Meet Alyssa Lima | Actress & Performing Artist

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

Hi Alyssa, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
For the past 13 years that I have worked in the entertainment industry, how I view my work/life balance has drastically changed. When I started, I thought everything had to be about acting, training, networking, etc. I didn’t let myself have too much of a personal life. I went to class, auditioned, worked on projects, and then worked my day job. Occasionally, I would hang out with the other actors in my class or people I had been on projects with. Still, I had this weird sense that if I did non-acting related things, I wasn’t doing enough.

Then I became pregnant with my daughter, Talia. She significantly impacted how I viewed that work/life balance. I began to allow myself to enjoy life outside of being an entertainer and not feel bad about it. That allowed me to travel, fall in love, experience heartbreak, and have beautiful life-changing memories with my family and friends.

Through these experiences, I’ve found more depth as an artist and an even more fulfilling life. Since then, I have been able to work on some enjoyable projects such as Sony’s Cross: Rise of the Villains, In the Deathroom based on Stephen King’s short story, and Triggered, a superhero film that has now won 26 awards in its festival run. My latest project is still in post-production and will most likely release sometime early next year. I encourage other performers to train, take their craft seriously, and enjoy life to the fullest.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As a performing artist, my journey has been challenging but rewarding. Being able to express myself through art is something that I could never live without. When I was 4 years old, my mom took me to the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, to see a production of Beauty and the Beast. After the performance, my mom asked me how I liked it, to which I replied, “That’s what I want to do.” She said, “Awe, that’s cute. You want to be Princess Belle?”. I told her, “No. I want to sing, dance, and act on stage!”.

From that point, I started taking piano, singing, dancing, and acting classes. I performed in plays, musicals, music videos, touring companies, local commercials, and more. When I turned 18, my family and I moved to Los Angeles, CA.

When I arrived in LA, I continued training, taking acting, dance, and singing classes across various studios. I then delved into networking and learned the industry’s business side. I’ve spent years at many studios honing my acting skills in Scene Study, Improv, Cold Reading, Meisner, and more. Currently, I train weekly at the Storyteller’s Conservatory with Charles Carpenter. Over time, I have been fortunate to find a community of like-minded and compelling artists. I was also lucky to find my Fiance, Sky Lima, who deals with my crazy daily!

The characters I’m most drawn to are strong females with a deep emotional side. Sometimes this is the hero, but I often end up being cast as the villain, which is very fun. Who doesn’t love to play the villain? My favorite genres to act in are drama, action, and fantasy, but I’ll never say no to doing a musical! Anytime I get to sing and dance in a production it is a win.

Here are a few of my most recent roles. I played the role of Maya in Sony Pictures “Cross: Rise of the Villains with Brian Austin Green and Danny Trejo. For the film, “In the Deathroom,” based on a story by Stephen King, I was a producer and played the conniving Agent Olsen. On top of winning numerous awards in its festival run, Stephen himself watched the film and gave it his stamp of approval. Then, I played Rogue in the action superhero short film, Triggered, which has already won 26 awards in it’s festival run. Recently, I wrapped on a fantasy young adult series produced by Love XO Studios, where I play the main villainess. This show is under NDA and is currently being shopped to various high-profile distribution companies.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Over the years, many friends and family have visited me in LA. There’s so much to do in LA that it’s hard to narrow it down, but here are a few of my favorite places in Los Angeles.

I love the beach! The feel of the sand, the sound of the waves, and the beautiful mountains surrounding it. Paradise Cove Beach in Malibu is one of my top beach spots. You can relax on the sand all day, and when the sun sets, you can eat at their restaurant on the beach. You sit with your feet still in the sand, eating delicious seafood and drinking tasty cocktails from a pineapple.

Since I live in The Valley, I have quite a few local food spots I love to visit. One of them is Tequila’s Cantinas, in Burbank. Their margaritas and tacos are a must-try. Plus, they have a cute outside dining area, and the staff is incredibly friendly. I have been a returning customer here for over 8 years, and it never disappoints. If you’re one of my good friends, I’ve definitely brought you here at least once!

At this point, everyone knows I love to dance! I have trained for many years in various dance styles, but also just love a night out to move to the music. LA has a bunch of fun dance spots, and one of them is the Rain Bar Lounge on Ventura Blvd. Thursday nights are salsa night! If you need to learn some salsa steps, they teach a class before the social hour begins. Then, you dance the night away in your salsa heels.

Video games also hold a special place in my heart. I’m a huge gamer. I play on PC, Console, and even tabletop with Dungeons and Dragons. So, I love to visit the Two Bit Circus for a fun night out gaming. They have a wide assortment of VR-style games that are fun for everyone. My favorites are the group VR shooter games.

For a fancy dining experience, there are two spots I particularly enjoy. First, the Inn of the Seventh Ray. This restaurant is set in Topanga Canyon and feels like you step into a magical fairy forest to dine under the stars. Second is Yamashiro, a stunning Japanese-style mansion and garden built in 1914 overlooking Hollywood. Everything here is insanely appetizing—especially the sushi and cocktails.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, I have to shout out to my parents, who packed up and moved across the country with me from Florida to LA when I was only 18 years old. They have always supported me and encouraged me to follow my dreams. To my precious daughter, Talia, the light of my life, and my loving fiance, Sky Lima. My acting coach Charles Carpenter at the Story Teller’s Conservatory. You have helped me unlock the depth I always knew I had but didn’t know how to access and the strength to believe in myself even when things are tough.

Website: https://www.alyssalima.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/alyssamarielima

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlyssaMarieLima/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC33eae-zvHumYAU0Kal0-tw

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5068919/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Image Credits
Eric Carroll Photography, Jim Donnelly, Dangrrrously Photos, Paul Hillier