Meet Chrisse Soukaï | Actress

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

Hi Chrisse, why did you pursue a creative career?
This question comes up a lot when you are an actor. Why are you doing what you do, why did you choose this, what drives you… I just knew from the beginning, when I was in school, that I would absolutely be miserable if I ever had to work in a closed-off office. It just wasn’t for me and it wasn’t something I saw myself do in the future. On the other hand, art spoke to me on a different level. I’ve always loved it. Anything that had to do with literature, music, paintings, sculptures… It held and still holds something extremely moving to me. And I knew from the start that I would be happy if I could have an artistic career. Choosing the acting path came along a little later. When I was younger, the world of acting felt inaccessible to the little girl that I was. But growing up, I realized that it wasn’t as inaccessible as I thought it would be. And once, I felt ready, I just jumped in it. As I mentioned earlier, the question “why do you want to be an actor” comes up often. And I didn’t know if there was a right or wrong answer until I realized that the right answer to that question for me was that I was acting for myself first. Through acting, I have blossomed so much. It’s a discovery of yourself through the work and you’re never done discovering. It’s like therapy. A way to deal with all those bottled-up tensions, to free yourself and breathe again. And I truly feel happy when I’m in the work, doing it, and it just feels like the art is moving through me. It’s a release and I can feel myself growing both in the work and as a human being when I’m acting. I guess me pursuing this career can be seen as some kind of deep love story: I cannot see myself doing anything else and I’m deeply connected to the craft!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Like I said before, I knew I wanted to do something creative with my life. This was the thing that resonated the most with me: art. I knew it, but I was still fairly young and I didn’t know what I could do to exploit and explore this creativity that resides in me. So I kept going with my studies in translation and during that time, I started becoming so enthralled and curious and drawn to acting. This little flame just started burning harder and stronger within and one day I decided that after my Master, I would jump into it if that flame was still there. And it was definitely still burning! I got my Master and in six months, I decided to follow my heart and I jumped into the acting world. It was not easy, of course. It was a sharp turn. I was also moving away from my family and my friends. It was a brand new adventure and with every changes in life, you get this voice that starts asking: “did we make the right choice?”… But thankfully, I was soon surrounded by the most loving community of actors at the Michelle Danner LA Conservatory and, all those questions, and doubts, and fears… we overcame them together. And this made me realize: I have always done things on my own, but it doesn’t always have to be that way. Sometimes, life put some people in your path, good people, whom will share enough love with you to uplift you and help you. You don’t have to fight your battles on your own. And knowing that now, I have become even more hopeful. I found myself fully open to what the future holds for me because I know I don’t have to be alone.

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.
Now that’s a tough one! I am an indoor creature, haha! But there are some spots around LA that I adore. Okay, let’s see… We cannot miss going for a walk in Santa Monica and its Pier and maybe grab a burger at Barney’s Beanery! If you enjoy museums and cars just as much as me, we’ll have to go the LACMA, the Getty and the Petersen Museum!
We could also go and stroll around in Downtown Culver for a chill evening. It’s one of my favorite places to hang out with my friends. It is so beautiful! And there, if you have a sweet tooth, you can go to Sweet Lily café! One of my favorite bakeries whenever I miss some of my French pastries!!
Paradise Cove is also an amazing spot if you need to relax with your feet in the sea! And if we have some more time to discover places, we should definitely go to Catalina Island and have a tour!
For dining out, I think Mr. T’s restaurant will have the perfect experience for you, with a seasonal menu that mixes influences from the world with a French accent!
Oh, and how can I forget the amazing ube ice cream at the B Sweet Dessert Bar in Sawtelle Japantown! Definitely worth taking a bite when strolling around!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So many people helped and supported me when I decided to become an actress! First and foremost, of course, my parents, who believe in me so much. They are a great strength to me and a source of inspiration that keeps me going no matter what. I know I can count on them, and I’m well aware of how lucky I am to have them believe in and support my dreams.

My community of actors at the Michelle Danner LA Conservatory as well: whether it’s the teachers or fellow actors, I don’t think I’ve ever felt such support and motivation from this new family. We inspire and push each other to become better. And it’s all about love!

But if there’s someone I have to thank for my growth as an actor and as a human being, it’s my teacher Josef Lemieux. He has this ability to put you at ease, to find the right words to push you further, and he made me fall even more in love with the craft. I really began to believe in myself and to believe that I could become an actor, that I belonged in this world, when I started working with him. And I believe that if one day I fulfill the dreams I have for my career, it will be thanks to the training he gave me, the solid foundations he taught me, but also his friendship, his honesty and his support. I will always be grateful to have crossed paths with him in my life, because he’s had a determining impact on me as a person and as an actor.

Instagram: @chrisse_1987