Meet Max Cazier | Actor

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

Hi Max, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I think risk is probably the most important through-line in all aspects of being an actor. From the starting point, risk is what determines whether a role is an exciting one to take. I’ve played the “best friend with a secret” character dozens of times, and I’ve played odd character roles which allow me to entirely step out of myself. By and large, these are the roles that I forget two minutes after picture wrap. There’s no risk in familiarity, or in disguise, so a job that’s defined by one or both of these characteristics lacks any kind of inherent challenge.

As odd as it might sound, it’s an enormous risk to play a character you see a lot of yourself in. It’s no secret that most actors care an oversized amount about the opinions of strangers. And it can be hard to put yourself in a position where you’re playing a part you identify with, in a situation that invited criticism of the character. It can be even harder when the trait that’s being played for the most vulnerability is the one you identify with most. But it’s those moments of risk that lead to the most creatively fulfilling experiences, and usually lead to personal growth.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Getting to the point where I could support myself off of acting alone definitely wasn’t easy! It also didn’t happen entirely by choice.

During the SAG strike last year, I decided to take some time away from LA, and my job in a bar. So I went to London to do some theatre for one month, which quickly turned into three. In order to stay in London for so long, I had to make the difficult choice of leaving my day job for good – there aren’t a lot of workplaces that will allow you to take three months off with no notice. When I got back to LA, I was left entirely without a safety net, and the hunger I experienced over the next few months was instrumental in getting me to where I am today. I realized that I needed to be absolutely desperate to get work in order to push past a point of safety and comfort, and that desperation and drive is what got me booking. Even though I’m working more consistently now, I still try to tap into the desperation as much as I can to keep me moving forward. I know that if I stop working hard for myself, I have nothing to fall back on. That work ethic is definitely an asset I’ve gained over the past couple of years.

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?
LA can be a tricky town for tourists – the history of the city as it exists today doesn’t go back that far in terms of places for tourists to visit, and because it’s a place built for cars, it’s hard to stumble across something. You really need to know where you’re going. Because of that, when my friends visit, I try to give them a taste of what it’s like to actually live in Los Angeles.

Hikes and cool restaurants are always going to be the cornerstones of a week in LA, once the allure of Universal Studios and Hollywood Boulevard wear off. I love Griffith and Temescal; you can’t go wrong with letting yourself get a little lost out there. For bars and restaurants, I think Weho, Abbot Kinney and Silverlake are classics for a reason. They feel true to LA’s character. I’ll take people to Bacari or Tesse on Sunset, and Jones on Santa Monica any day of the week.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The biggest shoutout has to go to my mum. She’s supported me wholeheartedly since I was a kid, gave me the space to doubt myself and come back stronger, and she taught me the love for people that’s led to even the smallest part of success I’ve experienced.

Instagram: @max.cazier

Image Credits
Abby Chesman

Ryan Shon