Meet Ioanna Meli | Actor & Filmmaker

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

Hi Ioanna, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born and raised in Athens, Greece, and I feel lucky to call it my home!. It is one of the most lively and welcoming places in the world, full of history, art, beautiful scenery and delicious food.

My mom and dad have always approached life with joy, open-mindedness and honesty and that’s what shaped who I am today. They gave my brother and I opportunities to learn, encouraged us to explore and in the process I became my own person. I am grateful to them for always guiding and cheering me on in what I chose to do.

My parents’ artistic outlets were part of our everyday life. We played music and sang on the weekends on our balcony. My mom would paint fairytale lands on white walls. We’ d go to the theater every month; on the drive home my dad would always ask “so what did you think about the play?” and we’d take turns talking about the story, the actors, the set. Experiences like these fueled my love for the arts and nurtured my creativity.

I cherish my Greek background as a whole; our values, traditions, our food culture, our expressiveness. I’ve lived in the US for a long time and I continue to recognize cultural differences on a daily basis. Small things, like the fact that Greeks don’t really have set meal times – especially when we’re on vacation – and bigger ones, like the way we express ourselves. Greek people are talkative but we don’t verbalize feelings the same way people do here. Saying “I’m proud of you” or “I appreciate you” is rare but we communicate these feelings all the time. I’d say our love language is more physical touch and acts of service, than words of affirmation! Adapting to this way of communication has been challenging at times, I’ve had to relearn how to share my feelings with people I care about and what to expect from them as well. I think that anyone who has ever immigrated to a new place can understand this.

Ultimately, I enjoy this blend of cultures I get to carry within me and appreciate how it’s shaping who I am today. It also fuels my own work, like my comedy mini-series Home-19, which is a perk!

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.

I’ve always felt comfortable on stage and, later on, in front of the camera. As an actor, I have to observe human behavior in order to accurately portray it and that’s a science and a craft all at once; it’s directly connected to our humanity and that’s fascinating to me. I think what sets us actors apart from one another is that our instrument is ourselves and the source of our work is our own experiences. Two actors cannot be the same if they are producing work that is honest and true to themselves. That’s the magic of it!

Pursuing an acting career in LA is a journey that has no set rules; that’s hard for me, I love rules and plans! There is no straight forward path to success, however one defines that. There are truly no shortcuts and no key to “making it”. We have to work hard, trust that the preparation will pay off and find ways to enjoy the journey.

Being a professional actor requires dedication to growing our craft as well as our business. I think it’s essential for actors to always be in class; it’s like our “gym”. Like many of my teachers have said, acting is a muscle; first you train and then you continue “working out” to maintain your muscle. Equally important is to treat this field as a business – having the required material up to date, being connected to current events, understanding marketing and more. I’ve learned how important it is to stay involved with my craft even when not actively working on a project. And to take the time to celebrate every moment of success along the way, however big or small. Even for those of us who cannot imagine a life without acting, it is a challenging journey. I am proud of myself for persisting in this business and lucky to have created a family of friends who always push each other up.

This year I had the chance to work on two very different, very interesting characters – one of which I’m filming at the moment – and I look forward to these films coming out. I’m also excited that I found a way to express my cultural background in my own work for the first time! My comedy mini-series, Home-19, takes place during the Covid-19 pandemic and follows a young woman who is forced to leave LA and return home to quarantine with her parents in Greece. It offers a glimpse into the quirks of Greek parenting – or perhaps universal parenting? – bringing laughter and an opportunity to bond over those same moments that kept us apart for two years.

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 love neighborhood walks! I feel like it’s the best way to soak in the vibe of a place so I would do a lot of that and choose spots along the way. If my friend has never been to LA before, here’s some of the things I’d want to do together:

Brunch on the patio of Alcove in Los Feliz, Salt & Straw ice cream and stroll in Larchmont Village, coffee from Venice Cafe Gelato and stroll around the Venice Canals, pancakes in Manhattan Beach, picnic at Lake Balboa park, catch any food festival, thrift shopping and churros in Long Beach, flea market at Melrose Trading Post, a show at the Hollywood Bowl, drinks at Clifton’s Republic, a day at Universal Studios and definitely dancing to a live swing jazz band!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people who have encouraged me along the way! I’ll limit my shoutouts to a handful for these purposes: My mom, dad and my brother, who always guide me to be my best self and unconditionally stand in my corner.
Two beloved friends of mine: Eliza Gerontakis – phenomenal actor and the most generous person I have ever met. And Jay Parupalli – incredible writer and director whose drive and persistence is a constant source of inspiration.
Lee Quarrie who kindly nominated me for this publication.

I hope that everyone has the good fortune of meeting people along the way who give them a little push forward, whether they know it or not.

Website: www.ioannameli.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ioanna_meli/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4ioannameli/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDZ-Z7SHHiRiPl6R9g3DyIA

Image Credits

Dancing – image by Samantha Kunz Photography

Actor Headshot and Lifestyle shot on stool – images by Stephanie Girard

On the set of Life in Color with director Bishal Dutta.

At Cannes Film Festival, in competition with short film Life in Color.