Rising Stars: Meet Susan Duerden of Agoura Hills

Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Duerden.

Hi Susan, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m originally from the UK, started dancing and acting when I was very young, and have had a successful career as an actor for over 30 years. My work spans film, television, stage, and voiceover — and I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some truly incredible artists, including Hugh Jackman, David Tennant, Kate Winslet, Rupert Grint, Rufus Sewel, Evangeline Lily and Fred Willard, to name just a few.

On stage, I’ve performed lead roles on London’s West End, with the RSC and in New York, and my voiceover career includes animated feature films, audio drama, narrating audiobooks and video games. I’ve also worked as a director and choreographer, and one of the great honors of my career was collaborating with Michael Jackson and legendary director Kenny Ortega (best known for the High School Musical and Descendants trilogies).

After working in New York several years ago, I came to LA for what I thought would be a short few weeks, but I fell in love with LA, booked a movie and that began my journey toward staying long-term. Over the years, my career has continued to thrive. I’ve been busy with some really exciting projects recently — including filming a couple of fantastic movies last year, recording audiobooks, and stepping into several wonderful new roles. I have some really exciting projects in the works this year, and I’m grateful to continue growing creatively while doing what I love.

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?
Like any career in the arts, it definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road — but the challenges have shaped me in meaningful ways. When I first came to Los Angeles, my husband and I had just got married in London. I fell in love with LA almost immediately. He visited soon after and loved it just as much as I did. That’s when we made the decision to take on this new adventure and move here. We were young and it was exciting, but also incredibly challenging and a big leap of faith. Because he couldn’t work here until I had the artist green card approved, we spent the first 18 months of our marriage with me in LA and him in London, seeing each other when we could, but it wasn’t that often, unfortunately. That part of the journey was incredibly tough. I didn’t know anyone in LA when I arrived. It was quite a lonely experience at first, but I was so grateful to meet some amazing people along the way who helped me both personally and professionally. The distance from our families has never got easier. We’ve missed so many important life events over the years. It’s very hard being so far away. That emotional cost is something people don’t always see — but it’s very real.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m incredibly grateful to be known for my work as an actor and the successes I’ve had in the industry—it’s been such a rewarding journey. But one of the things I’m most proud of is something that grew out of that experience: I started a performing arts academy for young actors. It’s become a space where I can pass on what I’ve learned, nurture new talent, and give back to a craft that has given me so much. I’ve been acting and dancing since I was very young, and some of my happiest childhood memories are tied to being on stage. Performing gave me joy, confidence, and a sense of belonging — and I was fortunate to be guided by incredible mentors along the way: Adrienne Henry, my dance teacher, and Roy Faithful, my drama teacher, both helped shape me into the performer I became. After training in London and building a strong career in the UK, I moved to Los Angeles, where I studied under the legendary Milton Katselas in his Masterclass at the prestigious Beverly Hills Playhouse, alongside incredible actors, directors and writers, including Oscar, Emmy, and Golden Globe winners and nominees. Milton pushed my craft to new levels and transformed my understanding of what it means to be a true artist. He taught the likes of George Clooney, Gene Hackman, Anne Archer, Alec Baldwin, Kate Hudson, Kim Cattrall, Giovanni Ribisi, Michael Pena, Jenna Elfman, Robert Urich, Patrick Swayze, Burt Reynolds, the list goes on and on. Being in Milton’s class for over seven years was a profound honor. He was an extraordinary teacher — insightful, uncompromising, and deeply inspiring.

When my daughter was five and expressed an interest in acting and musical theatre, I quickly realized that while there were camps in our area, there weren’t programs that truly trained young people in the performing arts. I wanted her — and other children and teens — to have the same joyful, confidence-building experiences I did, but also to learn real technique and skill. I had taught in London and LA and so in 2015 I founded Young Actors Academy of Performing Arts with that in mind to give children and teens a place where they could grow as performers and as people. I wanted our program to focus not just on acting, singing, and dancing, but on building confidence, creativity, and resilience. Performing arts training is so important for young people — not only for those who go on to perform professionally, but for anyone learning essential life skills like communication, teamwork, and self-expression.

My time in Milton’s masterclass and his approach to acting and artistry has always stayed with me. His voice is still in my head, and his method continues to inform the way I teach today. I pass on his teaching and his wisdom — not just technique, but the passion, discipline, and integrity he believed every artist should bring to their work.

Today, YAA has grown into a premier school for young performers, training kids, teens and young adults from beginners to award winners. We coach and prepare young actors who are actively pursuing, or already have, careers in the industry — helping them build their craft, book work, and navigate professional auditions with confidence. So many of our students are currently working in film and TV or on stage in NY, London, on national tours or more locally. Whether students come to us with no experience or professional goals, whether a child dreams of Broadway, TV and film roles, or simply finding their voice, we’re here to help them thrive — onstage, on camera, and in life. At YAA, we believe in nurturing the whole artist and celebrating every student’s unique voice. I’m so proud of the work we do and all of the incredible young actors here.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned along the way is to never give up on your dream — no matter how hard the journey gets. There will be setbacks, doubts, and times when you question everything, but you keep going.

The other big lesson for me has been to give back. I truly believe that if you’ve been lucky enough to do what you love, it’s your responsibility to help lift others along the way — especially the next generation. That’s a big part of why I started Young Actors Academy.

Milton used to say, “An actor is not just a performer — they’re an observer, a thinker, an artist.” He pushed us to be courageous in our work and generous in our lives. I hear his voice so often when I’m teaching. He believed that artists had a duty to bring truth and humanity into the world, and that’s something I try to carry forward in everything I do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.youngactorsapa.com
• Instagram: @susanduerdenofficial and @youngactorsapa
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/youngactorsapa

Image Credits
Main photo Matt Kallish