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

Hi Cécile, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to pursue an artistic career and travel the world.

As a child, I was a dancer and my dream was to join Martha Graham’s Dance Company. As a young adult, I took acting classes and my dream was to be an actress on the big screen in Hollywood. In my thirties, I moved to America, became a self-made filmmaker and my dream is to act in and direct inspiring feature films.
The walls of my house were covered with movie posters that my local movie theater would give us at the end of their run. The Sunday film on TV was my most anticipated moment of the week. Stories filling my imagination and providing me with an escape from the outside world. I promised myself that I would someday tell my own stories. For a long time, it remained my secret. Even from my family. It’s only after one year of an exchange program in Cobleskill, NY, two years of Law School in Aix-en-Provence and two more of Journalism in Paris that I finally took the leap of faith and joined an Acting School. Since then and twenty plus years later, I have been on stage, on screen, behind the camera or in the editing suite, crossed the Atlantic, then traveled some more to land in Los Angeles where I now live.
It seems like all my choices have been led by the necessity to express what moves me, one way or another. To explore what it means to exist. To be human. To become a story teller. Over the years, I developed many talents so I could make a living from it and remain free and independent: Actor, Writer, Film Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Photographer…. It doesn’t matter which medium I choose. I love to mix the arts and jump from one to the other. My days are never the same and it keeps my creativity alive and vibrant. Yesterday, I opened the script of the feature film I have been writing for awhile. Today, I might pick up my camera, go for a hike in the hills, let the moment inspire me and capture what my heart sees. Tomorrow, I will record a voice sample for a French audio book from my home booth and edit a fashion film I shot for a luxury brand.
Coming from a family of artists, I was aware of the extreme struggles of being freelance, but it didn’t discourage me. On the contrary. I embraced the challenge. I knew that my path was not to work in the corporate world. Today, my mission is to show that one can follow one’s heart and passion, jump over many hurdles and still have a successful career as an artist. That cannot be measured with material wealth and possessions. I am doing what I love with this one life I have. I think we are all artists at heart and that some of us decide to grasp that potential and share it with the world. It takes courage and dedication, but we can all achieve it if we decide to make that choice.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I have come a long way. From Aix-en-Provence to Paris, to Toronto, to New York, and now Los Angeles. To follow my heart and my dreams. To reinvent myself in each city, and to explore the depth of my soul. Somehow, I make it happen. Not always knowing the ‘how’, but always driven by my constant desire to tell stories both in front of and behind the
camera.
I spent many years acting in Paris. With the challenges of not making a living, of waiting to get auditions and feeling rejected most of the time. Up to the day when I found myself directing a short comedy to feature my martial arts skills; DOLL KILLER. It became a massive collective of artists. I discovered I had the ability to inspire and bring people together to create. There was so much more for me out there. I packed my bags and moved to Canada. I was told “You are crazy to go without a plan, without money and connections” but I knew I had to take a leap of faith.
It has been nearly 12 years now, I have moved a lot and grown tremendously. The highlights of these years have been directing a couple of short films that got recognized in international film festivals ALMOST THERE and BEÌTH, starring in HIGH MAINTENANCE along side Myriam Shor and Ben Sinclair (HBO), producing a web series with my husband John Pirkis, DIARY OF AN ACTOR and creating my own business as the Creative Director of LA RÉAL STORY, a cinematic Studio that manifests a creative vision for brands. My recent work as a filmmaker has been more focused on digital and commercial content, always approaching it as a cinematic story teller.
I haven’t taken the well-trodden path to become a film director. I never attended a Film School to learn how to direct. I bought my first camera with no technical knowledge of how to use it. I opened Final Cut Pro with no idea of how to cut a film. Over the years, I learned mostly by observing others, then experimenting by myself for a long while. Making films. Making mistakes. Starting over, over and over again. Being an actor has given me the most valuable tools to direct other actors, to listen and to allow them to create characters and express their emotions. I can put myself in their shoes.
This is the story of my life, where my choices are guided by my intuition rather than my mind. My approach on acting and directing is the same. I let my imagination run through me. I create from my core to tell stories that move me and hopefully others. The way I shoot is the way I’m looking at the world.
The next step for me is to direct a feature film and television series. It will be another major leap of faith for me. God knows how long it will take. But I have all the time in the world. It sometimes feels like planning to conquer the summit of Mt. Everest, but  this is where I want to challenge myself next. My film-making is often sensual, sensitive and inspirational. I would love to tell more stories, and to be given the opportunity to act and direct in different genres. There is room for me to grow, and take me to the next level in doing what I love.

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?
I have lived in Miracle Mile, West Hollywood and now Sherman Oaks. All these places are wonderful to visit. As a European, it is so important for me to walk places and to have a sense of community where I live. There is so much to do in LA. Being just back here from living the past 6 years in NYC, I’m rediscovering the city with fresh eyes.

In Miracle Mile, I love to stroll around the LACMA and the La Brea Tar Pits Park. I take long walks with my friends in the neighborhood to discover the Art Deco buildings and other stunning houses. My favorite restaurant is Yuko’s Kitchen, a Japanese cantina where I always choose the Tofu Rice Bowl. I love to sit on their colorful patio decorated with flourishing plants.
From West Hollywood, I drive up Laurel Canyon and ride on Mullholland Drive to get the best view of the city on both sides of the hills. There, I park my car in Franklin Canyon Park for an easy and breathtakingly beautiful hike. Bring lots of water and  wear good hiking shoes!
In Sherman Oaks and Studio City, my favorite spot to hang out is Tujunga Boulevard. I grab my coffee at Aroma Cafe, shop my gem stones and incense at Serendipity, and head out to Woodbridge Park for a relaxing time.
And finally, for a beach day I choose Nicholas Beach Canyon. It is a little further away, but far from busy Malibu Beach and so beautiful.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My big shout-out is to my husband John Pirkis, a very talented British actor, writer and producer. We met here in Los Angeles 10 years ago and without him my life journey would have been very different. I’m so grateful for the eternal love we share and the love we give to the world.

@johnpirkis
To my dear friend and soul sister Rosalida Medina, an exceptional Costume Designer who has been there for me from the start and with whom I get to create again now that I am back in Los Angeles.
@medinarosalida
And to my lovely sister Marie Delepière who crossed the ocean to live here, closer to me. Her encouragements and love continue to lift my spirit and energy! And her delicious French pâtisseries too!
@mariedelepiere Home Sweet Nest Bakery

Website: www.larealstory.com

Instagram: @la.real.story

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceciledelepiere/

Twitter: @la.realstory

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/la.real.story

Other: https://vimeo.com/larealstory https://www.ceciledelepiere.com/ IG : @ceciledelepiere

Image Credits
Photo credits: @acvphotography @sossimadzounian @johnpirkis @la.real.story

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