Meet Katharine McEwan | Actress, Writer, Producer

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

Hi Katharine, how do you think about risk?
As an actress and filmmaker, risk is a constant in my life. Francis Ford Coppola once said, “You can’t make art without risk.” I really believe that. Whether I’ve ever actually made art is not up to me to say, but I’ve certainly attempted to. And it’s that kind of film and performance and music that I love. When I can feel it cost the artist something, that they put it all on the line, not knowing whether it was going to resonate or be successful. There are some really high highs and really low lows in entertainment, but for me it’s about the attempt at saying something truthful, leaving some scrawl of yourself behind, however messy. You risk rejection, criticism, being ignored, but it’s worth it. To bare your soul, to care deeply, to admit you might fail, that you are failing… it’s always worth it.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
My road to being an actress and filmmaker has been a very strange and winding one! I feel like I haven’t even scratched the surface of what I want to achieve yet. I spent my twenties pretty recklessly so some days I’m just grateful I made it to where I am in (relatively) one piece! It’s so easy to get caught up in this idea of a “track’ and you can do yourself so much harm comparing your career to others – especially in entertainment where success is so public. I remember being at a Hollywood party when I first came to LA, and this important industry person said I shouldn’t tell people how long I’d been here as I hadn’t done much yet. I remember thinking, “The fact I’m even standing here is nothing short of a miracle!” I decided then that as much as I could I’d try to tune out any idea of what I was supposed to have achieved by when and set my own standards of success. Some days for some people, that might be just waking up in the morning. When I started my production company, Zetland Media, I decided the tagline would be, “Stories for the rest of us.” That kind of sums up the things I like working on. Stories for anyone who feels left behind, voiceless, disenfranchised, broken.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I think we’d start DTLA, which is where it all began back in the day. I love the old Art Deco movie theatres and creepy, haunted hotels. Next would be Los Feliz with its amazing vintage stores, and of course Skylight Books. We’d stop for wine at Figaro Bistro, one of my favorite places in LA. Even though it’s a French restaurant, they have amazing vegan options and I always feel transported to another time when I’m there. Then Counterpoint in Franklin Village to hunt for vinyl, and Van Leeuwen’s for ice cream next door. We’d take Sunset Blvd all the way to the beach – one of my favorite roads to drive. We’d go to the Venice Canals, with all the little bridges and pastel houses. Then a road trip to Joshua Tree, one of my favorite places on earth. When I’m in the desert, I feel like I’m in a dream, like the whole world is just a facade. Even the sky doesn’t look real, until the stars come out. 

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mother Helen. She taught me that even if the ship is sinking, it doesn’t mean you can’t sing in the lifeboats. She has had to overcome more in her life than most people I’ve met, and yet she’s never given up. While there were some tough moments growing up, she taught me to be strong and to appreciate art and good books. There can be a kind of shame attached to caring too much, feeling too deeply – especially in Hollywood – but no matter what role or project I’m working on, I can call her and she’ll engage in the artistry of it. 

Website: https://www.instagram.com/katharinemcewan/

Instagram: @katharinemcewan

Image Credits
Whitney Otte