Meet Angela Petruzziello | Actor & Writer

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

Hi Angela, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’ve been pursuing the arts since I was a kid. I started off as a dancer and always thought that’s what I would do. I had a friend when I was around elementary school age who would audition professionally all the time and she asked if I wanted to take an acting class in New York with her, a big deal for me then. We did an intensive at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute and that’s how I fell into acting. I loved it so much, everything about it. It’s one of those things you can’t really explain, it just makes sense.

I got a manager around that time and started auditioning. I wasn’t ready for it. I thought I was, but I wasn’t. My mom would drop what she was doing and take the hour long train rides with me into the city so I could go out for commercials and television. I did the school plays, musicals, and still danced a few days a week outside of school.

I ended up going to college for acting in NYC and that’s when it really became real for me, that I wanted to do this not just for fun but as an actual profession. The talent there was wild, everyone was so good, and it made me love this art form even more. Lots of ups and downs since then but I’ve truly never looked back.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am an actor/writer. I love comedy and it’s been my main focus for a while now. I love creating awkward, slightly offbeat moments and situations. I’ve always been quite awkward myself, a quality I once disliked, but now I play into it and it does make for some great comedy.

A moment I’m super proud of is when I booked “The Watcher”. I had the smallest role but my scene was with the incredible Jennifer Coolidge and Naomi Watts. It was kind of a surreal moment, getting to play in the same space they were and for the first time I actually believed that I deserved to be there, in that room. Getting any job as an actor is incredibly hard. That day on set made me feel like it’s all right there, everything is to be had, you just have to grab it.

Writing has always been a passion of mine. I co-wrote and created a mockumentary pilot “G Spotters” that won multiple awards including ‘Best TV Episode’ at the Austin Comedy Short Film Festival. Since then I’ve grown a large social media following through my comedy and have scored some cool brand deals, my most recent one with Voodoo Ranger IPA. Lately I’ve been itching to get back to more episodic writing and I’m currently working on a short form series “Valley PD”, a comedy about a ragtag group of detectives navigating crime and life in LA.

I think the biggest and most important lesson I’ve leaned along the way is to just be yourself. Simple, maybe cliche, but authenticity is truly key. Once I started finding my voice and only my voice is when everything shifted. For so long I tried to be what I thought I was ‘supposed’ to be or look a certain way but when I started creating from my gut, doing what I now know only I can do, that’s when things opened up. It’s actually super cool. The more you lean into you, the imperfect, flawed, slightly weird you, the more you’ll get back.

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.
I moved to LA in January 2024, so I still consider myself a newbie. I’m far from an expert, but here are some of my fav things I’ve experienced so far…

If you’re craving a burger, Simonette in Culver City is hands down the best burger I’ve ever had. I could not stop eating it. I had a literal dream that I was eating that burger. Just. Go.

Mirate in Los Feliz is another great dinner spot. A friend took me there when I first moved here. It’s delicious Mexican and super vibey.

For hiking…Henninger Flats in Altadena is just stunning. I love it there. I actually love Altadena in general, it’s crazy beautiful.

Beach…Santa Monica has been my go to. I’ll admit, I need to explore more beaches.

Hollywood Bowl! It’s fun to go with a group of people. Bring snacks!

If you’re into theater, I saw a fantastic play at the Theatre 68 Arts Complex in North Hollywood. So good!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my family for always having my back with this crazy career, and for constantly cheering me on. And to Randy Ramos Jr. for being my biggest supporter and believing in me more than I do in myself.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelapetruzziello/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ampetruzziello

Other: TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@angela_petruzziello

Image Credits
Huebner Headshots