We had the good fortune of connecting with Katia Plotnikoff and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Katia, how do you think about risk?
Oooh I love it! what a challenging question to answer! To me, I feel like risk taking is complex because it’s all about perspective. I think you are taking a ‘risk’ by doing something, or taking a risk by not doing something (and perhaps missing out on something truly magical) Either way there’s a risk … it just depends which risk you are willing to take.
I feel that I am really fortunate to have developed a strong mindset and faith, that things will work out exactly as they’re meant to … so if there’s something calling you in your heart, GO FOR IT!
I also constantly remind myself of a little mantra; ‘no risk, no reward’, whenever I am feeling challenged or afraid of taking a leap of faith. It usually helps.
Looking back I recognize that risk taking has been a huge factor in my life and career. I wouldn’t be on the path I am today without walking into the unknown waters time and time again, and choosing to swim. When it comes to acting, I quit my stable, 9-5 ‘good on paper’ job, to pursue a career in the arts in 2017. At the time, this may have appeared as a huge risk, but the call to pursue my career in acting was too strong for me to deny. I am so grateful I did.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I feel truly blessed to call myself an artist. It is such an honour to me, because there have been so many gifts I have received doing this work.
I think what excites me the most about it, is how much its allowed growth and change within me. Stories heal, and I have experienced this first hand, and my hope and wish for the world is to know this and experience this as well. I’m just a regular person, but if I can have such a profound journey of healing through art – so can you. Everything is figure out-able, and having the courage to face your fears, or shadows, will only allow you to expand and walk further into alignment and joy.
My path has definitely not been a cake walk, and honestly continues to be quite challenging, but I don’t think I would have it any other way. I’m a bit sadistic in the way that I love a good challenge because I love to prove to myself that I can do it. Hindsight has been a beautiful reminder that this is always true.
I think back to when I first began my training as an actress, and how challenging it was to allow myself to express and feel feelings (it wasn’t something that I was really encouraged to do as a child) so I learned to suppress it. In the early days of “opening the pipes”, so to say, I was a wreck. I remember that first year of letting my true emotions come through my acting to be very, very dark. A lot of my shadows came up, and I honestly felt like I wouldn’t make it at times. I struggled with depression in high school (which I never talked about to anyone) and feelings of it began to rear its ugly head when I started to express in my acting. I remember one of my acting coaches at the time asking me if I was OK, and I responded ‘I don’t know’, and I really didn’t know. That’s the scary thing about growth I think. The period of being the buried seed, you can’t see anything but darkness, but eventually you will crack and break free to the light again. Then you bloom. But it doesn’t always come easy.
Without the incredible support team I have had throughout this journey – I would not be here today, and be able to have such a depth of emotional accessibility, because it truly felt like hell opening up, but you do eventually make it to the other side, and I am so grateful.
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.
Well currently I’m in Vancouver so let’s take a tour of this beautiful west-coast city we love to call Hollywood North. My favourite thing without a doubt is the fact that nature is SO close and easy to access in this city. I’m a sunshine lover, so we will assume for the visit its going to be sunny 😉
Some must do’s are easily checking out the seawall, whether it’s a walk or bike, it is a must! So for day one to get a lay of the land would be grabbing a coffee and strolling the seawall, relaxing at some of the beaches along the way, and finishing off the day watching the sunset with a picnic on the beach. It’s also really neat in the summer, the city hosts an outdoor drive-in to watch movies, all you need to do is bring your friends, snacks, and a comfy set up.
The hikes in the city are fantastic … I’m not sure if I want to spill my secret spot but it is truly too good to keep secret! So for another day we would pack a small hiking-bag of swimming gear, beers and snacks and heading up Mount Seymour for a very short beautiful hike to a hidden lake called ‘Mystery Lake’. Spending the day lounging and swimming in fresh water on the top of a mountain is one of my all time favourite ways to enjoy summer in the city. Just be prepared that unless its actually the summer, there will most likely still be snow and swimming might be a polar bear dip 😉
Since we’re on the west-coast, seafood is a must too! So for some tasty eats, we would hit up Granville Island, and stroll around the market – maybe get a Seigl’s rosemary rock salt bagel, then head to Go Fish for some fresh fish tacos and fish and chips. SO GOOD.
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 am so lucky to have such a wonderful support system. I give credit almost entirely to having supportive people in my life -being supported has allowed me to take the risks I have in my life to continue on this path and strive for more, because I know when I fall there are people to catch me. My family has been my greatest foundation – they’ve definitely supported me and challenged me at the same time.
My acting community has also been an integral part of my journey. Incredible friends and coaches have helped me along the way. When I first moved to Vancouver I studied at Anthony Meindl’s Actor Workshop, and I met Frank Zotter and Alison Araya, two coaches who have encouraged me in so many ways to become the actress I am now and continue to grow into. I also want to shout out to Deb Podowski, another incredible coach who is such a cheerleader in the industry, and also not afraid to kick your butt from time to time to make sure you are pushing yourself to be all you can. As well as Bernard Hiller, his Masterclass training in Los Angeles is truly transformational. These are just a few of the many incredible coaches I’ve been lucky to have the opportunity to learn from (there are so many more) that I would love to also shout out, but we could be here for a while 😉
I’ve also had the privilege of working with several talented health and energy workers who have become close friends of mine. Daniela DeMarchi, who has been with me even before day one working as a professional actor. Delphine, my acupuncturist, and Paola Ranova. Acting is such a wild job to me, it requires so much of you, and I’ve learned that to be able to give myself fully to this craft, mental and emotional cleansing and support is a MUST.
I could go on for days talking about the mentorship, love and encouragement I have received because I know I wouldn’t be where I am (and so excited to continue to forge a path forward) without them all. I am so truly grateful.
Website: www.katiap.com
Instagram: @katia.plotnikoff
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb2jMKqKiMnQDGZzgE3a58w
Other: email: bigkatmedia.films@gmail.com
Image Credits
Sam Krochmal Victor Magese