We’re looking forward to introducing you to Chrisse SOUKAI. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Chrisse , we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Who are you learning from right now?
I believe the person I’m learning the most from is my martial art coach, along with my entire martial art/wushu community and the art form itself.
Wushu came to me at a time of my life where I truly felt at loss for direction, in my career and terribly closed up in a solitude it felt impossible to break out of… But the moment I entered this martial art studio and met this incredible community, I felt like I stepped into a new phase of my life.
My coach saw something in me that I cruelly failed to see at the time: potential. I didn’t think I could ever have what it takes to be in martial arts or even be remotely good at it. But he challenged me to grow, mentally and physically, far beyond what I thought I was capable of. He’s taught me, through wushu, how to be unapologetically myself, how not to be afraid to show it, how to stand up for my values, and above all, how to believe in myself.
I admire his drive, his discipline and his relationship with his art… And I can feel, after a year, how much I have grown by learning from him and from wushu itself. It is a true art form, where you learn how to push your limits, and confront your resilience, focus, and discipline
I am extremely grateful to my coach and my wushu community who have been the true embodiment of support and love. We push each other to success no matter what, and bond deeply over our passion for wushu. And I learn from them too, from their struggles to their biggest joys, and it does make that walk through life so much brighter.
Everything that I’ve learnt so far transfers directly to my professional life. It’s been one of the most impactful learning experiences I’ve had, and it continues to shape how I approach challenges and growth.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Chrisse Soukaï, and I am an actress.
I think acting finds its uniqueness in the fact that it might be one of the very few jobs where you learn to explore your emotions and embrace them, and where you constantly learn about yourself.
Acting has been a medium where I can truly feel and be myself on stage, and where I can share the stories I write, something I’ve longed to do ever since I started writing as a kid.
Recently, I made a big jump and decided to produce, direct, and star in my own movie. I wrote it, gathered an incredible cast and crew, and we’re currently crowdfunding it. Our short film is called “Pigs,” and our campaign is live on Seed&Spark if you want to check it out!
We truly hope we can make this incredible project come to life.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
My family. From my grandparents, parents and aunts and uncles, there’s a very strong culture of showing up fully for what you do. Everyone has that deep sense of responsibility and pride in giving their all.
Back in the day, my grandmother worked multiple jobs: in the fields, taking care of her chickens, being a nanny, selling her fruits and vegetables on the market, baking and cooking… And even now, it’s hard for her to sit still! She learnt that work ethic from her own mother and passed it down to her kids. My grandfather was the same: up until his very last days, he never missed a day going to the fields and taking care of his cows.
I grew up watching my mom wake up before the sun, to go to work, just to give her children a good life. And when my dad wasn’t at work, he was always building or fixing something, always moving with purpose. So, just like him, I always try to stay busy and work towards my goals, even from home.
I could tell you thousands of little bits and pieces like that about every member of my family, and we would be there for hours.
In my culture, hard work is one of the highest values. It’s tied to resilience, integrity, and pride. You give yourself fully to what you do, and you do it with heart. And I still try to carry that with me in my life and art, to push me and do better each time.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Hard to choose just one thing…! I think I’d tell her: “You’re not too much, and loving as hard as you do will hurt but it will be your greatest strength. Don’t hate it that much. It’s pretty brave…”
…Maybe that’s something I should tell my present self too, actually!
When growing up, I had a lot of adults telling me that I tended to love people too much and that I shouldn’t. And I did not understand why love was so badly seen. Now, as an adult myself, I understand they were simply looking out for me so I wouldn’t get hurt by giving my affection to people who did not deserve it. But I’ve come to realize that being loving is not a flaw, nor a defect, or even a weakness. It is brave to wear your heart on your sleeve, and it is a true gift not to be afraid of showing and owning your feelings.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
It’s a pretty interesting question, especially since I ask myself that continuously.
With my acting coach, we were discussing the notion of shadow and persona. The persona is the mask that you put on every day for the world. The shadow is the real you, the one that stays hidden and that we try to keep in the dark. It’s also the part that carries all that we do not like about ourselves.
In acting, we want to work with the shadow as much as possible and learn to accept those parts, not only to give a truly grounded performance but also to accept ourselves entirely, the good and the bad. In the end, we are a result of all those things.
But the shadow mostly stays hidden because we are afraid of judgment.
I’ve realized that I’m not entirely the same person when I’m alone, with my family, or with different groups of friends. Specks of my personality vary, shine more or get quieter…
Both my acting and my martial arts journeys are teaching me to embrace myself fully as I am, and not be afraid of my true self. So, while I think my public version now is not inauthentic and is still as true as I am, there are still aspects that are hidden, or not comfortable enough to show at this point in my life. I am pretty sure I still have a lot to discover about myself, and experience through life will definitely impact those discoveries/explorations as well.
But through my journeys, I’d say my present public version is as authentically me as it can be.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people will say that, through my art, I told stories that mattered, moved them and inspired them. That I created my art with honesty, with humanity and with deep respect towards my craft. That I showed that with resilience you can grow beyond what you thought possible, and that you never stop learning in life.
Overall, that I tried every day to be a better person through my life and my art and that I did my best to spread love and build meaningful connections with people.
I hope they remember me as someone kind, not perfect, but someone who really tried her best and deeply cared about those she loved.
And I hope my journey will encourage others to embrace their own, with the hardships and the joys.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chrissesoukaiactress.my.canva.site/
- Instagram: chrisse_1987
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisse-soukaï-91700b196
Image Credits
Matthew A.T. Elliot
Sebastien Chiu
Daniella Pallares
Mici Mueller
Katie Scholl
