Interview by David R. Navarro

INDULGE After Hours had the honor of interviewing the talented actress and model, Tamara Georgievna Abrosimova.

Tamara Georgievna Abrosimova is Atlanta-based Ukrainian-American actress, who has many special skills including gun proficiency, fire breathing, pole dancing, kickboxing along with many others.

Tamara was born and raised in Kherson, Ukraine as the only child. Ever since her mother took her to the theatre at the age of seven, Tamara fell in love with the stage and acting itself. She always participated in the school plays and played make-believe at friend's homes.

In 2006 her life changed for the first time when she moved to the United States. Even though it was a major change, Tamara continued to spend majority of her time in dance and vocal classes. In 2014 she earned her Associate's degree of Arts from Casper College.

Tamara has appeared as a vivacious assassin in the suspenseful thriller Bone Closet (2019), the mysterious and charming escort in Laura (2019), and the vicious, but ferocious killer in the horror film, Follow the Leader (2019).

She guest starred on Killer Couples (2020) playing sweet, young mother desperate to survive a kidnapping.

Tamara is a huge fan of traveling, photography, volunteering and writing. When she isn't on the screen, she usually works on her novellas and scripts. One of her best work is a psychological thriller "Ride or Die with me" (2020). She is also a wine connoisseur, collects vintage teddy bears, ''The Simpsons'' and ''Doctor Who'' memorabilia. In addition, Tamara loves to do freelance modeling, has traveled to multiple countries and is an amazing watercolor painter.

INDULGE: How did your journey into the entertainment industry begin, especially your interest in acting and modeling? What motivated or inspired you to take that step?

TAMARA: My interest in acting began when I was 10. I saw my very first musical at the local theater and instantly fell in love with the world of make-believe. I began to pursue it professionally in 2019. As for modeling, I applied at the local modeling agency in Columbia, SC in 2017 and since then I have been having all kinds of photoshoots, mostly boudoir ones.

INDULGE: How do you balance the expressive and emotive demands of acting with the visual and physical aspects of modeling, and does one influence the other in unexpected ways?

TAMARA: When it comes to posing in a photoshoot, I try to be as relaxed as possible and “speak with my eyes” by telling a story behind a picture.

INDULGE: In your experience, how does the creative process differ when you’re portraying a character in a film versus embodying a concept or mood in a modeling shoot?

TAMARA: I portray villains in films who have their own backstory, and if they don’t, I try to see why they became the people they are. However, when it comes to the photoshoot I come up with a story of my own. Unless I am doing a cosplay shoot, where everyone already knows the backstory of a character.

As for beauty standards, I don’t even know what the current “beauty standard” is. I have always been told I am beautiful.

INDULGE: Can you share a specific instance where a modeling experience unexpectedly informed or enriched your approach to a particular acting role, or vice versa?

TAMARA: Yes, back in 2021 I had a boudoir photoshoot with a local photographer and he taught me all kinds of tricks to look more sexy and how to “tease” the camera. When I audition for sexy characters, I use the same tricks.

INDULGE: As both an actress and a model, how do you navigate the challenge of maintaining authenticity in your work, given the different expectations and standards in each industry?

TAMARA: I know who I am and I do not try to be anyone else. I am sexy and I am quirky, but I’m also Eastern-European, so I try to incorporate those things into my photoshoots and auditions. With acting, I differ from most of the girls who audition for the same part, because I am not from the same country and I bring that Ukrainian-Russian authenticity to the role.

INDULGE: What role do you believe fashion and beauty standards play in shaping societal perceptions, and how do you approach being a part of that as a model and actress?

TAMARA: I try to stay away from fashion trends, because a lot of brands are made for poor people who want to look rich. Example: Gucci. Wealthy people don’t wear clothes that are worth more than a car.

There is a thing called “style” and I’d rather have style than be fashionable and there is a difference. You can have a sense of style or you can wear Balenciaga and look like a homeless person.

As for beauty standards, I don’t even know what the current “beauty standard” is. I have always been told I am beautiful.

I never had plastic surgery done. I try to stay away from all that. A lot of models, particularly “Instagram models” had some kind of work done to their bodies, which in my opinion contradicts being a model. I remember when models were hired, because of their natural beauty. You don’t see much of that anymore. Typical models have lip fillers, double D breasts and they all look the same. I’ll never understand that.

