Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Sanderson.
Hi Sara, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in San Jose, California, and always dreamed about one day living in Hollywood. I’ve wanted to be an actress since I was a child. I was drawn to performing and make-believe. I started dancing at the age of four and continued dance through college. I signed with my first modeling agent at the age of fourteen because I saw modeling as a stepping stone to acting and getting comfortable in front of the camera. I finally signed with my first acting agent when I was twenty and then made the big move to Hollywood. I knew one person in town and had a lot to learn. I studied for ten years with some of the greatest acting teachers Los Angeles has to offer. My first television credit was MONK. My first commercial was for KFC and my first movie was HER MINOR THING. I love acting, and I have never looked back. I also love to make people laugh and have studied at some of the greatest improv companies in town. I joined an improv group and finally got brave enough to dive into stand-up. I have performed in almost fifty show all over town, including at the Comedy Store and the Laugh Factory. Even though I have been acting now for fifteen years, I hope my story is still just beginning.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I always say this is a marathon, not a race. This business is a rollercoaster; sometimes you are riding high and other times you are down low. You just have to stay on the ride and keep going. I have gotten so close on career-changing roles, been dropped by managers and agents, and always pick myself back up and keep on going. You have to find your joy and fulfillment outside of the business. We are not in control of who hires us or likes us. All you can do is be you, surround yourself with people who love you, and know that YOU are enough.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an actress, comedian, and podcaster; I also dabble as a writer. I specialize in acting and have worked on some amazing shows and movies. Some of the television shows you may have seen me on are TWO AND A HALF MEN, YOUNG SHELDON, MONK, NCIS, WORKAHOLICS, PARKS, and RECREATION, to name a few. I also was a sketch performer on the TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO for seven years. Some movies I worked on were NORBIT, CIRCLE, and ALL ABOUT STEVE. I just wrapped production on a huge movie but signed an NDA so my lips are sealed on the title. I also worked on Doug Ellin’s new show, RAMBLE ON.
I am most proud of my work on TWO AND A HALF MEN. I was up against at least one hundred women (many were names) and I not only booked that job but nailed the role. To this day I have people find me on social media and remember my character. Working on that show was a dream come true. I had so much fun getting to work on the number one sitcom at the time with a stellar cast and crew! The head of Warner Bros watched our taping that night and came up to me after to tell me I did a great job and had excellent comedic timing. That week was one of the best weeks of my acting career so far.
I think what sets me apart from others is that I can do comedy. Comedy is hard and comedic timing is hard to teach. I do love diving into a dramatic role too. But I feel I really come to life and have so much fun when I’m playing a comedic role. I’m not afraid to be too big or too small and to really go for it.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I started a podcast called ENTERTAINHER with three of my friends who are in different aspects of the entertainment industry. We have a sports and entertainment host, Erin Coscarelli, an actress and CEO Zulay Henao, a sportswear designer and entrepreneur Erica Cedeno and myself, an actress and comedian. We are a weekly podcast that touches on the industry but also life in general and everything in between. You can find us wherever you get your podcasts. Grab a glass of wine (or water) to join us for the wine down at the top of every episode where we get to catch up and spill the tea of the week. It’s been a blast working with friends, and we are loving it. Would love for you to check it out.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Saraesanderson
- Twitter: Saraesanderson
- Other: www.entertainher.com
Image Credits
Caitlin Fisher
