Meet Gabriella Surodjawan | Actor & Performer

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

Hi Gabriella, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
As a kid I was often told that I should always be conscious of how I am acting because I am a minority and that meant I was representing my community as a whole. I completely disagree with this piece of advice. I feel that it doesn’t allow children to grow and mature in the time they are supposed to. As a kid I constantly felt pressure and anxiety, just hoping that I wasn’t setting a bad example for black girls. It is too much to put on a child to make them think that everything they say and do will reflect how everyone around them perceives their whole community. I believe we should allow children to just be children and allow them to make mistakes and grow how they are supposed to. We should also allow children to explore their personalities and not put obstacles in the way of their creative journeys.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What makes me unique as an artist is that my art found me. I struggled as a kid finding something that truly intrigued me. It wasn’t until one day in fourth grade when my friends convinced me to try out for the school play, that I would find my life long dream. Although this was the beginning of my professional career it was just a small piece of the journey. It was a tough journey to get where i am but I learned so many great lessons along the way. One of the main lessons I learned as I grew in my career is how to keep myself motivated. In the film industry it is easy to loose motivation if you aren’t booking. The way I learned to deal with this is to treat very audition, meeting, coaching session, and more as an opportunity to better my craft and proof of growth. It helps me stay positive and continue to love what I do. I want the world to know that everything worth doing takes hard work and dedication. I still have to remind myself of this today but if theres is something you love you should go for it full force. Amongst the long nights doing auditions, hours memorizing lines, and the breaks in between auditions that feel like they could last forever, i’ve had many successes that I am proud of. One of my biggest achievements was landing a role on Stranger things. It was the first time I had been apart of such a big production and in all honesty I was extremely nervous. In the end I not only had an amazing time on set but also proved to myself and others that I am capable of contributing to amazing art such as Stranger Things.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d start the week visiting Roscoes! you can’t visit LA without getting your chicken and waffles fix. Next I’d introduce them to Largo at the Coronet; I’m a huge stand up comedy fan. It would be a toss up between the Broad and the Getty but I think we’d have to go with the Broad. We’d also have to make a stop at the Studio City Farmers Market in Van Nuys!…If we’re lucky my favorite food truck will be there; Yeasty Boys! Next we’d have to take a trip to Frog Town; The Spoke Bicycle Cafe.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my amazing acting coaches Michelle Campbelle and Matt Menalo . Matt and Michelle have not only been great acting coaches for but have also been mentors throughout my career. They have always had my back and truly led me to where I am today. Every moment with them they’ve worked so hard to push me and show me my true potential. They are most hardworking individuals I have ever met. Their IG handle is @matt_and_michelle_coaching

Instagram: @gabriellasurod

Other: Tik Tok – @gabriellasurod

Image Credits
Gabriella Surodjawan