Meet Natalie Shershow: Actor, Writer & Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Natalie Shershow and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Natalie, what role has risk played in your life or career?
At first blush, I don’t seem like the average risk taker. You won’t find me jumping out of an airplane or gambling large sums of money for the thrill of it. In most parts of my life, I tend to opt for the safe bet, the secure option that will guarantee happiness–and a bedtime around 11 pm. Taking a risk is intimidating; hurdling headfirst into uncertainty is daunting for anyone, especially a fraidy-cat like me. Yet, somehow, all of the most pivotal moments in my life thus far have had the same catalyst: taking a risk.

Deciding to pursue an acting career in the first place was a huge risk. Granted, I made this decision at the ripe age of nine, and had little to no idea what I was getting myself into. All I knew was I adored performing, and that’s enough to be successful, right? Wrong. The reality of this industry is that actors need to be more than artists, we must be the CEO of our own business as well. To stand out amongst heavy competition, we must be bold, go the extra mile, and have the courage to do something memorable. It took me a while to get used to feeling uncomfortable, but the best things, the magical things, happen outside of your comfort zone. Like when I left college after one semester–making me the only college dropout of my four older brothers–to attend the William Esper Studio and hone my craft. I was terrified to veer from the traditional path, but, to this day, I believe this was the best decision I’ve ever made.

There are no sure-things in filmmaking. You can’t guarantee you’ll get any auditions; even if you get an audition, you can’t guarantee you’ll get the role; even if you get a role, you can’t guarantee the project will be a success. It can be a vicious cycle of uncertainty, but the one thing you can always depend on is your willingness to take the leap. You may as well be gutsy and try something new, because if it works, great! If not, at least you had the courage to dare to be different.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Based on my consistently poor math grades, it’s safe to say I was born to be creative. I knew from a young age that I wanted to tell stories and make people smile. I took the liberty of putting together preliminary performances from my bedroom, inviting such A-list celebrities as my older brothers, and media gate-keepers like my mom–a great opportunity for networking. Unsatisfied with my tiny audience, I begged my mom to sign me up for acting classes. I even went so far as googling the best acting teacher in my hometown of Portland, OR. My mom agreed, and I spent the happiest years of my young life working on scenes and characters with my teacher, Katie O’Grady.

I began working as a professional actor at the age of 10. I instantly loved every second of working on set, and despite the grueling, long hours and occasional stressors, working as an actor never felt like work. To this day, nothing makes me happier than working on set, despite the raised stakes of now needing to make a living. Of course, it’s not all sunshine and daisies: being an actor has incredibly high-highs and depressingly low-lows. Dealing with rejection on a near day-to-day basis is hard. Finding success in an industry with no clear path is frustrating. Even though some days I feel like giving up, my love for creating and performing keeps me going. Being an actor makes you face exactly who you are and what you want head-on, and I’m a more grounded person because of this.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
New York City in one week? I’ve got it covered. Our journey begins on my rooftop. I live in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, which means I’ve got an amazing view of the Manhattan skyline. Then, we take to the streets. There’s a lot to see, so we’ll start local. Williamsburg has the best food on planet earth, period. Whether we’re craving burgers from Juanchi or comfort food from Pies-n-Thighs, our bellies will be happy. Over the weekend, we’ll visit the Farmers Market at McCaren Park, which I may or may not be slightly obsessed with. Next, we’ll walk across the Williamsburg Bridge into lower Manhattan. If we’re still hungry, we’ll grab a bite at the Essex Market or a square slice at Prince St. Pizza. We’ll explore the insanely overpriced clothing stores in SoHo, but soon run away from them, fearing we’re not cool enough to shop there. We’ll make our way uptown to Washington Square park (the very best place to people watch) and catch a stand-up comedy set at one of the bars on MacDougal St. Heading into midtown, I’ll point out all the street corners where I frustration cried and/or pushed past people sprinting on my way to acting class on 37th St. Of course, we’ll walk through Times Square, but quickly decide we’re not “those tourists” and get as far away from the LED lights as possible. And last but certainly not least, we’ll catch a show on Broadway–my pick is Hamilton, if you’re paying–stroll through the Met feeling very classy, and a picnic in Central Park to top it all off. Come back sometime soon! Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have been fortunate enough to come from an incredibly supportive family and community. I would love to thank my mom, dad and step-dad for instilling in me great values and a determined work ethic. I would also like to thank the teachers who shaped my love of acting: Katie O’Grady, Jana Lee Hamblin, Barbara Marchant, Nancy Mayans, Eric Loscheider, Theo Morin, Jules Helm, Akil Apollo Davis, and David Kaplan.

Website: https://www.natalieshershow.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natshershow/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzvdQM4C11PmPxrLg7zJa_w

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4134907/

Image Credits
Film photos by Yasmeen Magar