Meet Lee Steffee: Actor, Model, Partner, Dog Dad, and Occasional Writer

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

Hi Lee, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
This past year I have taken the biggest risks of my life so far. What I have learned in those risks is that they are definitely worth taking. My acting teacher recently said that at the core of risking is listening. Listening assumes “yes” – which is your way of submitting your creative spirit to the universe. Therefore, you cannot risk if you’re not listening. What we should be listening for are invitations to create. Essentially, meaning we only move forward by saying “yes” to the creative impulse.

It’s been a little over a year since VoyageLA last did a story on me and since then, a lot has changed. I listened to that creative impulse and right before the pandemic hit, I decided to pursue acting full force. I stepped back from my art department jobs – set dressing, props, and buying, and leaped right into self tapes and acting classes. Shortly into a new acting class, quarantine began and we were shut down. However, I didn’t let that stop me and continued taking classes online and self submitting to whatever was available as much as I could. After all, I was just getting started and couldn’t let this new normal slow me down.

Within this big leap, I also took so many risks in between. I turned down my previous position as onset dresser for season 2 of the last show I worked on. This actually happened a few weeks into a quarantine book project I started with a group of people from all over that my friend, Sam, curated. Mostly strangers, we all met once a week to go through the 12 step artist recovery process known as The Artist Way. That week happened to be the chapter surrounding this very topic. As I was reading about how it was time to stop doubting myself and just do, my boss called me to come back. I knew I couldn’t make the commitment at this time, but he understood what I had to do to accomplish my new goals.

This book truly helped me navigate many parts of this new journey. By discovering that I could be an artist by many definitions, I truly realized acting was the art form I found as the best way to express myself. But I know I wouldn’t have came to that reality if it wasn’t for taking another risk to become authentically myself. Because I truly believe you have to know yourself in order to be comfortable enough taking risks. Risk taking is a vulnerable act. If you do not allow yourself vulnerability, it is almost impossible.

The second risk I took in this past year was top surgery. Which honestly, if it wasn’t for the abrupt stop of the world and work, I wouldn’t have had time to stop and LISTEN to what my body had been telling me for years. For awhile, I had been considering top surgery, but the nature of the industry is hustling from job to job and made it nearly impossible to truly stop and think. But after many months of planning and taking the necessary steps to my first consult in July, I had my appointment set by October 5, 2020.

Since then, I have been in the body I was always meant to be in. Now navigating this world feeling 100% myself, makes the rest of the risks and challenges come a bit easier. That’s the thing, risks are challenging, like both of these I’ve taken in the recent year. But once you submit yourself and listen, you can move forward with your life. And not to sound redundant, but that all starts with taking the risk, whether it be professionally or personally.

I understand it is a privilege to recognize that I took big risks during a time when so many were losing everything. The fact that I was able to use this time I wouldn’t have necessarily had otherwise to truly figure out what I was desiring, in several facets of my life, was a gift. The one statement I live by because it’s proven to be so truthful time and time again, is that once you start doing things for yourself, the universe listens and guides you to fulfill your manifestations. Manifest your dreams by saying them out loud and take those risks!!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Art is a collaborative process. Not only collaborative with others, but also within yourself. For years I was telling myself I couldn’t just create, I would not allow it. I would make excuses as to why I shouldn’t do something. But since then and mostly recently, I have found I’m an artist in many ways.

I love to write anything and everything, cook, dance, make videos and short documentaries with my partner, act, make props, play the drums and collaborate with others in all of those art forms and also open to learning something new. Anything you do that makes you feel good is considered art I’ve realized. I would say what sets me apart from others — always down to try something new and not being afraid to start anything because “I’m too old” or not experienced enough. The only way to get experience is to try it out!

I am most proud of how far I’ve come in each of these areas of art, knowing that before I started putting pen to paper, basic drum rudiments, adding acid to heat, I wasn’t any good. Watching myself grow throughout each process has been incredible to witness. I can only imagine using that to continue to grow with acting and other art forms that I am really passionate about. Anyone can be an artist and anyone can create!

Of course it’s not always easy, but starting is the first step. Once I stopped doubting myself and making excuses, everything after that was discovered. And what I found in those discoveries was truly magnificent. I guess what I would say I want others to take away from my story is that: once you start living life authentically as yourself, the rest falls into place because the universe is listening. And to quote my good friend, Willy, “Ascension never stops.”

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?
OK! This is a tough one. Considering everything has been shut down for the past year and new things are starting to open up, this list may not be very accurate. Unfortunately, a lot of classic LA spots have shut down due to the pandemic and may not come back. That being said, there are new spots opening up that could be great, I just haven’t had a chance to try them yet! Here’s a quick list of how I’d show someone LA:

Day 1 – Settle in with some great sourdough pizza and natural wines from Gra in Echo Park. Then head off to a late night comedy performance at The Hayworth Theatre.

