Breaking Into Acting — with Laysla De Oliveira

On this week’s episode of Girl Gang the Podcast, we're in Los Angeles interviewing actress Laysla De Oliveira.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome to Girl Gang the Podcast. I'm your host, Amy Will, and the founder of Girl Gangthelabel.com.

SPEAKER_01 0:05

I'm Liza Delivera. And you're listening to Girl Gang the Podcast.

SPEAKER_00 0:10

So let's talk about when you wanted to be an actor. This is like your calling. You always knew you wanted to do this. So if you can kind of showcase like that moment when you were like, wait, this is what I have to do.

SPEAKER_01 0:21

Yeah, I think when I was little, I always loved acting. I just didn't know that's what I was doing. I love to imitate people. My personal favorite is I used to lip sync to Britney Spears and charge my mom's friends that would come for dinner parties like a dollar to two dollars each. And so it would be dinner and a show. And uh yeah, I would lip sync to Britney Spears, and I would have some costume changes, some light changes, and you know, I was just hustling then. And uh then I think it was about nine or ten when that happened, and then uh I dabbed into some modeling a little bit, and I got to audition for some commercials, and I thought, oh, this is cool. And then I had my first drama class and I completely fell in love with it. And so then I moved to an arts high school and and started to pursue that. But it took me some time to um, I knew that I liked it, but like admit to myself that I was an actress. I think sometimes it's hard, even though you have this passion, it's hard to say like I'm an actor. It's like this scary thing. So even when I was going to art school and I knew that's what I wanted to do and and be, um it took me some time. I think it wasn't until I started going to college and I went to like a theater school that I was like, yes, I'm an actress. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:51

Let's talk about the moment when I mean you went to a very prestigious um, is it theater school technically with the Yeah, yeah. It was a theater school. Okay. Um in Toronto, and you like have this calling to LA. So can you kind of take us through that process of like you're in Toronto, you're at this like very prestigious theater school, yeah, and you're like, I gotta get here, and you just go. What were the emotions that went through that and the stuff you had to work through to make that leap and come to that confidence in your career? Like, this is my time, I'm committing to this, I'm going.

SPEAKER_01 2:21

Yeah, I think all in me, I always knew that if I really wanted to pursue this, I'd have to make the move to LA or New York just because most of the working actors that I had seen were living in in one of the two. I always, in my heart, I don't know if it was an intuition or what it was, knew that I had to move to um LA. I was in theater school, I was supposed to be four years. I ended up doing two. I got an agent that I really liked, and um, you know, one of my teachers kind of came up to me and said, gave me a little nudge. And she was like, if you move to LA, you'll eat more of the macaroni and cheese. Like you should go and give it a try and uh do it on the earlier side versus later, because you know, you do have to kind of punch in your time. Like, you know, some people, yes, there are stories of people booking their first audition, but the reality is that it isn't that, and there are so many no's before there is a yes. And so um, yeah, I just worked really hard. I try to get as much as possible on, you know, my resume at the time you could combine the modeling and acting to apply for a visa and you know, have to prove that you're an alien of extraordinary ability to to come to America and uh and do it. And I think when you do get the opportunity and the chance to get here, you're like, well, this is it. Like, I'm here. I don't have, you know, of course, now we're friends, but when you get here, you have very few friends, and you're just trying to like that's the one thing I was focusing on is like following my dream. And so I think when you move, it it adds pressure, but a good kind of pressure. It's like, this is what I'm here to do, so I'm gonna do it.

SPEAKER_00 4:03

And I do want to talk about when we first met a big thing on this podcast is transparency, and I know that you preach that on your social channels and everything too. So when I met you, I'm like, oh my gosh, this successful actor, she's thriving. And what I learned through meeting you is just like all the no's that go into that yes. Yeah. So can you take us through the early days when you're here? And like I think in um different careers and different avenues, of course, there's always no's in life, but the industry you're in, the grit and grace that you have to constantly be pursuing is um something that I think anyone, even people that aren't exploring being an actor or in the entertainment industry want to do. So you can kind of take us through like rituals, practices, even mantras that you say when you're just like like so confidently know what you're doing, and you're just like, no, I'm pushing through.

