Meet Aaron Cohen | Actor

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

Hi Aaron, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
My childhood. I moved around a lot as a kid.  My parents divorced when I was very young and I struggled with several undiagnosed learning disorders which was very stressful as a kid, and I think the stress of my early years definitely informed how I think, my work ethic and my drive.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a spec ops vet turned celeb bodyguard turned actor. I got my Hollywood start as a tactical advisor training actors in fight choreo and tactical shooting for action films, and transitioned full-time into acting when I got my first major acting break in Steven Soderberghs action thriller HAYWIRE. I’ve always wanted to act, and so training actors for me was part of a larger plan to get on set and be around around the great actors and directors to soak up as much knowledge as possible. Or as we say in special operations, I infiltrated undetected. .

When I was directed by Soderbergh I saw how intuitive he was and pulled from him the importance of running on instinct. It’s where your best choices live. I really related to his method of working, both creatively and in terms of problem solving on the day. I operate in a similar way as a performer, and while I like to really prepare for a sceneI stay malleable in order to stay open and flexible to be able to try different things. There’s all kinds of nuggets when you just let things happen and that’s where the best performances live-for me at least.
And when I wasn’t shooting my scenes as an actor, I was close by watching Michael Fassbender and Antonio Banderas perform, which really taught me the importance of bringing as much of yourself as possible to the work.

Working on Haywire was a 9-month masterclass both in front of the camera performing and working closely behind Steven and his camera as the tech advisor, and I just made sure I was studying every shot and choice he made. I got lucky in that film.

Since Haywire I’ve supported as an actor opposite several Oscar winners including Nic Cage and Stallone in various major films, and I just wrapped a film with Antonio Banderas in Greece where I shared a great scene with him almost a decade after I first met him in Haywire. It was really fulfilling going toe-to-toe with him as a professional actor, but knew I’d be here eventually. When you know you know and I’d been working intensely on my craft for a decade so that when the right opportunity came along, I’d be prepared. The director Rich Hughes really loved my way into the character and really let me off the leash and we had a blast. I joke about that one – An LA Jew, playing a Miami Cubano drug dealer and shot in Greece. Only in Hollywood.

I also landed my first major TV role on the Netflix original series Luis Miguel: La Serie which I shot in Mexico which was fun. It was my first recurring role on a series and was able to build a really fun character based on a real person, a Mossad agent that was critical to the story line. I liked feeling the weight and importance of having to build something that was so critical to the thru line and Luis Miguel, who was basically the Elvis of all of Latin America and one of their biggest stars and still is, actually brought in a Mossad agent to help figure out what happened to his mother who’d gone missing when he was a kid. It was a biographical story which I’d never done before and so I really wanted to get it right and I knew there’s be millions of eyes on my episodes and so I jumped in and it turned out great.

I try and make sure I’m always learning new tools to add to my toolkit to enhance creativity and I spent a lot of time hanging out with Sky in Rambo, and he really got me writing my own content which lead to two short films I wrote, directed and costarred in, Overwatch and most recently Ground Branch. It was great advice. Writing helps enhance acting, act least for me and allows me to create my own characters which allows me to perform to my strengths. Both films are now in official competition at various film festivals around the world. And you can make them cheap. And with 4K at 60 frames per second on most iPhones you can get some really nice shots. And move quick. Which I love.

As far as what I’ve learned in the macro level it’s that you always need to keep honing your craft. Treat it like a weapon and keep forging the blade. It’s like a French wine. Only gets better. And most importantly, don’t ask for permission. Just keep moving forward and great people will come into your orbit. The right reps, talented creatives, and eventually great projects will surface.

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.
Dan Tanas with a table loaded with caesars, Dabney steaks and chick parms.

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?
My wife Leah. She supports my creative aspirations while I’ve transitioned into film and television. She’s very smart and has great instincts and through her self-built businesses so she understands the focus and discipline it takes to create something out of nothing. She’s been an important support element for me in the last several years in that she provides a safe space for me to continue to sharpen my blade honing my craft. I’m lucky to have her as a teammate.

Instagram: http://instagram.com/acohofficial

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aaron.cohen.790?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@aaroncohenofficial

Image Credits
Chevelle pic Holly Lynch, rest are me shot on my phone (Aaron Cohen),