Meet Isabella Colby | Actress

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

Hi Isabella, how do you think about risk?
I used to be terrified of taking risks, constantly worried about what might go wrong. Eventually, I found the courage to step outside my comfort zone. I discovered that even if things didn’t turn out exactly as planned, the experience was worthwhile because I grew so much in the process. I try to remind myself that life is short, and I’d rather aim high and fail occasionally than stay stuck in my comfort zone because of fear.

Risk is an exciting part of auditioning for me. I enjoy getting a scene and exploring creative risks that will help me grow as an actor.

The biggest risk I ever took was living in a van and driving 4,000 miles on a road trip with just my dog. During the first few days, I often wondered what I was thinking, but the experiences and growth I gained gave me the confidence to take the leap and move to LA to pursue acting. It taught me that success isn’t just about the outcome; it’s about doing what I’m passionate about and continually challenging my own limits.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It has been a long journey with many challenges, and I am still on that journey, battling obstacles today. I started acting at a young age, mostly in theater, but as a teenager, I faced extreme stage fright, which led me to step back and explore other paths. After trying just about everything under the sun, I realized nothing made me feel as alive as acting does. I had a choice to make: let fear drive me toward things I wasn’t passionate about, or get back on stage, nervous and shaking, and keep doing it until those nerves subsided. I chose the latter.

Though I was once ashamed to talk about my nerves and anxiety, I am now proud of myself for facing my fears and becoming a brave, strong person who still gets nervous but doesn’t let it stop her. If anyone out there is struggling with a phobia, fear, or anxiety, I want them to know it’s okay to be scared, and facing your fears even once can give you the confidence to confront them repeatedly. Never limit yourself by believing you can’t do something.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
What I really love about Los Angeles is the abundance of things to see, do, and explore. I enjoy discovering new hiking trails with my dog, and with so many options available, we definitely go hiking a lot. I’d also love to take a day trip to the Channel Islands via the Ventura Ferry to see the Island Fox, which is native to the islands, and kayak among the beautiful scenery.

There are still so many restaurants in Los Angeles that I want to try, so I’d plan to have dinner at a new place every night. We would catch a movie at the Culver City theater and afterward enjoy a drink at the Culver City Hotel, where they often feature live jazz or piano music.

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?
I want to give a big shoutout to my dad for always encouraging me to follow my dreams and supporting my decision to move to LA and pursue an acting career. He sparked my interest in acting at a young age by getting me headshots and driving me an hour and a half to LA for auditions. I’m thrilled to be here now, continuing the journey we started together. I also want to thank my two dogs, Kiwi and Noah, for cuddling me through difficult times and being the cutest little goofballs. Additionally, I’d like to acknowledge Selina Kaye and Brendan Robinson, my acting coaches, for sharing their knowledge of auditioning skills and on-camera techniques with me in acting class.

Instagram: @IsabellaaColby