Shannon Corbett of Burbank on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Shannon Corbett and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Shannon, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: Would YOU hire you? Why or why not?
YES! That’s not even a question. I would absolutely hire me for several reasons. I have an extreme passion for my art and the work I do. I’m always working on films, tv shows, photoshoots, collabs, social media content and even my own artistic projects! Unfortunately, some of the people in my industry I’ve worked with over the years don’t have this thing called “passion”. I’ve worked with people that lack passion and show up with the intention of getting famous. It’s unfortunate, but that’s not what your only intention should be if you are entering /working in this industry.
However, I’ve been very lucky that I’ve been able to work with people who are as passionate as me, and we were able to make beautiful art together.
Not only am I passionate, but I’m also hardworking and am easy to work with. I’m not afraid to bring realness and authenticity to the characters I play. I’m very daring. I believe that’s what makes my characters relatable to my audience. I appreciate seeing raw human truth on screen rather than holding back or glamorizing certain situations. Like for instance, scenes where a character has a crash out or is depressed. We often see shallow or stereotypical sugar coated and watered down versions of major mental health struggles and emotions like these. I prefer to see realness and raw unfiltered truths of what those things actually look like, even if it makes audience uncomfortable. But it’s the truth and it’s important to show the truth and authenticity of those things.
I study the characters I play and prepare ahead of time. I’m a very detailed person and love establishing and bringing to life my characters’ minds and little ticks. I even go all out by adding fashion to my characters and the type of clothes they’d definitely wear. I even write backstories for the characters I play and find multiple ways to relate to my characters. I could go on forever, but we shall save that for another time! Haha!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello, I am Shannon Corbett. I am an actress, stuntwoman, singer, model and creator born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I’m also a big vintage fashion lover. I do fashion from the 1800’s to 1990’s! And that reflects a lot in my work! Haha! Oh, and I also love praying mantises! I raise baby praying mantises into adulthood as well as taking care of injured mantises and heal them! Haha!
My career highlights are ‘BARRY’ on HBO, ‘The Offer’ on Paramount +, ‘DAVE’ on Hulu, Kelsea Ballerini’s music video called “If You Go Down (I’m GoingDown Too)”, ‘Murder in the Heartland’ on Hulu, and many more, in which I’m not allowed to say yet, but excited to announce once it comes out!
I’ve even been recognized on some vertical dramas I’ve starred in on Drama Box, Ea Short, and Reel Short! I always play antagonist leads and supporting roles on those shows. My most notable credit on a vertical that is currently out is “Who is the Real CEO’s Wife” on Ea Short, in which I played Betty, the supporting antagonist.
I started out as a theater kid (like a lot of us actors have) starting in elementary school. Every year until I graduated high school, I was always in drama plays and musicals. While playing leads and supporting roles in high school theater, at the same time, I’d also perform as supporting roles at the Canyon Theater Guild (which is a wonderful, magical theater I called home). I was ALWAYS busy being in multiple plays at once. I couldn’t help it!
I eventually worked my way up into the film/ tv industry and never looked back. I’ve found a lot of happiness and success in the film industry and am looking forward to more creative projects on the way! I love what I do!

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
Lady Gaga. She is the person that immediately comes to my mind when I’m asked who taught you the most about work!
Of course, it’s also several other great artists such as Evan Peters, Billy Porter, Michael Jackson, Vivien Leigh and so many others! Believe me, I have a whole list! Haha!
I’ve been a huge fan of Lady Gaga since I was a little girl and have admired her since 2007. I’ve learned a lot from her. She taught me to be true to myself and stay authentic no matter what.
I’m so inspired from her creativity as a multi-talented artist!
She taught me to never give up, and that advice paid off very well.
My favorite quote of Gaga’s is “Don’t you ever let a soul in the world tell you that you can’t be exactly who you are.”

My goal in the future is to work with Lady Gaga. I’m going to continue working hard so I can make that happen! Hey, anything is possible after all!

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain and started using it as power by turning my pain into my own art by making my own concept photography. I would turn my pain and mental health issues into a character and take photos of myself as the character I invented. I even make my own sets and design them myself, whether I’m drawing the set and/or making them out of several different sceneries.
One of my favorites of these I did was a picture of me vulnerable in an empty room with big autumn leaves on the floor and a broken tv that reads “No Signal”. This photoshoot was inspired by a hard time in my life when I finally left domestic violence. Another one I am proud of is a photo series designed as a slide show in which I am the same character, but during domestic violence (DV), in which I am isolated, there is a big spiral behind me with words everywhere that have meaning for the purpose of educating the audience in why it is so hard to leave. I even have a continuation of the shoot, in which I am an innocent, terrified, tormented and lost girl going thru the storm that domestic violence is, and there are leaves blowing everywhere to symbolize the storm and the downfall of my happiness.
I even left information on my Instagram (on those posts of this art) of resources for help for those who are going thru domestic violence.

My Instagram: @iamshannoncorbett

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
This one is actually my own original series of creative concept photography and film projects that have began and are currently in the works as we speak.
I’m keeping it a secret now until it’s finished, but I’m currently creating my own world… Shannon’s world, and I’m so excited to present it to the world hopefully by next year.
All I’ll say is that some of it involves elements of dreamcore and weirdcore.
For those who follow me on TikTok have actually seen some of it. So, hop on TikTok and follow me @shannon__corbett !

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Honestly, I would stop delaying my first ever trip to the East Coast. I’ve never been and a big reason is that traveling costs a lot of money.
I am working on saving money so I can visit both New York City, NY and Salem, MA for the first time.
I’ve literally ALWAYS wanted to go!
Hey, maybe I’ll book work out there…ya never know…

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamshannoncorbett
• Other: • IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11158545/
  • Instagram: www.instagram.com/iamshannoncorbett
  • TikTok: @shannon__corbett

Image Credits
Headshots: Diana K / Headshot Photography