Meet Paulina Simkin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Paulina Simkin.

Hi Paulina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Where to begin… Recently, I learned I’m a “TCK”, a third culture kid, as I was born in Russia, then my family immigrated to Germany when I was seven, and then I came to the States by myself. So basically being a double immigrant I have always longed for the feeling of “belonging” somewhere. That feeling for me was never attached to a place, but much more so to the people I would meet there. I think the first time I truly felt like I belonged somewhere was when I entered the conservatory in my hometown Hanover, Germany. At that point, I had been playing piano since the age of four and was always an outsider at school until I found my own like-minded group of outsiders that played piano all day and finally, I felt like I belonged. Art has this unifying effect on people. It either moves you or it doesn’t, no matter where you’re from. Then I did move to New York to pursue my Master’s in Piano Performance at The Juilliard School and there I realized I wanted something more.

I have always been an entertainer at heart. Whether as a musician or an actress, all I ever wanted is to move and entertain people with my art, ideally at the same time. Growing up there were no hobbies, just like Abishola says of her Nigerian upbringing on “Bob Hearts Abishola”, which I could relate to on such an unexpectedly deep level. As an immigrant kid, you often don’t have the luxury of trying out several things and seeing what sticks. Piano worked so I stuck with it. But deep down I always felt like I not only wanted to move and entertain people aurally but with my whole being. After Juilliard, I made the leap and got an acting degree at The Lee Strasberg Theater & Film Institute. Everyone thought I was crazy “throwing away” my entire career as a pianist, who had toured the world performing at venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Berliner Philharmonie. I knew this was a crucial time when I had to listen to my inner voice, and I am so glad I did. Now, I am an actress and pianist in LA that even gets to play piano on screen. I lovingly refer to my piano as my loyal husband, my acting as my luscious lover and us living happily ever after in a ménage à trois *laughs*. Acting has opened me up in ways I could have never dreamt of. It has made me feel so much more connected to others than I have ever felt before. That longing to belong has transcended into a feeling of connection to the human experience as a whole, no matter your upbringing, race or nationality. At the core, we are all one and that is the message I love to share as an artist.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In the beginning, I was fighting the stereotypes I would be typecast as. There were a lot of Russian spies and mob wives, and an occasional German prostitute as well *laughs*. These days, I started embracing those stereotypes with all the different facets of my being. Lending those roles an authentic voice has led me to some exciting projects.

Acting made me also embrace all my facets as a human. Having always struggled to fit in, I was fighting portraying all those national stereotypes as I never felt “just” Russian or “just” German. Stereotypes are always based on assumptions because we don’t actually know the humans we stereotype. Now I’ll gladly portray any Russian spy, mob wife or German prostitute and will make you laugh, cry, and fall in love with the person. “Coming to America”, a country built by immigrants, and embracing being different really motivated me to tell immigrant stories where everything is possible.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I initially came to LA just to “try it on for size” and I have to say, I like the fit so much that I am not returning. In eight months, I booked eight projects, one of them a limited comedy series in which I have a recurring role as a wacky Eastern European wardrobe lady. Then I will be portraying an eccentric nurse in a comedic feature film version of “Romeo and Juliet” and then, of course, some more Russian spies. I have several films currently in the festival circuit and two where I am portraying Russian spies are premiering almost at the same time on both coasts at the Regal LA Live and at the AMC in Times Square. At some point, I would love to create a satire about all the stereotypes we all embody on screen and in real life.

What is truly making me happy is exercising my comedic muscles at UCB LA. Back in NY, I starred in a lot of award-winning dramas, which I am extremely grateful for. At the same time, I believe my real-life superpower is making people laugh in all the inappropriate moments in life, thus making them shift their focus from their worries into the now, where the true magic lies. I’d love to be the person on screen you come home to after a long day that makes you laugh and feel like you belong.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I am always excited to help someone bring their vision to life as an actress or pianist. Nothing makes me happier than being on set or at the piano. Being a curious person by nature I love meeting people from all walks of life and experiencing their story. Maybe we can tell a story together!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.paulinasimkin.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulinasimkin/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulinaSimkin
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PaulinaSimkin

Image Credits
Jonny Marlow, Ana Gutierrez, Ristó