Meet Amanda Reed | Actress, Writer & Producer

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

Hi Amanda, what do you attribute your success to?
There was this moment about 12 years ago when I realized that I wasn’t doing my acting for myself. I was letting other people’s opinions be louder than my own. I made a decision then that I was going to do acting my way. For me, that meant that I wasn’t going to try to figure out where the industry wanted to put me or how I should look, dress, or act to fit into an idea that I thought people would want of me. It is too hard to do that. I don’t know what“people are thinking”and who is “the industry” anyways. That was the first part of it—I decided to think for myself and be the me I wanted to be. The next part was to really get specific on it—what value do I bring, what do I specialize in and what will I be known for. And finally, I had to get creative on the packaging. : )

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am an actress. I have been since I was 14 years old. I think the thing that sets me apart from all the rest is 1) my dedication and passion to my craft and 2) that I represent a real person. I look like a real person. I play real people. And audiences see me, and they relate to me. I recently have been portraying characters that are the “bad guys” in life. And because I play them truthfully, it helps people see the wrongness in this type of behavior. If the story’s message is something I think needs to be told, I am willing to play the bad guy. And it takes a lot to portray someone who is against your moral compass. To play a character like that truthfully, you have to understand them and not judge them. Actors have to be empathetic. It is why I think actors are some of the most courageous people.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love Venice. The Venice Canals are gorgeous and walking around the huge houses, you get to dream which one is yours. Driving up the coast is just a fun activity. Stopping in Ventura or Santa Barbara is a treat, and you can have some of the freshest seafood in the smallest joints. The hiking in Los Angeles is vast, which surprises people. Everybody knows Griffith Park, but a little less known is the Hollywood Reservoir. It is 3.5 miles and very beautiful. (Wear sunscreen though— not too much shade.) Recently, a lot of Drive-in Movie spots have popped up. That’s a must go! Or you could go for a quick drive up Angeles Crest for some spectacular views or have dinner on the Malibu pier at sunset, which is a pretty great way to end the day.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It takes a lot of support for anyone to confront and move forward to success. The support I get starts with my family. My parents are big supporters of mine, as are my siblings. They just know I’ll do it. And their willingness to continue on this journey with me is huge. My friends are also instrumental. We have similar goals, and we meet once a week, review our marketing and promotion. I know that sounds nerdy, but as artists, we are entrepreneurs! Also, I attribute a big part of my success to The Acting Center. This community of artists has saved me more than once. And The Acting Center technique is the most successful I have ever seen. My fellow students—Academy Award Nominatees, Golden Globe-winners, series regulars, and even brand new actors—all attest to the effectiveness. It is THE acting class for the successful actor. And I believe The Acting Center is creating a renaissance in acting. I have booked 18 TV shows since I started studying with them. And that’s just the beginning!

Website: theamandareed.net
Instagram: @amandareedofficial

Image Credits
Rob Flate Photography, Ray Kachatorian, David Rand