Meet Amber Coyle | Actress

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

Hi Amber, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
My big dream of becoming a successful working actress and the path that led me here entails a high degree of RISK. No pain, no gain. No guts, no glory. Those statements absolutely ring true for my personal experience and commitment to my career as an actress. I can certainly advise and guarantee that any actor not willing to take risks won’t get very far in this industry.

It all started for me by moving across the U.S., away from my friends and family, risking it all. I came to Hollywood with ambitious expectations in uncharted territory. This place can make you or ruin you, and that is a fact. Not to sound like a Debbie Downer, but truthfully it requires more loss than gain and you have to be resilient, audacious, adaptable, tenacious, and relentless. Nothing, and I mean nothing about the survival of an actor is easy, so prepare yourself. Anyone and everyone can easily make you feel inadequate and like you chose the impossible career path. Stay headstrong and prove them wrong! That’s what I’ve done and still continue to do. For me, every day is a risk of uncertainty. Audition after audition, receiving constant rejection, no after no, can unequivocally break you. But what keeps me going is that I indubitably know that there’s a yes right around the corner. If you believe this is what you’re meant to do, you love it, and you can’t envision yourself doing anything else- Break a leg! Go get ’em, tiger!

Achieving success has always been paramount in regard to my profession. Success is a fine balance of being hopeful, jaded, and realistic. When I first moved to Los Angeles l was just like everyone else…I had the typical aspirations of most actors just hoping to land a role in a big movie, sitcom, or SNL (my personal dream). That was my idea of success, but as I’ve advanced through my career I’ve learned that success is a word that constantly needs redefining. Every opportunity is a big opportunity no matter how small you think it is. You never know what that job could lead to, like a huge level-up. That student film could end up being directed by the next Tim Burton or Baz Luhrmann, you just never know. Take that risk!

I’ve learned that the more genuine I am in performance and staying grounded in all regards to this business, risking all judgment and not caring what people think, tends to deliver the outcome I hope for. I used to get so worked up and stressed out over every single audition, striving for perfection. Then I would allow myself to get extremely upset when I didn’t book those roles that I connected with and obsessed over, including those huge paying life-changing roles. I’ve discovered that if you just do yo’ thang, most importantly have fun, and let it go, forget about it, and move on to the next one…the better your chances are at receiving that contract with your autograph in dried ink. I have to constantly remind myself and other actor friends in the industry that you’re potentially one project away from delusions of grandeur to success story.

I have a profound tenacity to keep Rick Rolling my career because I’m never gonna give you up or say goodbye! I’m totally inspired by the success story of Lisa Kudrow before booking Friends and the staying power and longevity of Betty White. What they don’t tell you is that so much of this business is just more business and less about looks and talent. So much of the process is just completely out of your hands. I want to encourage you to stop trying to be different to fit in or to get the role because being you is already what makes you different. You’re either it or you’re not, and most of the time the casting director will know that right away. Eventually, you will stand out and be exactly what they’re looking for just by being your unique self. Amuse yourself, don’t take anything personally, live free of judgment, take some risks, and shine baby!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I want to emphasize again that what sets you apart from everyone else is YOU JUST BEING YOU. I promise that things more aligned with who you truly are will come to you more easily if you follow that. I always knew I was different. I knew that I didn’t fit the cookie-cutter boxed blonde that people have always tried to squeeze me into my whole entire life. Fighting it doesn’t work and it doesn’t feel right either. It’s hard for anyone to not judge a book by its cover, especially when your appearance pertains to your career. That’s why it’s important for an actor to find not only a great headshot photographer but one that can capture your essence until you can physically be in that same room where people can feel your energy and capture that essence that only exists in you.

I’m most proud of staying true to myself and never giving up on my dream no matter how difficult the circumstances were of combating the odds. The work I am most proud of would be a series called, Up for Adoption, where I played the mother of two running a pet adoption center. I had the pleasure of sharing the screen and working alongside the creator, Quinta Brunson, most known for her series, Abbot Elementary. It was such a treat and a wonderful, unforgettable learning experience for me.

