Meet Mae Claire | Actor, Singer, & Entrepreneur

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

Hi Mae, what’s the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make?
The most difficult decision I’ve made as a creative was choosing to leave a 9-to-5 career to pursue my life as an artist.

Starting my own business wasn’t driven by a passion for entrepreneurship; it was a strategic move to give me the flexibility I needed to train and focus on my creative work.

Being the only one in my family and community to take this path, I had to do a lot of research to minimize the risks I was taking.

While I’m grateful for the privileges that have made this lifestyle possible, I don’t come from a background where I can afford many missteps. As a result, I’ve learned to carefully weigh the impact of my decisions from every angle.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Although I wear many hats, my primary focus is acting. One important lesson I’ve learned over the years is that, in the entertainment industry, you need to know what kind of projects truly excite you. It took me a long time to embrace my interests because, like many, I was initially desperate to be hired anywhere I could.

However, over time, I’ve come to realize that the projects I’m most passionate about often share a common thread: my love for anime, manga, and video games.

Outside of acting, I’m deeply involved in these communities. Whether I’m cosplaying from my favorite series or performing live in a language I don’t quite understand, I find joy in connecting with like-minded fans who share my enthusiasm. It’s a space where I can fully embrace my “geeky” side, and it’s incredibly fulfilling.

Interestingly, this passion for geek culture has also influenced my career as an actor. Many of my colleagues are aware of my interests, and it’s led to some exciting opportunities. My experiences as an actor, combined with my unique image and understanding of the art form itself, have made me a strong fit for roles that are a bit “out of this world”—whether I’m playing an AI humanoid on a battleship or an agent in a magical girl bureau. It’s always a thrill to dive into these imaginative worlds. It’s actually one of my dreams to land a leading or supporting role in a live-action anime, video game adaptation, or anything within geek culture.

But while I wait for that opportunity, I’ve recently discovered VTubing, a form of online entertainment where creators use virtual avatars, animated through motion capture, to engage with audiences. Earlier this year, I designed my own anime-inspired character and worked with an artist to bring her to life. Since then, I’ve used my 2D avatar as a virtual persona for my music, livestreams, and personal voice acting projects.

What started as a fun hobby has quickly grown into something much bigger. The character has become my own intellectual property, and I now see immense potential for her in films, animations, comics, video games, and more. In fact, she’s even inspired me to start writing my own stories and building out her universe.

This has led me to explore how my acting background and my content creation can intersect. Though the technology is still developing and the industry is niche, I’m excited to see how I can merge my passion for acting with this new form of storytelling. My goal is to create a unique brand that blends my 2D virtual world with the real world, and resonate with audiences who share my interests.

Growing up without seeing faces like mine on screen, I connected more with 2D characters than with real-life people. I couldn’t relate to the popular American films or shows my friends talked about, but I found strength, determination, friendship, and love in the stories of anime.

When I entered the film and entertainment industry, I often felt behind my peers. I didn’t know much about great actors, directors, or the classics, and as an immigrant Filipino, I had to immerse myself in a completely different pop culture.

I had to read books to even know who Meisner, Ibsen, and Hitchcock were. I watched classic films to understand what shaped today’s great cinema. It was a world vastly different from what I knew.
I fell in love with acting because of its rawness and vulnerability, but I soon realized that becoming a professional actor is a whole other journey.

I had to accept that, due to my lack of exposure to film, theater, and acting in my early years, it would take me longer to succeed. I also had to come to terms with the financial sacrifices required to pursue an artist lifestyle.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that you can’t compare your timeline to anyone else’s. We all have different starting points, and what matters most is the daily effort you put into your craft—striving to be better than you were yesterday.

If anything, I want the world to know that you don’t have to compromise who you are or what you love to fit into this industry. In fact, the very thing you’re afraid to share could be what makes you unique.

The entertainment world can be cutthroat, but if you want to thrive as a creative, you need to approach it sustainably for the long haul. Lately, I’ve been trusting my instincts more, and I’ve realized that if what you’re doing brings you joy, you’re probably on the right path. That’s how we can truly love ourselves through hard times and find fulfillment in our work.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First, I’d invite them to a tea party. I love going to a tea house for my favorite Vanilla Rooibos and surprising friends with sandwiches and desserts. It’s the perfect setting to catch up and chat for hours.

If they’re up for it, I’d take them hiking. There’s something awe-inspiring about being in nature and sharing that time with people you care about. If hiking’s not their thing, I’d take them to a spa for some relaxation in the pools and saunas. If we have more time in the week, I’d also love to take them to see a live theater production out in the city. If they’re a little geeky like I am, maybe we can find some stores where we can immerse ourselves in that type of media.

Afterward, we’d head to one of my favorite restaurants for dinner—anything depending on what we’re in the mood for. I’m a kid at heart, so if they decide to stay for a week, I’d probably invite them to have a sleepover filled with horror movies, anime, and video games.

I’m pretty simple—I just love spending quality time with my friends.

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 thank my parents, who supported me during the early years of my life and helped lay the foundation for the opportunities I have today.

A heartfelt thank you to the people I’ve met along this journey:

Anthony Fletcher—the director who recommended me for this interview. He was the first person to hire me as an actor and showed me what it means to be part of a truly positive set environment. I’m lucky to still count him as a friend to this day.

Tony Savant, one of my acting teachers at Playhouse West, who instilled in me the discipline and foundational skills I needed as an artist.

The teachers at Diana Castle’s The Imagined Life, who transformed my outlook on the craft as something greater than myself.

Curtis Bechdholt, my manager, who passionately believes in my talent and my vision as an artist. I don’t thank him enough for all his hard work and support.

And there are many more people I could thank, far too many to list here, but I’m grateful for every single one of them.

Lastly, I want to thank God for guiding my heart and my journey. Though I’ve only recently started building my relationship with Him, I can already see how much He’s touched my life for the better.

I don’t believe in self-made success. Everything I have is because of the people who believe in me, and I am deeply thankful for that.

Website: http://maeclaire.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mae.claire/

Image Credits
Anthony Fletcher
Ryan Rec
Dan Frantz & Luke Orlando
Tom Schmitt
Tatiana Lumiere
Ivan Jay Yap