’s becoming too ridiculous, and they just keep building. How are people going to afford living here? And the truth is, many don’t. I am passionately unhappy about that.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jannicaolin.com
- Instagram: @jannica_olin
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