INDULGE: How has your background in modeling influenced your ability to express emotions and connect with characters on a deeper level in your acting roles?

TAMARA: As I previously mentioned, I try to tell a story and speak with my eyes. A person might have a certain body language, but their eyes would never lie.

INDULGE: Are there any unique challenges or advantages you’ve encountered as a woman working in both the acting and modeling industries, and how have you overcome or leveraged them?

TAMARA: Yes! There is so much jealousy coming from not just women, but men as well in both modeling and acting industries. Ever since I started in both industries, the people who used to dislike me and talk smack behind my back, suddenly want to be friends and men want to be intimate with me.

I have a “don’t give a f**k” attitude. I am nice to everyone, but if someone doesn’t like me for whatever reason, it’s their loss. We are all villains in someone else’s story.

INDULGE: In what ways do you believe storytelling through fashion and storytelling through acting intersect, and how do you navigate that intersection in your career?

TAMARA: Fashion plays a huge part in acting. If I audition for a Russian spy, I would wear a nice black suit or a black, red dress as a form of disguise. Depends where the scene is taking place. If I am portraying a villain, I wear black, green, purple or red, because those are the typical “bad guy” colors. Example: Joker, Maleficent, Loki, Poison Ivy.

INDULGE: Given the evolving landscape of inclusivity and diversity, how do you actively contribute to promoting representation both in modeling and acting?

TAMARA: I had a shoot a few years back in which I wore a traditional Ukrainian dress, thus portraying and representing my country.

As for acting, if the casting director wants me to play a Russian tech girl, I turn on my strong Russian accent and do mannerisms that only my people would do.

INDULGE: Can you discuss a project or role that challenged your personal beliefs or pushed you out of your comfort zone, and how you grew from that experience?

I haven’t had a role like that yet, but I am curious how I would behave if it came to it. I’m the type of actor who will do anything for a role. They want me to do full nudity? I will, why not? They want me to smoke and later do stunts like James Bond? I’d be happy to.

INDULGE: Can you share a memorable experience from either on or off set that significantly impacted you as an actress and influenced your approach to your craft?

TAMARA: Taking a Meisner class with a local working actor, Anthony Paderewski, has definitely challenged and impacted me as an actress. All the classes I take seem to be pretty easy-going and don’t quite challenge or frustrate me, but Meisner is very different. Some exercises are hard and not just for me, but it makes me fall in love with this craft more and more.

INDULGE: Fashion and beauty standards are constantly evolving. How do you maintain your authenticity while adapting to changing industry trends and ideals?

TAMARA: Industry trends are such a broad spectrum. However, I don’t really follow trends. I’m very much old-school. I hate TikTok with passion, but I have been making reels on Instagram and trying to adapt like a lot of other actors.

I am not part of the “woke agenda”. A lot of remakes do not need to be remade, just to put a gay guy, a black girl or an Asian non-binary person in there.

Example: Peter Pan & Wendy, Snow White, the newest season of “Doctor Who” and much more.

I believe in diversity, so how come most of the movies nowadays contain half of black folk, and white Americans?

Where are the Persian actors? Mexicans? Australians? Eastern-Europeans? Native Americans?

I have a “don’t give a f**k” attitude. I am nice to everyone, but if someone doesn’t like me for whatever reason, it’s their loss. We are all villains in someone else’s story.

INDULGE: Can you share your favorite modeling experience and what made it special?

My favorite modeling experience was with a Charleston photographer, Tyler Cale, when we did a glitter photoshoot. I was basically covered in glitter and we were just experimenting with lights and different angles.

The reason why it is my favorite is because I am always cautious when shooting with male photographers, but with him I felt very comfortable. We did three more shoots together and I would highly recommend him.

INDULGE: A little off subject… but I feel that music can often play a big role in our lives. What 5 albums or artists have made you who you are today?

TAMARA: Panic! At the Disco would be my #1 musical influence. OneRepublic, MUSE, The All-American Rejects and Lady Gaga.

INDULGE: Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

TAMARA: If there are photographers and filmmakers who want to hire me for their next project, they can reach me at: tamaraabros999@gmail.com

INSTAGRAM.com/@real_tamara_abrosimova

IMDB.me/tamaraabrosimova www.tamaraabrosimovaactor.com

Tamara Georgievna Abrosimova