SPEAKER_01 4:47

I went through a very interesting journey, and this is something I'd I've not talked about yet. So when I moved out here, I mean, publicly, a lot of my friends know this. When I moved out here, I before I moved out here, so I started acting, I got a couple roles, like guest spot roles, beginners like, and then I didn't work for two years, and I did go on auditions, and so that's a lot of no's. And so you start to second guess things, but you know, you know in your heart that that's what you want to do. So I then moved out here and I got a job, and it was the lead of a series, and it actually shot in Brazil. Um, and I flew all the way there, and I landed, and as soon as I landed, I got a call from my team, and they said, uh, I don't know what to tell you, they're recasting you, and I haven't even stepped foot on set yet. So that was like a total blow for me. That was a really hard time because I was like, okay, here is two years of not working as I get emotional thinking about it because it was really hard. And you think it's gonna be your shot, and then it's not, so then you have to pick yourself back up. So you have to come up with things that are going to feed your self-confidence. So I came back, I cried all the way back, and unfortunately, that wasn't the only time that that happened. That actually ended up happening a second time as well. So for me, what I like to do is I like to meditate and I like to um have a vision journal. I cut out, you know, things that I want in my life. I um write things as if I already have them. I am very spiritual. That works for me. I think people have to find what works for them. So I like to sit and think about, you know, what I want and where I want to be. And I try to do that every day in a positive way. And it's not just thinking or saying it, it's feeling it as well. So I try to like live in the feeling of what I want and imagining the job as if I already have it, because the low is so low sometimes. So if you don't have that routine, it's really hard to keep on keeping on. And then it's great, and the highs are super high. And that's the thing about I think acting or any art, it's like it's way, it's waves, like what comes up must come down, and then it goes back up again. So you have to find, like you said, your routine.

SPEAKER_00 7:28

Thank you so much. Also, like being all real about that. I just like anything in life, I think people like are so close to getting that dream job and they didn't get it, and they like go through a thing. But like in acting, just like from what I've learned from you, is like it's just over and over again, you get that yes, but you're just right back to work. Like you've got to keep the grants going. And so I think the lessons that you've taught me, I've implemented in business. So I'm just so grateful you're willing to like. That's a big thing I want to do is I think in the digital age, people look at everyone and you're like, oh, everyone has their shit together, and I don't. What's wrong with me? And so I mean, when I met you, I mean, I I believe that wholeheartedly my version of you is you're the successful actor, you're working, you're in all these things. And then just hearing your interpretation of that, I'm like, oh my God, I had no idea what went behind it because it's really hard to showcase those things.

SPEAKER_01 8:13

Well, yeah, and I think at the age of social media, like not it's not every day that you're gonna post and be like, I'm sad today, I didn't book this job today, or I wasn't allowed to audition for this role today, because that happens too, you know. And so you are out there promoting yourself and your best self, but that's why I was so looking forward to doing this podcast with you, because I think it's a great was a great way for me, or you know, even for other people in the industry to hear and see that the things that people are seeing are the yeses, but there are so many no's and not just like you go into the room, it's like no, thank you. There are like yeses that then become no's. And so you really have to just be confident in yourself and feel, you know, deserving and and have your ritual.

SPEAKER_00 9:09

Yeah, that's why I'm like so excited to have you on. And this has been like one I've been so looking forward to because the yeah, just the persistence that you've kept. Anyone that's doing anything is gonna be able to have the takeaway of this of just like, oh no, I gotta get my shit together. Like just because this one no happened or this order fell through, or I didn't get this job, or this acting thing crumbled, like, no, you've got like the people that are successful, just like keep getting up and keep going.

