Meet Riley Bowes | Actor

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

Hi Riley, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?

“Follow your heart.” I disagree with this advice. I’m a Christian and the Bible says that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). The belief that our feelings determine what is true and what is right has led to most of our problems in this post-modern era, especially in the West. There is no such thing as “your truth” or “my truth.” There is only the truth, and we will do well to accept and submit to it.

I used to believe that the purpose of life is to pursue happiness. But as I’ve matured in my faith and grown in wisdom I have learnt that it is actually better to pursue righteousness. Instead of following your heart and pursuing happiness, the advice I would give is to follow God and pursue righteousness. In doing that, you are more likely to have happiness (fulfillment, peace and contentment). The Westminster Shorter Catechism of 1648 put it this way: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”

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.

As an actor, I have alway been drawn to the idea of conveying the human experience. The purpose is to keep us in touch with our humanity. We are drawn to characters, not because we like or hate them, but because we recognize them in some large or small way. We see them in ourselves and/or in others, and this allows us to be transported to the world depicted on the screen or the stage. It is an alternate dimension, populated by ‘real’ people (human and non-human alike), and in it we can have resonant emotional and intellectual experiences. That is what storytelling is about in my opinion. And it has been my aim to provide this since I started acting.

In my training I have learnt to trust my instincts and embrace my own essence in service of the character. I always thought the challenge was to disappear completely and allow the character to exist on his own. But I realized that, not only is that literally impossible, it is not even ideal. Just as a painter uses paint to create an artwork on canvas, an actor uses himself – his body, his essence, his being – to create a character on stage or film. One can look at the character as a version of the person playing him. And that is actually what makes the character authentic and interesting. He is infused with real, unique human life.

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’ll admit, I’m not the best tour guide, but I would try to give my friend as full an experience of LA as possible. We would start the day with a hike up Runyon Canyon. And we have to take the long route so we can have a real workout. Then we need to refuel for the day at Blu Jam Cafe in Melrose. Breakfast there is always a delight. Then we can head to the Hammer Museum in Westwood to peruse some art. It has been a favorite of mine since my UCLA Extension days. After that we’re off to the Santa Monica Pier to try some rides, spend some time at the beach and soak up what’s left of the sunlight. The last place I would go to is Angels Tijuana Tacos for dinner. I’m convinced they have the best burritos in LA. You haven’t experienced LA if you haven’t tried some good LA Mexican food.

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?
I will never be able to thank Zakes and Olebogeng More from Boikgantsho Consulting and Events Institute enough. Their financial aid through BCEI’s corporate social responsibility initiative made the difference that finally allowed me to come to the United States and begin my acting journey. I thank God for them. I would also like to thank my parents for their endless support and encouragement. They have often been a source of strength for me during my most difficult times. Lastly, I would like to thank all the teachers I have had up until this point. Especially Christine Dunford, Michelle Danner and Allen Barton. These three acting teachers have been most impactful in my craft and truly equipped me with the technical tools I need to realize my potential as an actor. But, of course, my eternal thanks goes to my God, Jesus Christ for overseeing my life and soul, guiding my steps and blessing my journey with all these amazing people.

Website: https://www.imdb.me/riley.bowes

Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/Riley-Bowes-103442068024211/

Image Credits
Danny Damian