Meet Romy Turner | Actor

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

Hi Romy, the decisions we make often shape our story in profound ways. What was one of the most difficult decisions you’ve had to make?

How I ended up here is a bit of a crazy story, which is definitely the most difficult thing I have had to do. In 2021 I was living and working in Sydney, Australia, not involved in any creative or performance roles. We were in the middle of one of the longest lockdown stretches the city experienced, and I was feeling pretty despondent about my future prospects. I’d also started a new job 4 days before everything shut down. So it was an interesting time! On a whim and definitely with zero expectation, I applied for a scholarship at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. I had taken an online class with them a few weeks previously and I thought it couldn’t hurt and it gave me something to do. My best friend and I stayed up late one night writing one of the craziest essays I’ve ever written, I got reference statements from some teachers I had worked with previously, I submitted and then didn’t think much of it again. A few weeks later I was called in for an initial zoom interview which turned into another interview with more people, which turned into a zoom call with the president of the institute and an offer of a full year’s tuition. To say I was shocked was an understatement. It was 3am in Sydney, my cat was wandering around in the background of the call and I was half dressed normal, half pyjamas. It was a very strange circumstance to have such a life changing event occur but it makes me chuckle now!

Home is a long way away and there is no guarantee for anyone trying to make a career in the arts that you’ll find success. And there were definitely times in the lead up to actually making the move and my first few weeks in the US, where I was pretty convinced that I wasn’t going to stay. I was really lonely and the city was just so big and intimidating that I didn’t want to stay here. The reason I ended up staying really has nothing to do with me – of course I started to meet people and got to know my area more – it really is entirely because of my support system, my family and my best friend. Having a group of people around you, no matter how far away they may be, has been so important in bouncing ideas off of, reminding me to laugh at myself when I am in my head about things, and, when I’m tired, reminding me why I decided to move here in the first place. Sometimes they have more belief in what I can do than I do, so I will always say that everything I am doing and any success I receive here is a team effort, because there is absolutely no possibility that I could do anything without them; I am just one part of a very special team, who are making this happen.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

Since moving here I have been the busiest I have been in a very very long time! I have been lucky enough to work on several plays, musicals and short films which have introduced me to so many extremely talented individuals who are going to be the next generation of artists and creators. One of the major highlights was making my Off-Broadway debut at the end of last year. The Duchess of LES was such a fun show to be a part of. A world premiere, and debut at the same time! It was such a huge achievement for me and I had such an amazing time building that show from the ground up. The cast, crew, creatives, everyone was so supportive and playful and really created an environment that encouraged us to try new things and bring our best to the table. It was really the catalyst for all the projects and opportunities that I have been given since.

Something that I have really come to believe through this entire process, though, is that there is never a “too late” or “too old” when it comes to pursuing what makes you happy. Going back into a study environment a few years after completing my degree, where I have been able to travel, grow and mature as a person, has proved to be the biggest gift I could have been given. I was in a much better position to learn and try new things, as well as having more confidence in myself and trusting my gut more on what is the right thing for me. I would say to anyone, especially anyone looking at going into the performing arts or creative careers, I know there is so much pressure to succeed before a certain age, but I promise you, your time will come when it’s the right time for you. There is no time limit on when you can start building the career that makes you happy. To say I was shocked by the level of support and encouragement I have received since moving, would be an understatement. Not only have I been given the opportunity to stretch myself and the boundaries of what I thought I was capable of, but I have been able to perform in incredible productions, work with supremely talented actors, collaborate with award winning creatives, and prove to myself that I am capable of more than I ever thought possible. You can never predict what opportunities the world will put in your path. You just have to be in the right place to take advantage of them when they come around. I’m having an absolute blast and I just hope to keep getting better and better.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

So many people I have met since arriving here have been incredible and absolutely deserve a huge shout out. People I met at the Strasberg Institute have been so unbelievably supportive and enthusiastic about my journey. Not just during my time there, but also now that I have left and am actively working towards my career. I met teachers and mentors who, to this day, continue to lift me up and provide me with the best advice that I am so grateful to have. Just knowing that I have some of the most talented people working in the industry today, in my corner, is something that I am so grateful for. This has continued into the professional circles, with artists like Cecily Baring-Gould and Amanda Vasques being unbelievable pillars of support as well as being some of the most talented performers I have met. Getting to work with them and watch them do their thing is truly a masterclass and I know that they are going to have huge careers.

On a personal note, my team! I will shout about them from the rooftops if I’m given the chance! I moved over here still very much during the pandemic in 2022 and just the fact that we were able to get me out here was a minor miracle. I know lots of people try to be a successful actor – you only need to beat an open call at Pearl Studios at 3am in January to see just how many there are! – and unlike conventional careers, there is no guarantee of success and a lot of the time, whether you get or don’t get a job are down to factors that you have no control over. It’s really tough. Add in being 16,000 miles away from home and things can get a little wobbly sometimes. But my team has never let me down. They have always had my back. and whether it’s a (virtual) shoulder to cry and commiserate on, or some tough love to pick myself up, dust myself off and keep going, they have always been there for me. Unquestioning and infinitely supportive. They probably have more belief in my success than I do sometimes! And I truly cannot explain how grateful I am for them. Not everyone has the privilege to have a support team that is so fully committed to helping you make your dreams come true, and I am so lucky to have mine. I would not have been able to do this without them. Any success I have here is ours, not just mine.

Website: https://romyturner24.wixsite.com/official

Instagram: @romy_turner

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@romyturner352?si=7abOpAZUWpsk9d65

Image Credits
Photo 2 – Photo by Desiree Conston Photo 6 – Photo by Ryan Thompson