Day 2 – Gotta hike! Hollywood sign if it’s their first time here or something more remote if they’ve been. So many good hikes throughout LA – Malibu Canyon, or to the Griffith Observatory, or even Highland Park and Pasadena. Grab lunch in any of those areas! In Malibu – I suggest Malibu Farms for great farm to table cuisine. If you land in Los Feliz after the Observatory, I’d try to squeeze in to a small spot I recently discovered called The Kitchen. And if you’re northeast of LA, I’d hit up The Highland Cafe and snag an afternoon coffee next door at Cafe De Leche. Later that night… take a walk near my hood (Echo Park) and tour the neighborhood Angelino Heights to see where they filmed the Thriller music video and Charmed house exterior. Order takeout when you get home from Holy Basil or Woon and have a backyard fire with a view of DTLA!

Day 3 – Beach Day! I suggest Leo Carrillo or Point Mugu State Parks in Malibu. Or if you want to make the drive a few hours north, Butterfly Grove Beach in Goleta, near Santa Barbara. It’s so beautiful and also has hiking trails! Pack snacks and drinks but stop by In-N-Out Burger for the drive home!

Day 4 – If you have a friend who works in the film industry, try to get tickets to a daytime show like Ellen or Jimmy Kimmel. That evening, I suggest dinner at Otono in Highland Park. If you still have energy after dinner, hit up Blind Barber for dancing and drinks next door.

Day 5 – Order breakfast for pickup from Honey Bee’s House of Breakfast in Midcity. If you’re not too full from the House Special, head to The Freehand Hotel, DTLA, for some afternoon cocktails by the rooftop pool. An afternoon of drinking in the sun will most likely end your evening!

Day 6 – Off to Venice in the morning to walk the boardwalk, see Muscle Beach, watch the dancing roller skaters, and skateboarders do tricks at the skate park. In the late afternoon, head to The Abbey in WEHO for good drinks, food, and ambience at the oldest gay bar in LA. Fun vibes that never disappoint. Be sure to check the weekend dates for drag shows – the best performances you’ll ever see! Later that night, I suggest a concert at The Greek or Hollywood Bowl (the Greek is my favorite concert venue I’ve ever been to!)

Day 7 – We made it! If you didn’t like your In-N-Out Burger (you either love it think it’s “meh”) go to Chinatown to a secret little walk-up window known as Burgerlords. House-made vegan patties and fries that are so delish you won’t believe it’s vegan. (Not impossible or beyond, but homemade.) IF you happen to be here during a Yellow Paper Burger pop-up, I suggest finding where they are and snagging that as well. Later that evening, I’d end the week with Burlesque night and bowling at Highland Park Bowl. Beautiful atmosphere, good Moscow Mules, and good music.

There’s also so many fav spots I’m missing! Trying to squeeze everything into a week with the driving time factor is impossible. But hit these places and I promise you you’ll want to move here. But also please don’t– the traffic is already bad enough! Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Wow! So many!! Since taking the leap to pursue acting full time, I have landed a commercial agent in Taylor Trumbo of Evolve Artists Agency and recently signed a modeling contract with Stetts Model Management. I’m about to start shooting the first short film I’ve been cast in. And have been continuing to audition for everything from commercials to TV and features.

My partner is the number one person to dedicate this to, although there are so many others who have helped me to get here as well. But hands down, Victoria Lam Pham, is the best partner in the world. She’s the one who told me from the beginning that I can do anything and that she believes in me. Whether she’s running lines with me, directing my self tapes, or taking care of me when I was recovering from surgery, I would not be the confident, hardworking person I am without her help and guidance. Also not to forget the love from our bois (dogs), Samson and Miles, who keep me smiling everyday, even when I’m down.

Others I would like to shoutout are my incredible acting teachers and the communities they’ve let me into. Benjamin Mathes of Crash Acting and Ryan O’Shea. They have both taught me so much — not only about acting, but also about myself through a their holistic approaches to performance and voice. I would also like to give credit to my yoga teachers and holistic healers – I have a great team of people I’ve found who always know what I’m desiring when necessary and always know how to fix me up!

Of course the group of friends I’ve made through my Artist Way Group who really instilled in me I was taking the right risks and encouraged me weekly that I was on the right path. Without them, I’m not sure I would’ve kept going. Thank you all, you beautiful humans, y’all know who you are (and Sam.)

All my friends and family who have been supportive along the way, in both personal and professional endeavors, I love y’all.

And of course last but not least all my art department friends who I still occasionally work with in between acting gigs. All of whom have been supportive since I told them I was going to make the transition into acting.

I have so much gratitude for the wonderful circle that has encompassed and lifted me up during these huge voyages.

Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6407558/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Instagram: @leesteffee

Twitter: @bobmarlee117

Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/leemsteffee

Image Credits
Roadwork Studio: Ashleigh Parsons and Sean Pierce Vicky Pham