Months ago, I booked a lead role in an upcoming pilot that will finally be shooting this September. I feel so grateful to have this opportunity during the strike and approved by the union to continue production. In this moment there are so many unknown circumstances that make it challenging and it’s the most exciting thing I’m currently undergoing.

I am where I am today due to being diligent and relentless through the abundance of hurdles and curveball experiences on my chosen path. As the saying goes, “If it were easy, everyone would be doing it”, and that’s an exceptionally valid statement. If you lack the endurance, and fortitude, can’t disregard judgement, and are devoid of a burning desire in your soul to do this…then DON’T. Despite the challenges, there are just too many layers to this business and if it was just a “fun” idea for you and you’re in it for the wrong reasons, you’ll be setting yourself up for a complete and utter disaster. The entertainment industry all around is everything but easy.

I could write a book series on the obstacles and challenges alone that I’ve confronted over the last few decades. On a broad scale, overcoming any struggles along the way is just straight-up part of life. This applies to anyone in any profession. Love yourself (not to a degree of narcissism), retrain your brain to think positively, practice confidence, face obstacles, take responsibility, allow yourself to fail, learn and grow from your mistakes, take chances, be grateful, and help others. Not everything in life is going to feel like pure bliss. You have to hit rock bottom sometimes to recognize the highs of opposition. I’ve been there but that’s what builds vigor and character to achieve those goals. Discovering awe-inspiring authors like Dr. Joe Dispenza, Ernest Holmes, and Deepak Chopra has seriously helped me shift my mindset to move forward on a higher path to attracting and creating the kind of life and jobs I yearn for.

I’m sure most people would look at any of my photos and presume I’m a certain way, like the typical dumb blonde or bitch. Since the beginning, I have felt misjudged and misunderstood. I want the world to know that my brand is genuine and like many others, my story was difficult, painful, and long. I can guarantee one thing I’ll never be is fake Hollywood!

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.
To start, I would help check off their bucket list first. Then if it were up to me I’d like to take them to see the homeless encampments…kidding! Ideally, I’d take them to Manhattan or Malibu Beach and tell them that these are my favorite beautiful beaches in LA, even though the water is cold and not what movies portray them to be.

I would take them on a trendy hike to the Griffith Observatory to overlook the city skyline. I’d love to treat them to my top favorite restaurants; Fixin’s Soul Kitchen in Downtown, Seabutter Sushi Restaurant in Beverly Hills, Connie & Teds New England-style seafood in West Hollywood, and Castaway in the Burbank Hills (shoutout to that view). We could also see a local comedy show. Perhaps even take a little desert trip to Palm Springs or Joshua Tree and stay in a cute Airbnb. And I don’t mean the cliché hipster mushroom trip, I just mean a nice, serene getaway to detox from our surroundings and to spend quality time.

The Melrose Trading Post or a Farmers Market would be a nice day activity. We could go out with a bang if I could squeeze in a good concert at The Greek Theater. If you enjoy looking at an assortment of hedges, giant walls, and gates, we could totally go on one of those Hollywood Tour bus rides, LOL!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Honestly, I couldn’t have done it without all my haters and backstabbers, LOL! I wouldn’t have learned those lessons, grown, become a better version of myself, and persevered as hard. So, thank you all for the strength you gave me!

On a more favorable note, I’d like to thank my supporters who have helped me along the way. My wonderful family and friends who have stood by my side through thick and thin- they know who they are and I love you to the moon!

Snoop Dogg had a great point when he accepted his Hollywood Walk of Fame Star. So in closing, I would also like to thank ME.

“I want to thank me for believing in me. I want to thank me for doing all this hard work. I want to thank me for having no days off. I want to thank me for never quitting. I want to thank me for always being a giver, and trying to give more than I receive. I want to thank me for trying to do more right than wrong. I want to thank me for just being me at all times.” – Snoop Dogg

Website: www.ambercoyle.com

Instagram: @_ambercoyle_

Imdb: imdb.me/ambercoyle

Other: Up for Adoption series: https://vimeo.com/showcase/9418733 Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user19941619

Image Credits
René Salvador, Kat Gardiner, ExactDigital/ Andy Rooney, Philipe Hernandez, Gérard Billy