I was a singer and dancer in a girls’ band when I was a child. We were performing on stage, participating in different contests for children. My main focus was on singing and I never really thought about becoming an actress. However, I had been performing and singing in front of people a lot at every party my parent had *laughs*. Thus, I was an actress without even knowing it. I had a lot of drama training at school and participated in school plays.
However, my parents never really thought about me being an actress or singer, as they thought that “it’s not serious career”. So I ended up going to business school. While I was in college, I did some commercial and print modeling as I was too short for a high fashion runway modeling. Life and “serious” jobs took over and I stopped modeling.
After few years, I decided to get my Master’s Degree in Modern Languages. Surprisingly, after my graduation, I met people who were in the film industry and they asked me if I would be interested to audition for the local film school. I was like: “why not? It should be fun…I used to enjoy performing”. That’s how it all started back again. I realized that acting makes my heart and soul feel good.
indieactivity: Did you study acting?
Tatiana: I studied drama at school, and then I was mostly doing acting workshops, online, group and private classes. Special thanks go to one of my first acting coaches in US Dr. Kevin Carr, who was strict with me but who helped me to get over my concerns about myself and who helped me to move forward in my acting career.
indieactivity: What acting technique do you use?
Tatiana: I began as actor with Stanislavski’s method, but like Meisner’s technique as well. However, I had studied other approaches, such as Adler, Strasberg, and Chekhov. It is known that Stanislavsky inspired future teaches including Stella Adler, Sanford Meisner, and Lee Strasberg. I guess, it would be nice to know different teachings and follow your heart, your intuition, and choose what works best for you individually, not forcing yourself to the one strict approach (technique).
indieactivity: Do you take courses to improve your craft?
Tatiana: I am always trying to educate myself on a pretty regular basis by taking online and live workshops, classes and private coaching whenever I can. Even if I cannot meet with the teacher, there are many other resources to help yourself to improve your craft. Never stop learning in life *smiles*.
indieactivity: What acting books do you read?
Tatiana: I read anything that can inspire me as an actress. I have few books that are on my current reading list: Tony Barr “Acting for the Camera”, Ivana Chubbuck “The Power of the Actor”, and Margie Haber “How to get the part without falling apart”.
indieactivity: How do you keep fit as an actor?
Tatiana: I had been working out and exercising since I was a child. My father taught me the importance of staying in physical shape. I’ve got certified as a Fitness Trainer, and regular exercising is part of my life (3-5 days a week). It doesn’t have to be always intense. Some days (and we all have those days), I feel too tired and lazy, but try to do at least something: yoga, some pushups, planks, jumps and such. I have a very busy schedule, so I can only teach as a substitute trainer when I have a chance.
In regard to staying fit mentally… Some actors are getting frustrated and discouraged. I would recommend walks in the nature, staying focused on positive things and people, reading or listening positive and inspirational things can help to stay on track.
indieactivity: How do you prepare for a role?
Tatiana: I usually read the whole script, identify the role of my character in a whole story, interaction with other characters, and then study my lines.
indieactivity: How do you create a character in a script into a person?
Tatiana: This question is basically a continuation of the previous one. After I get the role, I am trying to understand my character by asking myself certain questions: How does she look, where does she live, what is her personality? What is her back story (this is very important one for me!)? Even if I do not have an information about the past of my character, I usually make a story about my character’s past and motifs in the present and what my character is trying to accomplish. It helps me to become this person.
indieactivity: How do you stay fresh on a production set?
Tatiana: As soon as I am on set, I become my character, I feel the character. I am this person. I am fully engaged in what’s going on. When I have a break between sets, I drink a lot of water and try to take short naps.
indieactivity: Describe a memorable character you played?
Tatiana: I love all my roles/characters that I had played. I played variety of characters from very weak and fragile to extremely strong: good people, bad people. One character that I really liked to play was the Mobster lady in a short student film “Hail Maries”. I had a lot of fun on set and to be that character. I am sure that I will have many more great characters to play.
indieactivity: Explain one creative choice you took on set?
Tatiana: I am glad that all the directors that I worked with liked my creative choices. I form my choices based on my analysis of the character. I cannot say that I had a role where I made some bold choices yet but we have to do everything one step at the time.
indieactivity: What do you want most from a director?
Tatiana: Being clear about his/her expectations from the actor. Be open and honest, polite, patient and supportive while providing a certain freedom to an actor to be creative. I understand that it’s hard for directors sometimes to be attentive to actors while they are in their creative world. However, personal understanding and honest respect would be greatly appreciated. I want any project that I am involved in to succeed as much as director wants.
indieactivity: What actors do you long to work with?
Tatiana: I would love to meet and work with Tom Hanks.
indieactivity: Why?
Tatiana: I admire his personality and ability to become his character in the film. He is able to touch your very deep strings inside with his acting. I had also read his story becoming an actor. It is truly inspirational.
indieactivity: What advice would you give to actors?
Tatiana: Be yourself. Your individuality is the most important thing. It’s good to have people who inspire you, but ALWAYS BE YOURSELF. Even when you play a role – be yourself. Acting – is not acting, it’s being real, being you.
indieactivity: Briefly write about your career?
Tatiana: I have worked with many indie productions on short, feature films, TV and Web series. I have two very exciting upcoming shows that are in pre-production. In both, I will be playing action characters.
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