Meet Naomi Okada | Actor

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

Hi Naomi, is there something you believe many others might not?
I don’t believe in “Plan B” career paths, especially for creatives. This might sound entitled or delusional, but I merely see it as what Keke Palmer would call a “reframe.” If you have a Plan A career path, I believe you do everything you can—within reason—to make that work for you. But for your Plan A journey to be sustainable, there are so many investments to make, such as finding your tribe of like-minded artists, collaborators, training, exposure, and connections to the industry, as well as side hustles and survival jobs to stay financially afloat, etc. If Plan A doesn’t work out for whatever reason, you don’t default to Plan B. You find another Plan A. I see so many multi-hyphenate artists that inspire me, and whether you’re an actor-writer or an actor-accountant, I think there is inherent value in pursuing many paths at different times in life.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think what sets me apart from many artists and actors is my cultural and educational background. I was born and raised in Japan in a very Japanese household; however, my education has always been at English-speaking international schools. From preschool to high school, I spent most of the day speaking English and came home to speak Japanese. I didn’t think too deeply about this because the cultural code-switching and blending always came so naturally to me, and there was something protective about the naivety of cultural differences. It wasn’t until I moved to the U.S. for college that I tangibly noticed the cultural, political, familial, artistic, and societal differences that divide the two hemispheres. The utopic “blending” of cultures suddenly started to feel dissonant to me, and I couldn’t settle into either identity, with both languages constantly failing me in different ways.

But this inability to lock down where I “belong” swung open a door to being unabashedly open to people and their stories, which inform my work every day. I learned, primarily throughout my time studying characters in plays, that the foundational thing I must do as an actor is to intimately and specifically know their story—where they came from, where they’re going, what circumstances inform what they need in life, and how it all manifests and crumbles during the course of the play.

In a strange way, not feeling fully settled in a cultural identity taught me to keep asking questions and to be open to them, which drives my work as an actor. I started to make friends with the feeling of not knowing, and it forced me to cultivate a radical curiosity for people and their stories. I love that I get to embrace that as an actor.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, as a Brooklyn girly, I couldn’t start the day off without showing them Prospect Park. I’d take them to the south side of the park to see all the ducks and swans, and then we’d walk up aimlessly and find a spot on the grass to lounge on. If it was the winter months, I’d take them ice-skating at the LeFrak Center, and if it was spring or summer, I’d take them to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and make sure we hit the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden.

If we needed a break for a beverage, I’d make sure we hit Devoción for coffee (Williamsburg location, for sure) or Matchaful (if you don’t like matcha, that’s sad for me—I respect it, but it’s sad for me). For food, we’d be picking up something to go from Banhmigos, Little Miss Muffin, or Shawarma Mia in the Prospect Heights area.

Of course, sometime during the trip, I’d take them to see a classic Broadway show, if that was the vibe they wanted. But if it were up to me, I’d prefer to take them to see something more local and intimate, like a comedy show, something off-Broadway, or a concert. The ultimate best excursion would be to watch and support something my friends are a part of, so I can show off how talented they are!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to my parents! The life I get to live as an artist in New York today is all thanks to them—not only for their undying support but also for raising me with artistically centered values as a kid. They always encouraged me to pursue what I loved, offering me many options along the way. They put me in every after-school activity imaginable: ballet, gymnastics, classical harp, flute, private singing lessons, choir, musicals, etc. It was a huge blessing to have that kind of access and encouragement for the arts at such a young age. Of course, choosing a non-traditional path always comes with bouts of self-doubt, confusion, fear of instability, and anxiety. But the feeling that consistently prevails is gratitude and a sense of privilege in being able to say, “I love what I do.” I am forever indebted to my parents for cultivating this life for me.

Instagram: @namschatte

Other: Email: naomiokadadesu@gmail.com

Image Credits
Sam Pickart, Elaine Baez, Jaehan Pag, T Charles Erickson