Meet Tianna Craig | Actress and Barista

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

Hi Tianna, looking back, what do you think was the most difficult decision you’ve had to make?
Probably moving to Los Angeles. I’m super extremely close with my family and my dog and being away from them still really sucks

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m an actor from Las Vegas but I’m just getting started. I moved here to Los Angeles in January of 2024 to pursue this career and It’s already been a very interesting ride. I just got done shooting my first short film and it was my first time acting in front of the camera on set. I was extremely nervous, it being my first time but I’m actually really happy and proud of how the shoot went. We prepped for months before and it was cool to see all of that time and work pay off. I kind of had to teach myself how to cry on command which stressed me out at first but it ended up going really smoothly and I’m happy I have that skill. The character I played is really struggling with grief, and I’ve been very privileged to so far in my life not have grieved someone close to me. But I read a lot and asked a lot of questions and it was a really interesting thing to navigate. I feel like I left the experience a little bit more confident and excited about my work to come. Getting to where I am currently hasn’t been easy and it’s just the start. I grew up very shy and reserved but with this burning passion for art and cinema. I was of course told to not get into an artistic career because of how hard it is but also because of my introverted personality. After deciding that I didn’t want to live with the regret of never trying and choosing money and a career I hate, over something I love, I started doing the work to become more comfortable with being uncomfortable. I joined theatre and drama at my high school and took my first ever acting class at a acting summer bootcamp as a teenager in Vegas. I was never good enough to be in any of the shows in school but for me it was more about the public speaking aspect of it and being on a stage and immersing myself with other kids at school that enjoyed acting and theatre. Sometimes fully letting go and not being scared to take risks still comes through but I’m very proud of the fact that the young girl that used hide between my parents legs to avoid speaking to people can now do ridiculous things for a crowd of people or cry and scream in front of the camera. Now that the whole stage fright thing is a little less of a problem and still may hinder but it doesn’t get in the way, I want to really focus on becoming a better artist in every sense. I’m not really sure what I want the world to know about me yet. But I would want people to know that I’m consistently working really hard while staying authentic to myself and that I just want to make art that feels honest to myself and what the world needs.

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 love this question but honestly I would love an LA natives answer. Not being from here and working a lot I have yet to see as much of LA as I want to. But I love Highland Park and there’s an incredible Salvadorian restaurant there that I keep taking my family to called Las Cazuelas. The food is incredible and the vibes are great. Working in Pasadena, I’ve come to appreciate how beautiful it is over there. I recommend The Getty to everyone. I’ve only been once and know I need to go back like five more times just to see everything. It’s so pretty and the art and architecture are incredible. They also have good matcha. And it’s free, you just pay for parking because of course. Mel’s Drive In is super fun. I’ve been to the one in Hollywood and the one in Santa Monica and its a great place to hang out with friends especially late at night. The Alamo downtown is a super fun movie theatre.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My parents and best friends definitely deserve a lot of credit when it comes to the path I’ve chosen to take. It used to be a frowned upon thing when I was younger, but now they’re the ones to push me to keep going when I feel discouraged. The acting school I started to go to here in LA earlier this year has also made a really big impact in my confidence and work and has given me a safe space to grow as an artist. And shoutout La La Land, I thought following your dreams was silly before watching that movie as a kid.

Website: https://imdb.me/Tiannacraig

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

Other: https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/Tiannacraig

Image Credits
Florian Borgeat