Meet Ryan Payne | Actor, Dancer, Musician (Artist)

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

Hi Ryan, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Ever since I was a kid I was into the arts. I’ve always been a very creative person and I noticed whenever I was in careers that weren’t creative it drained my soul. I started to become aware how good it felt when I did things that brought me joy. Making Music, Acting, Dancing and being in creative environments with amazingly talented people is what brought me the most joy. So I chose to do what brings me joy.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The hardest part of this journey for me was simply finding out who I am. We live in a world that wants you to be everything but yourself. So I spent a lot of time alone letting go of all the social norms and what society told me what success was and focused on what my soul was calling me to do. Focusing on the things that brought me joy and from there I let my heart lead the way. I grew up always seeing the Hollywood sign and a big part of me knew I would be here some day. After separating from the United States Air Force I knew this was my chance to follow my heart and move to Los Angeles to pursue my love for acting. The minute I got here I felt like I found my tribe of people. Learning acting unlocked a freedom in me that I’ve been missing my whole life. It lead me back to everything I loved when I was a child. I discovered my love for making music, dancing, drawing and I’m sure there are other things yet to be discovered. It taught me to always honor my inner child, continue being curious, playful and adventurous. As I look back on all the lessons I’ve learned throughout this life, I realize it was all preparing me for all the dreams I wanted to manifest.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Living in LA has definitely turned me into a nature boy. So I would take my bestie to the beach. I really love El Matador beach in Malibu and Manhattan beach as well. I love going on nature walks and my favorite so far is Lake Hollywood Park. It has a beautiful lake and you can see the Hollywood sign while you’re walking. Runyon Canyon is fun as well. The tacos are out of this world and one of my favorite spots is Teddy’s Red Tacos. The food is really incredible and there are so many cultures in this city you can practically find any kind of food you can think of. The Santa Monica Pier is always a vibe and the Griffith Observatory is a must for great views.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The first shoutout goes to God and my spirit team. When I look back at everything I went through in life I see that every failure, breakup, risk and lesson has just been preparing me for everything I’ve asked for in life. I see now how divinely guided I have been throughout my life and I’m extremely grateful. Next I would like to shoutout all my supportive family and friends. I have done some crazy things in my life and they’ve always supported me. Thank you Tony Robbins, Eric Thomas and Les Brown for always keeping me motivated and inspired to follow my dreams through your books/videos. Shoutout to the United States Air Force for funding all my schooling allowing me to develop my craft without going into debt. Shoutout to the New York Film Academy and The Lee Strasberg Institute for opening me up as an artist and helping me find my voice. Last, I would like to shoutout myself for never giving up on me or my dreams. I love you all!

Instagram: @Iam_ryanpayne

Other: email – Ryanpayne279@gmail.com

Image Credits
Ariel Ajimura