SPEAKER_01 9:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:35

Um, so to transition now, appreciate you so much for being transparent about that. Now let's transition into like what's been happening the last two years, which is just like craziness. Um, and so yeah, if you want to talk about um your project right now that's out that we love, we gotta walk to your apartment the first night. Yeah. And I definitely don't watch scary movies, but anything you're in, I will watch wholeheartedly. It was honestly so good, even for someone that's like terrified. Yeah. Um, Corey and I like left just being like that made us like think. That was so crazy, just overall. You left and like thought about it for a few days. Um, so to be able to have this like pivotal moment um in I mean, all these things that happen at once, we'll go through all of them. This is just like the one I've seen. Yeah. But um, then what does it feel like when like the snowball effect starts happening, which it really did? What was that like first call, first day on set? Yeah. The yeses that you really wanted and like you being able to do your art the way you want coming to fruition? What was that like?

SPEAKER_01 10:37

First of all, shout out to Vincenzo Natale, who wrote and directed into the tall in the tall grass. He I he's such a visionary, like he is the one who, you know, of course, he's adapting a Stephen King novella, but the way he shot it, it does really make you think, and it's not just your regular, you know, jump scary horror film. In the tall grass, I auditioned for um and didn't hear anything back for a month or two. Um I had shot my second pilot that didn't get picked up, as you remember. I um and so then I auditioned for this thing, didn't think anything of it. I honestly didn't even think I was gonna book it because um it was for the role of Becky, and I was like, I'm Latin, like this is not gonna happen. Like a Becky driving through Kansas, like there is no way that I'm going to have this shot. And in fact, I almost didn't even tape for it because I was so tired of just wasting my time. Like, it's not, it's never a waste of time. That's a thing, and you never know it's gonna be the thing. But I remember calling my manager and being like, I'm I'm not gonna get this, like blah blah blah. And he was like, just do it. And I was like, You're right, I just have to do it. So I got a call two months later that uh Vincenzo wanted to have a director session with me um over Skype. So we did that in my on my balcony. I he, you know, um he was on Skype, and uh my boyfriend Jonathan was like hiding in a corner because he was supposed to read with me, and then Harrison, who's my castmate, actually ended up being on the other side of Skype, and they were uh very intense scenes, the movie's very intense, and I did it, and the next day I found out that I got the part, which was, you know, I felt like this is it, like this is my chance to really sink my teeth into something because until then I I had gotten some parts, but um, nothing that I thought I could like really showcase myself with. And so um, so yeah, so then I I went to Toronto, hometown, and there were fears there. There was um, am I gonna be able to do what I know I'm capable of doing? You know, this is my first chance, and there's a lot of pressure that you put on yourself, and it was very physically demanding, and it was very emotionally demanding, but I feel so lucky that I had such a great director and a great cast. Like my one of the guy who played my brother, Avery. I remember our my first really emotional scene. We were in the car, and I was like super nervous, and he just like it was his first first of all, it was his first acting and film job ever. He's a theater actor, so here I have I'm sitting beside someone, and he just like held my hand, like we were so there for each other. And so after that first scene, I was like, we can we can do this, and so we finished that, and uh, while I was in Toronto, I started meeting with um Adam McGuire for a guest of honor, and that was so surreal as well because I've always looked up to him, and I was just on my like in a bucket list of people I wanted to work with, and we would meet every weekend, and it was like this weird thing. I was like, is he seeing other people? Are we just seeing each other? Like, I this what is happening right now? And on our last meeting, he told me he got the job, and I remember acting really cool. I was like, Yes, thank you. I look forward to working with you. I didn't freak out again because I was scared. I was like, Oh my gosh, but if they call me and like he changes his mind. And we talk about that still because Adam came up to me um during the fest one of the festivals, and he was like, You're the weirdest person that I shared news that they got the job with. Like anyone would be so elated. You were so weird. I was like, Yeah, because I like have been recast before. I have this fear, and he was like, Yeah, that makes so much sense. And so it's really nice to like have these opportunities and know it's like this is what it is. And so getting to go to the Venice Film Festival was such a dream come true. I mean, I was surrounded by people I admire um at TIFF as well, getting to celebrate it at home. But you really have to like step up your health game. Like it's no joke. The press is like there's very little sleep, there's a lot of traveling. Um, and I hear it gets even more intense the more you do it, but it's such a dream come true, and it's just so nice to be there. I think when you love what you do, you're willing to step up no matter what.

