Meet Caroline Quigley: Actress & Performer

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

Hi Caroline, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind my success is going to the mat each and every day. My artistic growth as an actor depends on this commitment. I believe that forward movement equals happiness and my creative journey begins and ends with this process. Incorporating this form of thought on a daily basis keeps me on track and has quite often led to new opportunities! By keeping in touch with my mental wellbeing and physical health, I’ve learned to adjust my methodology accordingly, which is especially important when my schedule begins to feel too full and exhausting. Working in this way puts control over my career as an actor into my own hands. I am in charge of making the choices that will improve my craft. Quite simply, the creative hard work must be done every day and it feels so empowering!

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.
The element that sets me apart from other actors are the types of roles I like to play and the kinds of stories I want to tell. I feel most alive as an actor when I am getting to know a character whose story is most unlike mine. Different dialect, different life experience, different family, different behavior… All of it is so exciting to me and a creative challenge that I am thrilled to take on. In addition, I really love a complex storyline with that unique female character. When beginning work on a new character, I spend a lot of time dreaming up the many layers that create that persona and identifying the ring of influences that have shaped that life and caused that behavior. It is a naturally curious and ecstatic process for me! I like to take a lot of time to simply dream about the character and story. My imagination begins to create the character within the story. When my imagination starts to take flight, it’s time to get up on my feet and try different things until I find what feels true for that character. One of the most special parts about being an actor is having a strong sense of curiosity about people and developing a deep empathy and understanding of them. Combining what is known about the character with added nuances, while bringing all the compassion in the world, is the epitome of an actor’s craft. The challenge is pulling it all together!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When my best friend visits Los Angeles, she will have the time of her LIFE! After arriving at LAX, we Uber back to Marina del Rey to spend the evening dining on take-out from Samosa House followed by hours of laughing and talking. The night is sure to be a late one! Fun fact… I have never gotten my driver’s license (long story), so no driving for me! Next morning we totally ignore her jet lag and start the day with a walk on the beach followed by breakfast at my favorite spot, Cafe Brasil. This sweet little authentic cafe transports you to another place from the moment you arrive. I’m vegan and like to eat healthy food, so they have it all! To work off this feast, we go for a hike in Runyon Canyon which is a great way to see the outskirts of the city and observe the beautiful coastline. There is a chance that we might attend a yoga class at Modo Yoga (pre-COVID) before moving on to dine at an excellent ramen place called Kotoya in Culver City. Afterward, we wander through The Grove enjoying the lovely night of lights when we both agree that sampling macaroons from Ladureé is a great idea! Turning in for the night, we plan to spend the following day at the beach to get the full California experience. We both enjoy the same things, so reading, relaxing and soaking up the sun rays suits us both perfectly. A picnic lunch with sandwiches from Mendocino Farms keeps us going until dinner time. I think a bougie meal at The Ivy might be fun for us. We could talk about how to spend the next couple of days taking day trips to Malibu, Santa Barbara and Topanga. I love the combination of big city/small town and want her to see how it all fits together. On our final night together, I surprise her with something unique and memorable by taking her to an overlook where we can sit in amazement watching all of LA spread out before us. This is one of my favorite things to do in LA. It makes me feel at home. Seeing the city as a whole is a truly magical experience. Back at LAX, there are tears of course and the promise to visit each other again soon. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My training thus far has been quite varied and all of it becomes part of my toolbox as an actor. In May, 2020, I graduated from Boston University with an Acting BFA. Nothing could ever replace this experience and training, so Boston will always hold a special place in my heart. I made some great contacts as well in Boston which have been beneficial to me in LA. Without a doubt, mentors are so very important to the artistic craft and I feel such a sense of gratitude to each and every person who has given wise advice and direction. The person who deserves all of the credit in the world for inspiring me and honing my artistic craft on a daily basis is my mentor and acting teacher, Robyn Cohen, founder of the Robyn Cohen Acting Studio. She is an esteemed acting teacher in LA, and has established herself the TV, film and theatre industries as a sought-after collaborator. From vocal warm-ups and movement for the actor to script analysis and Meisner rehearsals, Robyn teaches through experience and learning. She even provides a bridge to working professional experiences outside of the classroom! Last year I completed the filmed drama, “Blue Kiss,” by playwright and screenwriter, Stephen Fife. I performed in several showcases where I signed with my manager Walter Tabayoyong. I also completed work on a comedic one-act play with Fielding Edlow last October and have a few other projects in the works. I am currently working on the dramatic play, “Break of Noon” in collaboration with writer, Neil LaBute, as well as a rom-com feature film, “In The Mood,” adapted for the screen by Yuval Shrem. Believe it or not, all of these opportunities happened through the inimitable, Robyn Cohen! She is who I have to thank for my training, my opportunities and my daily creative inspiration.

Website: www.carolinequigley.com

Instagram: @cariquig

Other: Email: hello@carolinequigley.com

Image Credits
Sara Katzoff, Kalman Zabarsky, Emma Cuba, Sam Schecter and Ken Yotsukura