Meet Britt Harris | Actor, filmmaker, singer/songwriter

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

Hi Britt, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
A coach of mine used to always say “you cannot be creative and critical at the same time.” I think about this quote often and I think that it is the best reminder!

I am a deeply creative person who wants nothing more than to be in flow and free, and, simultaneously, I am an analytical person who craves structure and strategy. This simple mantra is an anchor for me – it reminds me to take a deep breath, let go, and be free and messy in my work when it is time to create. To enjoy the process, follow my instincts, and be fully alive in this moment. To not future-trip or stress about “getting it right”.

For me, this mantra also promises a time and place for the other stuff: the business stuff, the money stuff, the strategy of it all – all of which can be just as illuminating and empowering as the art itself – but it needs its own moment outside of the creation stage. Otherwise, it’s all just noise.

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.
I knew I wanted to be a singer since I was really little, and I knew I wanted to be an actor when I saw the musical “Cats” in Seattle when I was around 9 or so (I was obsessed with cats, so that helped). Growing up, I didn’t know that these things could be actual “jobs”, but I knew I had to figure out how to get myself up on a stage as much as possible. I studied acting (and accounting!) in college, started my acting career in Portland, Oregon, then moved to Los Angeles in 2013. I’ve never doubted my decision. It’s always been this magnetic pull that’s guided my life. The pursuit of art has taken me on so many unforgettable adventures that I wouldn’t trade for the world. (Most notably: working in music with my spouse Jair Naves in São Paulo, Brazil!) I love the thought of going where the art takes you.

I could fill pages and pages about my creative journey, but I will sum it up this way: it is a journey of self-discovery and I am always learning. No part of this journey has been easy – but every step of this journey has made me feel so alive.

And this journey is FUN! And horribly difficult. And thrilling. And messy. And synchronous. And heartbreaking. And electric. And inspiring. The pursuit of and consumption of art is everything to me and it makes me feel everything. How amazing is it that we are all together on this planet right now at the same time? Making something – anything – is a celebration of that.

Some of my favorite recent creations include:

My band NavesHarris – a musical duo with my spouse Jair Naves

The short film “Wrap Me in a Sheet” – co-written, co-directed, and co-starting me and my Partner-in-Film Molly Muse, created alongside our dear friend and collaborator Ian Stout

The play “Radiant Vermin” – a stage production of Philip Ridley’s provocative satire I produced and starred in at The Odyssey Theater in Los Angeles right before COVID. The production was nominated for two Ovation Awards.

The work I am most excited to share soon is the release of an EP of my music at the end of 2022.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
WELCOME TO LOS ANGELES, the best city in the world!! Lucky for you, I have created a bullet-pointed list of my absolute favorite things that we will have to do together during your stay here. Choose your own adventure by picking the area you’d like to hang out in for the day!

SILVERLAKE/ECHO PARK/LOS FELIZ
– Start the day off right by grabbing a cup of coffee at Cafecito Organico in Silverlake. Bring a book or talk up your screenplay with the other creatives hanging out here!
– Lunch at Silverlake Ramen. Order the Tonkotsu.
– Catch a matinee at Los Feliz 3 theater, then stroll over to Skylight Books to browse or buy!
– Order deep dish for dinner at MASA of Echo Park.
– End the day with drinks at Edendale in Silverlake.

HOLLYWOOD
– Walk the grounds of the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. You will not be disappointed.
– Grab lunch at Larchmont Wine & Cheese – best sandwiches in the city! My faves are the #3 or the #4. Walk across the street for salt and Straw ice cream for dessert.
– Visit Amoeba and take in the glory of the largest vinyl selection you have ever seen.

WESTSIDE
– Spend the first half of the day at the Hammer Museum in Westwood Village.
– Drive over to Culver City to check out the Museum of Jurassic Technology – I’m not even going to tell you anything about it, just DO IT.
– Head over to Venice Beach, grab some food along the boardwalk, then head over to walk the canals as the sun goes down.

TOPANGA / MALIBU
– Drive up to Topanga for a late breakfast and coffee at the Mimosa Cafe
– Pack a lunch and spend a glorious afternoon reading at El Matador Beach in Malibu
– Have a romantic candlelit dinner at the Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga

Okay, okay – I was going to include my picks for Downtown, Midcity, The Valley, and Highland Park…but you know – we’ll just talk about that when you get here. 🙂

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I gotta shout out my business partner, dearest friend, and Partner-In-Film Molly Muse. We met a decade ago on the set of a film we were cast as sisters in, and, well – the rest is history. We have been making things together ever since. Molly is boundlessly creative, tenacious, supportive, and an all around badass artist and human. I won the friendship lottery in this life to have her as my accomplice. Together, Molly and I co-founded Paper Palace Productions and are completely lit up with the joy of making movies and telling stories. We recently sold a film of ours to the Ovation Channel and are in post-production for our latest film “Wrap Me in a Sheet”. We are currently working on four new projects in various stages of development, so the next few years are going to be really exciting. Get yourself a Molly and hold on tight!!

Website: www.brittharris.com

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

Image Credits
Meredith Adalaide Stevie Nelson Scott Lowell Rick Costa Steven Richter