SPEAKER_00 15:05

And you got like an awesome stylist that you look up to, like the whole team you put together. Like, what is that like? I feel like the stuff going from literally like weaving through grass and getting things like so I know it wasn't for that movie, but I mean just like your day-to-day grind and acting. A lot of us on the outside just see like the festivals and those things, you know, like we're like, oh, that's their day-to-day life, but your day-to-day life is like hours and hours on them. So, what was that like to be able to celebrate this like crazy last couple years of work and step into a festival you've always wanted to go to dressed with like someone that you look up to?

SPEAKER_01 15:37

And I think it's so tough, especially like for me, I'm very type A that way. Like, I'm there and I'm like, okay, what's next? Like it's that's been a challenge for me is like living in the moment and and and actually um just enjoying that moment versus worrying about what's coming next, how I'm being perceived, like what the reviews are like. So that's something that I'm working on myself. But I mean, when I heard La Roach wanted to work with me, as you know, I put nearly fainted. I was so excited and the clothes were amazing. It's really nice to kind of um dive into the world again because I did use to model, but go into it as an actress, like be able to like down a plate of pasta and then, you know, put the Armani Privé dress on and and go go to the red carpet and feel fly as hell and like full as hell as well, and just have a good time. Um, I'm that was such a highlight. Um, it's still a whirlwind. I I this was one of my favorite years, yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_00 16:42

I mean, because you've been putting in the work, and this is the year where like the world gets to see it and like you truly get a celebrate it and projects are done. And I'm sure like just like you're talking about, and a lot of people have these complexes for different things, like, okay, I got this thing, whatever it is, but is it actually gonna happen? So you like protect yourself from celebrating. And this has been like the last few months, you like get a celebrate what's been going on, which is awesome.

SPEAKER_01 17:04

That's what I'm working on in general, is like celebrating the moments. I remember one of the pilots I did that didn't get picked up. I had done a pilot the previous year, and I was like, I'm not gonna celebrate, I'm not gonna do anything. And then the pilot didn't get picked up, and there was no moment other than the phone call of victory. And so when I did my second pilot, I was so happy that I, you know, I did celebrate in the moment. Like you guys came to visit me, and we had such a great time in Chicago, and that's one of like my fondest work memories, even though it's a show that didn't go and people didn't get to see what I did. It's just that's the most important thing is to celebrate the small victories.

SPEAKER_00 17:41

And like everyone needs to remember to do that. I just want to like press that. Like, I'm taking in this advice too, like, always celebrate the small victories because you don't know what's ahead. And I feel like it's all about the journey, not the destination. And um, yeah, your career is just like a um encapsulation of that, just like anyone that's in acting, it's like the destination is the goal, and so being able to celebrate the journey, everyone can take that away from like a heightened version of that. Um, so now I want to I want to take a step back a little bit, and what is some advice that you would give someone that wants to get into acting?

SPEAKER_01 18:14

First of all, you gotta believe in yourself. That's the first thing because you're gonna get a lot of no. So if you don't believe in yourself, you know, nobody else will. That's the main thing is like working on that confidence. And so, what does that mean for you? Does it mean class? Does it mean trusting your own instincts? Like everybody has their journey of how they feel comfortable and you know, their performance or what they're gonna create. And then, you know, the kind of rule of thumb is try to get an agent. That's really hard. Um, it sometimes works out for people right away, and sometimes it doesn't. There are things online that you know you can audition for on your own, and if you get a couple of things, and maybe you can showcase yourself that way to then get an agent. Once you get an agent, you start going on auditions. Um and then, you know, you you kind of collect your your jobs, and then if you can make that move because I mean, and I can only speak from my own personal, you can't, by the way, there's a lot of work in Toronto, there's a lot of work in Vancouver. Um, I know Canada just because I'm Canadian. There's a lot of work. They shoot a lot in Chicago. It's I'm not saying like you have to live in New York or LA. Just from my personal experience, it's especially LA, it's the hub. So you are, if you can make a move or if you have enough on your resume to make the move, um, it is kind of where there is more work being generated. So there are more opportunities. Maybe instead of going on one audition a week, you're gonna go on four or five. So try to give yourself those opportunities and you know, maybe make your own stuff. Whatever is gonna help you showcase yourself. But the main thing is like just believe in yourself.

