Talking Business with Acting coach and Creative Producer Meghan McGarry

Today we’d like to introduce you to Meghan McGarry.

Hi Meghan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I believe the most powerful work comes when artists bring their full humanity to their craft. It can feel risky to really show up, to be vulnerable, to live truthfully on stage or on camera—but that is what touches and moves an audience. That philosophy guides everything I do as an actor, coach, and collaborator.

I grew up in the 1980s in a queer family, which was rare at the time. My family was deeply committed to justice, care, and the belief that art is one of the most vital ways to express our shared humanity. Storytelling was always at the center of our lives. I witnessed my community expressing themselves through art in countless forms—the AIDS quilt, drag, folk music, West African dance, world dance, visual art. This is where I developed my sense of passion and consciousness around art.

I came to acting through dance. At 15, I was living alone in New York City, training at the Alvin Ailey School, and went on to earn a BFA in dance at Tisch and Cornish College of the Arts. When I moved to Los Angeles in 2007, I met my teacher Tony Greco, who teaches in a way that is both technical and accessible. He taught me that if I was willing to take the risk to really live on stage, the ordinary could become extraordinary.

For the next 10 years, I practiced every day. I treated acting class like a laboratory—working on hundreds of scenes from great playwrights, falling down, getting back up, stretching, growing, and starting over again. In that process, other actors began to notice not just my creative work, but my unyielding commitment and my ability articulate the process. Sometimes our work finds us—we don’t find it. People started saying, “Hey, help me be as good as you are.” And that’s how I began coaching.

I found myself on major productions all over the world, working with producers, directors, actors, and creators at the top of their field—sometimes for 20 episodes at a time. After several years coaching on-set for a network show, it was thrilling to see my client nominated for a Golden Globe for her work. I was also thrilled to direct a section of Lil Naz X’s last world tour.

By this point, my resume speaks for itself. I have a one-on-one coaching practice, work prolifically in film and TV, am directing film and theater and through it all I continue to act!

My philosophy

As Strasberg reminds us, “Our work begins when other people say that’s enough.” For me, bringing an actor’s full humanity to their work—and embracing the risk that comes with it—is what creates performances that truly move people. It’s what I was raised to value, and it’s the heart of everything I do.

As you know, we’re big fans of Meghan McGarry . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
As an acting coach, I guide actors through practical tools and repeatable processes that allow them to access truthful, vivid work—whether on set, in rehearsal, or in the audition room. Beyond coaching, I collaborate with writers, directors, and musicians, and serve as a creative producer on television and film projects.

One of the areas I’m most specialized in is coordinating and consulting on heightened material—everything from supporting minors in sensitive storylines to working with adult actors on scenes that require intimacy or vulnerability. My background as both an actress and an on-set coach allows me to protect the integrity of the scene while also navigating the realities of production—keeping both the art and the process in balance.

What sets me apart is the combination of artistry and on-the-ground experience. I’ve spent years on sets around the world, and I understand how to create an environment where actors can do their best work while directors and producers get what they need. I’m proud that my brand represents both high-level creative collaboration and real care for the people and stories at the center of the work.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can connect with me in a number of ways. I work one-on-one with actors through private coaching, and I also teach group classes and workshops. On set, I collaborate with directors, writers, and producers as an acting coach, consultant, and director, supporting projects from early development through production.

What I want people to know is that they don’t need to wait for the “perfect moment” to reach out—whether you’re just starting out, in the middle of a project, or deep in production, I can meet you where you are and help move the work forward.

For more information about coaching, classes, and consulting, you can visit my website: www.meghanmcgarrycoach.com.

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Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.meghanmcgarryactingcoach.com
• Instagram: meghan.mc.garry