Meet Joshua Leomiti | Actor

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

Hi Joshua, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Great question. Being born is a risk and we’re all going to die. Running that in my mind every day has been my attitude to make life count and personally, I’ve taken so many risks that are not logical to some. The risk of letting go of consistent workforce jobs to fully pursue my acting career, the risk of investing into my own films, the risk of the possibility of nothing ever happening for me in show-business however, how would I know if I don’t go and try? How I think about risk(s) doesn’t so much concern me when I know my ‘why’. One’s “why” should always triumph over their fear of “how”. When I look back at every risk I’ve ever taken, I do have a sense of deep sadness and gratefulness. For every sacrifice that was risky for me has indeed taken a part of me with it, but because I’ve followed through to the end of whatever task I was in, I finished. Let those words, “I finished”, echo for a while. Sure, I have learned very hard lessons that almost broke me, but it was worth it because it made me exercise more strength within myself. The strength to be ever-thankful regardless. Every time I get back up, I am a-little more stronger each time, to do it again and again, to aim at my target until I hit it. If I were to die today, I think those who know me very well, would agree that I am not just a starter but a sticker, too. A tough cookie. You see, life is risky, but none of us is going to make it out alive. If there is anything that risk(s) and risk taking has done for me and my pursue in my acting career, it is this: why not?

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an Actor, Writer, Producer, Filmmaker. I am also Samoan and very proud of that. If there is anything that I remember so clearly, it is that when I was a child, I had an unexplainable passion to role play. I was shy, but I had that passion. Now as an adult, with every opportunity I get, I undertake it with that same passion and it is still unexplainable. Someone may ask, “why acting?”, and my response would be, “Right?” I would like to believe that what sets me apart from many others aiming at the same things, is this simple truth, that: it use to be about trying to do something, now it is about trying to be somebody. I am not trying to “be somebody”, I am simply doing what I am born to do, and that is too ‘create.’ My projects that I have written and produced has taken home awards, and I feel extremely proud of that. My late Father had a big smile on his face, just like a kid, when he seen my trophy award for my sample pilot “Tapu’. That will be a moment I will always cherish and rewind to repeat in my memory. Where I am currently at in my career and how I got here, was and still is a boatload of hard work and again, a lot of risk taking. It was never easy, it’s never easy, and if it is easy, then I may have hit a plateau which would mean that I am not growing. There is a saying: “if you’re always winning, then you’re never learning.” Definitely you can win while still learning and that is my mindset to overcome all challenges that I face. One of the greatest lessons I have learned along the way is that I don’t judge my work or my future and how it performs in this moment against the quantity of other works bigger than my own. I am an artist who isn’t in competition for popularity. My talent will make room for myself regardless of popularity or what ever the opposition proposes. It is foolish to compare yourself. If there is one thing I want the world to know about me and my story is simply: I come from humility, not a false humility, but a line of people who showed me what true humility is, and how to use it. What an honor to do so, and a dishonor to say it is weak. No, it’s a sign of strength and security to serve humility.

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?
Some of my friends who haven’t been to the states, and here to Los Angeles, because they live in Australia, Samoa, and New Zealand. But I would most likely take them to the Hollywood Walk of Fame and tell them, “one day, my star would be here, and you will also be here to witness it.” Haha. Wouldn’t that be something? But for sure, Hollywood Walk of Fame would be a great place to show them. But you have to understand, us Polynesian people are hardly ever picky with food, drink, or places to visit. It’s being together that counts, and everything else is secondary, so, although Los Angeles has many places to take them, I know they would be happy with any place we’d go.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My success has everything to do with the people who have always believed in me even when the journey was difficult to understand. I had no organization, groups, or mentorships like most people do, just only the gentle voices of those who have come into my life, and voices such as my Father ‘Firipele’ and Grandmother “Sina’ who have passed on. The people today that are still here, I would love to give them credit, where credit is due. They are: Lokilani Leomiti (my mother), Julio Galindo, Sina Leomiti, Ja-boy Leomiti, Avery Austin, Peter Filimaua, Sina Walker, Tulu Tasele, Kelly Fifield, Lole Usoali’i and Mike Hickey, Liko and Katie Yandall, Ashanna Bri, Phyras Men, Clyph Jean-Philippe, Alisha Tanielu, Shirley and Carol Wilson, Luana Nauer, Tofamamao Taulogo, John Fau, my Leomiti Family, my Nakiso Family, Victoria Schmidt, The Warmenhoven Family. The list is very long, but you know who you all are.

Website: www.joshualeomiti.com

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/josh.leomiti.1

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCKtQ-KD2h9pmM6OVjWpDVVg

Image Credits
Phyras Men, Clyph Jean-Philippe, KC Leomiti