SPEAKER_00 19:58

And like anything you do in life, like no excuses. I love that you brought that up. You don't need to be in LA and New York, like not everyone can come here. Just like make it if you won't love, if you know what you want to do and you love the process of it, just like make it work wherever you are to start. Exactly, exactly. You gotta start somewhere. If you can tell our listeners a little bit about what in the tall grass is about, um, and especially for people that are like so scared of movies, usually like me, I honestly loved it, and just like I said, how it made me think. So, can you um take us through the premise a little bit and what it's about?

SPEAKER_01 20:29

In the tall grass, um, is about so I play a character, her name is Becky Demouth, and my brother and I were driving to Kansas, I'm pregnant, and uh we're about to give uh the baby away or s or sort out the situation um with the pregnancy, and we hear someone calling for help in this tall grass. And uh we go in to see what's going on, and of course we realize that maybe that wasn't the best decision, and that there are other people in there as well trying to get out. That's as much as I can give away because uh I think I think it's a good it's a it's a psychological thriller, it's and it's very beautifully shot as well. The cinematographer I was one of my favorites.

SPEAKER_00 21:19

Oh my gosh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:21

So now we went through guest of honor in the tall grass, and why I said the snowball effect is because there is a third one, uh TV show on Netflix. Also, I love that you're just like a part of the Netflix family and how they do that.

SPEAKER_01 21:33

I love Netflix so much. Praise be Netflix. I think like they keep me employed, they're my favorite so far. Um Lock and Key is gonna be amazing. I uh truly feel that. I had such a great um experience shooting in Toronto as well, so it's really nice that I get to go home. But um Lock and Key is about a family whose father has uh passed away and And um they go back to their family home and the the kids discover that there are some magical keys in the house and that there's a demon, hey, who will stop at nothing to get them. It was my first time playing sci-fi bad, which is such a delicious kind of bad and doing mean things to little kids. I I love Jackson. Um, and the outfits were amazing and just the whole vibe. I'm I'm I'm really excited for people to see that one as well.

SPEAKER_00 22:34

So what let's take us through. I mean, these things keep on happening. Like, what were the dopamine hits going on during that year of these things coming to fruition?

SPEAKER_01 22:43

When I found out about Locking Key, I found out the day before uh the Christmas holidays. I auditioned two days or a couple days before that. I found I found out pretty quickly as well. Um, I did not think that I was gonna hear anything about the show until after the holidays because it was so close towards the end of the year and they were only shoot shooting the following year. I remember I was putting so much pressure on myself to like get the next thing and get the because when you're on the roll, you even sometimes put more pressure on yourself because you don't want the momentum to stop. And I remember I was trying so hard that I couldn't figure it out. Like I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do. So my boyfriend Jonathan was like, you know what? Let's just leave it, let's go to our friends, housewarming party, and then when we come back, we'll be inspired and we'll work on it. And I was like, okay, yeah, I need to step away from this. And so I did, and then I came back, we worked and did it cool, didn't think anything of it. Went in. I remember the kid's name is Bodie, and I had rehearsed all my lines as Bode. I thought his name was Bode. And I got there and it was like the pronunciation is Bodhi. And I was like, oh crap. So I was like trying to like just get the name right, and I say that name so many times, and so I was like, okay, so I did the audition and I was like, okay, whatever. Went to Toronto because I was spending the holidays there. I think I was like at a banana republic. I don't know, I was shopping for my mom. I had a bunch of clothes in my arms, and I got a call from my agents, and I was like, and they were calling together, and usually when they call together, it means good news, but it I didn't think, I honestly did not think I would hear anything. So they were like, You had such a great year, you know, we just wanted to check in on you. And I was like, Oh, thank you so much. And then they were like, and uh also we just wanted to let you know you're employed for next year. And I literally, I do not know like what came over me. I dropped all the clothes, I was like having hot flashes. I was in the mall, I wasn't understanding what was going on. I ran outside in Toronto winter, no coat on, like screaming and crying because that was my first series regular job. Like I had moved to LA in hopes, like I always did pilot season, and yes, I did pilots, but I never got the series regular job. Like I never got that experience of being on set months on end, and I knew that I would thrive off of that and like learn so much. So I feel like that's what I kind of been waiting for, that kind of experience of being on set every day for 14 hours or however long. And I remember calling my dad, my dad was the first one who picked up, and I was like crying so much on the phone. He's like, Are you okay? Where are you? What's going on? And I was like, I'm gonna be on a Netflix show, but I can't tell anybody yet. So that was for me such a and it's it was so good like ending the year knowing that I was employed for most of the year the following year, and that show I learned so much and it gave me so much confidence. I'm really happy about it.

