Meet Siobhan Murphy | Actor

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

Hi Siobhan, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
This is such a good question, and it’s one I so often get asked since acting and the arts can be such an unpredictable and unstable industry. I knew at a pretty young age that acting was the one thing that truly made me FEEL; it made my insides spark in a way nothing else did. As time went on, and I went through school and then my conservatory training in university I had a professor who said something that really stuck with me. On one of our first days of classes he said to the room of 300 or so theatre students, ” if there’s anything else in this world you love, or even like a little, I would encourage you to leave now and pursue that”. I don’t remember if anyone left in that moment, but I do remember knowing my answer. There was nothing else for me but this. Being in the arts, especially acting, can be cruel and hard and shake your sense of confidence in darkly comical ways, but there’s nothing else my heart would be satisfied doing. I know that’s a terribly romantic answer, but it’s the truth of the matter. You must love your art with all of you, in order to see yourself though.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think the hardest thing about being an actor is avoiding too many cliches. I guess, by that i mean, being pigeonholed into one type of role. It can initially be really lucrative if you’re seen as ” x- type ” of actor, because then you’re really kind of a plug and play character. But over time that can sour, or can become stale, not just for the performer but also the audience watching it . i’ve found it a challenge, but a worthy one, to constantly push the type of roles i get to play. So much of my work is in comedy, but I was classically trained, so for years I considered myself a dramatic stage actor. The challenge is not getting complacent and sometimes ( and this is the tough part) saying “no” when something comes along that feels like the same old song you’ve been singing for a while. Saying ” no” in my business is truly terrifying, as I don’t ever really know where the next role is coming from .But trusting your talents, and the work you’re always doing to keep things active and alive makes saying those ” no’s” a little less scary. It’s one of the strange parts of this industry; we’re in the business of telling stories that contain the multitudes and nuances of the human experience. And yet, so often actors are required to stay in the lane that’s been decided for them, instead of getting to explore all the corners of these stories. My favorite actors, directors and writers are the ones that jump from genre to genre. I think that speaks to all of us. We are funny, ugly, serious, sad, scared, delighted creatures, and I want to get to express all of it!!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, as an east coast girl, whenever friends come to visit i try and avoid driving too much as newcomers truly get shellshocked by the traffic of it all. So we’re staying on my side of town and wandering as much as possible. Breakfast at Clark Bakery ( or Clark diner if the line isn’t terrifying), then as activites go, we’re gonna wander around Lake Hollywood Park or do a touristy horse ride around the Hollywood sign. I’ve gotta take them on the Swans in Echo Park and get a little sneaky snack from PikNik and admire the duck that looks like Larry David while we paddle around the fountain. If we’re shopping, then i wanna head to the strip of Sunset between Parkman and Hyperion, there’s too many good shops and boutiques to mention. But in the evening we’re going back towards Echo Park to post up on the patio at Lo Boy or Little Joy for people watching and some cocktails or a burger. Ending the night with all the snacks at Ototo or Tsubaki and then dancing at the Short Stop.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
When I first came to Los Angeles I found the industry to be so huge and overwhelming it seemed insurmountable. But I had an incredible ally and support in the form of a friend and casting director, Krisha Bullock. We had met in Toronto years prior to my move and when I arrived I reached out for advice and guidance. She took me out for a glass of wine at Covel in Los Feliz that week and gave me such insight and love and support and names of who to contact etc etc. She’s incredibly busy and successful so i really couldn’t believe the time she took to help me align with other factions of the industry that she felt would help me ascend. So much of my success ( meeting my manager, booking work) all came from her advice and the assertive, kind nature she showed me right away. I hope I can do the same for other young performers if it’s ever asked of me.

Instagram: siobhangmurphy@instagram

Image Credits
Farrah Aviva
John Geddes
Vanessa Heins