CAMILLA SUSSER

Acting in the Moment

When did you first get involved in acting and modeling?

In early 2001, which was a crazy year to make a career change and when I look back, I think about what a terrible and tragic year that was for all of us, however it was a transformative one for me because I realized that I no longer wanted to pursue a corporate career, rather I wanted to put all of my attention and focus on acting and modeling.

What or Who inspired you to pursue such compeitive careers?

I think I always knew I wanted to act. I used to put on plays for my relatives or sometimes just my cat in my living room, basement and backyard with my younger sister and best friends. I was heavily drawn to the costume element of the performances, to the aesthetics of it all if you will. I was always so dramatic. Fashion and costumes have been something of a hobby for me since I can remember.

What films/tv shows have you been involved in? Do you prefer feature films or TV?

I was most recently a guest star on ID Channel’s final season(there were nine seasons total) long running “Homicide Hunter”. It was a meaty role, and I had quite a bit of dialogue with the lead, so that was very exciting. I have done various indie feature films and am slated to begin filming a SAG project called Skyler in New Mexico once the Pandemic subsides. I have also performed in web series, danced in music videos, and acted and modeled for many commercial productions. I have done national commercial spots for Animal Planet, Food Network, Hewlett Packard, and Vehix.com. I love any and all genres that allow me to stretch in my craft, and to try on characters that I wouldn’t necessarily have thought I could connect to. But almost always, I find a dormant part of of me, story-wise that does indeed connect to the material and truly just wants to come out and play!

What notable fashion shows have you been involved in?

I performed and walked in 2019’s Denver Fall Fashion Week last November. I helped close out the Week 1 Finale show, and that was truly remarkable and unforgettable. I also danced and walked for an amazing Designer in fall of 2018, Sherry’s Angels, out of Denver, sporting giant red angel wings and lots of tulle. It was quite a feat to walk and then later do pirouettes wearing those!

Do you represent any brands?

I work as a makeup and skin care education specialist for Josie Maran Cosmetics currently, and this compliments my other work really well, as you can imagine!

I’m sure you have met many talented artists/celebrities along the way. Please share 1 or 2 stories with us?

I think studying with what are considered by most, some of the top acting coaches in the country has been a real highlight for me. I study camera and audition technique with Sara Mornell in Atlanta currently, and she is incredible. She coaches on many things, but they all lead toward what it takes to book and perform well in the audition space for film and tv. I also studied the Meisner Technique in NY at the famed Neighborhood Playhouse, and I was awestruck to learn just how many incredibly esteemed and famous film and stage actors came out of that same program – Gregory Peck, Diane Keaton, Robert Duvall, Allison Janney all studied there, just to name but a few!

How has your acting evolved since you first became involved in the film industry?

When I first moved from performing in theatre to on working on film, I learned very quickly that what was required of me in a closeup was something drastically different than what I had ever experienced. I learned to understand that camera work is much deeper and more internal than it is on stage. There still are specific choices that must be carved out and rehearsed ahead of time, but I have learned to allow my thoughts to do more of the work. I allow the camera to come to me rather than the expending of energy outward that theatre requires.

If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other drives you to stay in this tough business? Is it joy, anger, desire, passion or pride and why?

That’s an easy one! I would have to say passion because if you don’t have that fire bubbling inside, and the excitement and constant urge to breathe life into a role – to words on a page, than it is going to be an uphill battle. There is already so much competition in this business. If you aren’t excited every day to be able to connect deeply to the material, this career will not be sustainable. Looks or connections alone are not going to be enough.

Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a performing artist in a genre overflowing with new faces and ideas?

I do think my ability to shape shift quickly from heart-wrenching dramatic roles to awkward and vulnerable comedic characters is a gift of mine, one that I didn’t initially think came natural for me. I have always been drawn to darker types of characters and roles, but more recently I have been made

What has been your biggest challenge as an actor/ model? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

I would say fear of the audition space and of “getting it wrong”. There is no “wrong”, only not present nor prepared. I do my research and prepare as fully as I possibly can and then I give myself permission to “mess it up”. I find just moving myself into that mindset in my audition prep allows for such freedom, and usually that’s when the magic happens.

A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art”. Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art?

I don’t subscribe to anything that involves the word “suffer” anymore. Art to me is about liberating my true voice and essence, I think if I am in line with that mission, than whatever sacrifices I make in order to get me there are a welcome part of the journey.

How do you feel the Internet has impacted the film and modeling industries?

I think it has democratized access to platforms and audiences that we would otherwise as performers never have had access to. It is amazing, with platforms such as Instagram and Twitter, just how much instant access an actor or model has to the gatekeepers and decision makers in our respective industries. It’s truly remarkable and exciting.

If you could change anything about the film and modeling industry, what would it be?

I would like to see a rapid change in how these industries most unfortunately still default to objectification of women. I know there have been great strides made, since the Me Too movement most notably, but we still have a very long way to go. Women are powerful and strong, and so I hope we continue to see more and more original narratives around that.

What is the best advise you have received?

To stop explaining myself or apologizing for the things that make me unique. That is where the gold is.

How can fans-to-be follow your career?

Please follow me on Instagram @thereal_camilla_c and on IMDb for new acting projects at: www.imdb.me/CamillaSusser Thank you so much!