Meet Alan Smyth | Actor, Writer, Director

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

Hi Alan, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk is a vital component of personal growth. Not knowing, or having certainty on how something will play out is fuel to me. It focuses my attention and makes me feel like I actually have a say in my life. It’s almost certainly, on a deep, DEEP psychological level why I was drawn to acting. It’s all risk, being an actor. You don’t know if you’ll ever work; if you do work, you don’t know how if you’ll “get there”; night-to-night, theres no telling how the show/take will go. We are totally affected by our colleagues, audience, the weather. Theres a constant sense of adapting in-the-moment. I emigrated to America from Ireland to pursue my career further. If I didn’t know what to expect before, I REALLY didn’t have a fucking clue how that move would play out. It’s the very reason it made it irresistible,

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always found it impossible to talk about acting. I’ve rarely heard any actor, even the greats, talk about it where it doesn’t sound pretentious or weird. I don’t believe it is either. I can say I am happiest when I am on stage in something I feel is great. I can say the only time I am truly, 100% present, is when I am in front of an audience. I can say that the excitement that I get when I get to read something I love is a gift I wish I could give everyone.

I came to acting through a love of movies, but most importantly, theatre. There was no history of anyone in our family being an actor, so it took quite a bit of convincing at home. I went to Business school to appease the “something to fall-back on” idea, but started a drama society (not as grand as it sounds) on Day 1, and started to figure out if I could direct plays. When you are obsessed, it’s very difficult to think of anything else.

For the first 6 years I was working, I was remarkably insecure, felt like an imposter, felt like really shitty actor. But, I wanted it so much. I did a small fringe play, a light went on, and I found my “place”. I still feel like an imposter, but I now know I can get through that..usually.

I’ve learned things from every job I’ve done, I believe. In my 31st year of being an actor, I performed a one-man show for the first time. I learned the most valuable lesson: If you’ve done the work, center yourself, and just…start. Warm-up? Sure. But, pacing, running your lines etc etc?? For me, just start. The show, your focus, your connection with the audience will follow.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Magic Castle would be number 1. It’s my favorite place here, and is the most LA thing imaginable. I love magic, so it’s a no-brainer.

My favorite beach here is Hermosa Beach. Its clean, the water isn’t scary, and the throwback feel of the town is a delight.

Malo on Sunset introduced me to the deep-fried beef-pickle taco. Many a Happy Hour I spent there.

The Hollywood Bowl is a must.

The Friday Night hangouts at Barnsdale Park are great. DJ’s, food, sunsets, 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?
So very many. I wouldn’t have a career without actor/director Alan Stanford, who hired me to play roles (in the theatre) that I probably didn’t have any business playing. Some of my favorite roles came through him.

I have been very positively influenced by a number of directors over the years: Peter Sheridan, Jonathan Frakes, Theresa Rebeck. I’d walk over broken glass for those folks. Not only are they exceptional at what they do, they are an example of how to treat others in the workplace.

Samuel Bernstein and Ronald Shore (Babyhead Productions) made my USA dream a reality.

My initial interest in stories came from Lucas & Speilberg; my desire to participate in those stories come from watching theatre from Pantomime – to the many visiting Professional Theatre Companies that came to our town – to the local amateur groups who first gave me a chance to act…Shoutout to The Castle Players & Group Players in Dundalk!!!

Charles Dickens makes me want to play ALL of his characters.

Alec Guinness…just, Alec Guinness!

Instagram: @alanspics

Twitter: @AlanGSmyth

Facebook: Alan Smyth

Image Credits
Photo 2 – w/Henry Winkler on ‘Children’s Hospital’ 4 – w/Jonathan Frakes on ‘Person’s Unknown’ 7 – Credit: Peter Konerko 8 – w/Pamela Adlon, Holland Taylor, Keith Powell on ‘Better Things’