Meet Courtney Isham | Actress and Writer

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

Hi Courtney, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’ve always been an artist and performer. I was never afraid to get on stage, or make up a song and sing my heart out while getting ready for ballet class. It’s just who I am through and through and nothing makes me happier. So the idea of *not* pursuing it… well that’s just not a life I’d want to live.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve been a performer since I was a child and being an actress is the second career I ever wanted to do in life – the first being a princess, but I could be cast as a princess with none of the responsibilities, so I think it’s the best of both worlds!

An addition to theatre, I also sang and did all forms of dance, and even took up aerial and trapeze – which I still do to this day.

With my acting, I fell in love with comedy – be it a sitcom, dark comedy or sketches where I’m dressing up like a guy. I think every movie and show should have a comedic element, because we deserve to find a reason to laugh even at the most tragic things in life. That love took me to Groundlings and Second City where I’ve trained in improv and sketch comedy.

Writing is a newer love. I never considered myself a writer but during covid out of boredom my husband and I made several short films and I wrote a feature film. I’d sit for 5 hour blocks snapping at my husband if he damed to interrupt me. I wouldn’t even get up for the restroom. I then wrote and performed nearly 100 sketches online over the following year and it finally dawned on me, “oh – I guess I’m a writer too”.

Since then, I’ve written sketches that have been performed on stage by actors like Marisol Nichols.

In the past few months, I’ve produced 15 short films, 7 of which I wrote and 9 I starred in. I’ve come to learn and love every aspect of filmmaking and because of that am working on several of my own projects I’ll be writing and starring in, including a pilot and a stage play.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m a foodie and of course I love theatre, so everything would be centered around those activities.

The Ivy on Robertson (completely magical to me and one of my favorite places in LA)
Malibu Beach – then go to Cafe Habana for steak tacos.
Improv shows at Groundlings and USB. There are also some great pop-up musical improvs which I love!
Dinners at Catch LA, Casaléna, Road to Seoul and of course, Sugarfish.
Perusing book stores from The Last Bookstore to little shops in Los Feliz.
Pastries from Lou the French on the Block and République.
A casual coffee from Blue Bottle.
Musicals and shows at the Pantages
And honestly, just going to the movies.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d love to give a shoutout to my husband, Jake Isham. I’ve never had anyone in my life be more supportive of my being myself, living up to my full potential, admiring and complimenting my abilities, and sometimes kicking my ass to overcome some block – real or imagined.
I love you (and our dog, Juneau).

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtney.isham/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@courtneyisham

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@courtneyisham

Image Credits
Jake Isham
Gareth Jones
Cristina Bernes