Rising Stars: Meet Lauren Cantell of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Cantell.

Lauren, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Deep down, I always wanted to be an actor, but I didn’t give myself permission to pursue it until it no longer felt optional. For years I followed what I call the “life escalator”: go to college, get a job with benefits, get married, have kids. I was a kindergarten teacher in Philadelphia, when at 27 I was diagnosed with stage IIIa breast cancer. My world turned upside down. After treatment, I struggled physically, mentally, and emotionally. Looking back, I clearly had PTSD, though I didn’t recognize it then. I left the classroom and began working remotely for a nonprofit.

I missed being around people, and around that time I was reading Tina Fey’s Bossypants. I signed up for improv classes and fell in love with the philosophy of great improv—listening, responding truthfully, supporting your team. I completed the curriculum at the Philly Improv Theater, performed regularly on Harold and indie teams, and loved every moment. Then the pandemic hit.

It felt like the whole world was experiencing what I had with cancer: being forced to confront what really mattered. With all performance opportunities gone, I reflected on whether I was truly living the life I wanted. The answer was clear, I am absolutely a performer. So in October 2020, I sold most of my belongings, packed my Mazda with my dog, Roscoe, and drove to LA.

I dove into training, studying at the Ivana Chubbuck Studio, Berg Studios, and eventually The Last Acting Studio, which remains my creative home. As a newcomer in LA, I knew I had to prove myself. The best advice I kept hearing was, “make your own work.” I had an experience from my treatment years that had haunted me, but with time I realized it was a story I needed to tell. That became I Can’t Protect You, a short film I wrote, crowdfunded, directed, and starred in. Based on true events, it explores the bond between sisters during a life-altering cancer diagnosis. The film connected me with collaborators who are still my creative community today.

One of those collaborators was award-winning director and writer, Matt Ferrucci. After seeing his short, Kensington, I asked him to coffee. He gave feedback on I Can’t Protect You and suggested we make something together. I went home and, that same day, wrote the first draft of The Ninth, which Matt directed and I starred in. The film follows an alcoholic whose recovery is threatened after she accidentally sends a damaging email to her boss, forcing her to confront her past while trying to keep her job and sobriety. The Ninth has screened at seven festivals so far and earned me Best Actress awards at the Pasadena International Film Festival and FirstGlance Philadelphia.

Through filmmaking, I’ve discovered how much I love telling stories that widen the lens of women’s lives. Right now, I’m developing both a series and a feature. Girl Dinner (limited series) centers on two ex-best friends unknowingly reunited at a high-stakes dinner party. Each episode will be directed by a different woman or non-binary filmmaker. OtherLovers (feature) explores decentering marriage as self-worth and instead leans into community, chosen family, and living fully amid cultural pressure to conform.

In addition to writing and producing, I’ll be starring in a film shooting later this year and appearing in a supporting role in another.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road hasn’t been smooth, but it’s been exactly what I needed. At times I’ve questioned whether I even belonged here, since I didn’t go to film school or earn a degree in acting. But I’ve come to realize there are many ways to learn, mine has been through trial and error, facing rejection, and refusing to give up. I truly believe the words I’ve heard from countless actors, “you’re only one job away, you can’t fail if you don’t give up.”

For a year and a half I sent emails to agents and managers without a single response. I’ve worked multiple jobs to fund the projects I wanted to make, because I knew no one else was going to do it for me. Those moments were hard, but they also taught me resilience and built my confidence.

I don’t enjoy rejection or failure, but I’ve learned to view them as feedback rather than a reflection of my worth. If an agent passes, maybe I need stronger materials or we’re just not the right fit. If an audition doesn’t go my way, maybe I need to keep honing my craft or maybe I need to dive into the world and live my life, fill my cup, and find my joy. For me, creativity is a constant loop: try, fail or succeed, reflect, adjust, and try again. I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to try.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m most grateful for the perspective I’ve gained from the life I’ve lived. I’m proud of using filmmaking and acting to help others to, hopefully, feel less alone. And I’m proud of unlearning the ways I kept myself small, choosing live my life with intensity and joy.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
For me, it’s less about “networking” and more about building community. Community shows up for you, supports you through challenges, and celebrates your wins, so I try to do the same for others. I look for people with qualities I admire, whether it’s creativity, strong friendships, or a way of living that inspires me. Not everyone will be your people, but when you find them and focus on how you can contribute to their lives, real relationships grow.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cantellmenuffin/

Image Credits
Bret Green
Cameron Rice
Luke Hanelin