SPEAKER_00 25:41

Oh my gosh. Um, okay, so the last thing I want to touch on is I mean, you're on the snowball, all of these yeses have happened. You went through all this grip before. What are your practices now to like be getting up and going? Like, I think it's fair to say now by all standards, including your own, like you have done some stuff, right? But at the same time, like you can't we're talking about celebrating the little moments, but to keep going, you just gotta like, yeah. We talk about the highs and lows, both of them you gotta pick yourself up and like just be hitting the pavement going. So now, like, what practices are you doing and your daily habit? Uh, I mean, you're on like billboards and these things are coming out, and you're at the Venice Film Festival. So, what positives are you taking to that for like your everyday grind?

SPEAKER_01 26:24

Just being grateful every single day, like wake up and practice gratitude. I try to, you know, do yoga workout, like at that serotonin in your brain as much as I can. Um, that's what keeps me grounded. But you know, the hassle doesn't stop. Like I'm still auditioning. And I I think, yes, like you get more stuff under your belt, but you're still like I hear of like these stars auditioning, you know, against. I don't like using the word against because I feel like if it's yours, it's yours. But that's the kind of the coolest thing about acting is like even though you achieve all these things, it's so humbling because you kind of do go back to like ground zero, like being in the room and going in. The thing is, is like I just try to practice gratitude, work out as much as I can, eat healthy, stay positive, but also like not eat healthy too on the days that I that I um don't want to. And like if I want to have wine with my friends, like I think the key is just being happy and whatever that means to you. Because if you're happy inside, like that'll show when you go out there and go into the room, like you won't put so much pressure on yourself. Of course, it's easier said than done, you know, if it's something you really want. But I'm just trying to ride the wave and see what's next for sure.

SPEAKER_00 27:41

Thank you so much. Well, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us today and share your story. So beautiful. Yay, I'm so happy I got to do this. And then can you let our listeners know where to follow along your journey and then also where to tune in? Um yes. So In the Tall Grass is on Netflix right now.

SPEAKER_01 27:58

You can stream it worldwide. Uh, lock and key is TBD. Netflix will let you know. Um, but definitely get your Netflix accounts uh going. And uh guest of honor in terms of theaters is TBD. I know it's doing a bunch of festivals right now, but um, and follow me on Instagram, Liz Ladio. I'll keep you guys uh posted on the whole thing. And Instagram Lua. Oh, and my dog Little Moon Lua. Actually, just go to Little Moon Lua and she'll she'll keep you posted on the whole thing for sure.

SPEAKER_00 28:30

Oh my gosh, thank you. Thank you, love. Learn more about this week's guest, female creatives, and shop our collection at Girl Gangthelabel.com. Let us know what you're doing to support your local girl gang by tagging us on Instagram at Girl Gang The Label.