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

Hi Shayla, why did you pursue a creative career?
Being creative and artistic has always been in my blood. Even as a child, I was constantly daydreaming about a cinematic life and imagining this fantasy world. I felt at home with other creatives and people with minds like mine. It felt safe and right for me. So I continued with my passion and will continue to be creative until I die

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
For me, and I’m sure many others, this is a long game. You don’t just jump into an acting career and become a mega-star. Unless you’re a nepo baby. But for most of us, this is a career that doesn’t happen overnight and you have to work every day at it. It’s exhausting and draining, but so much fun and so worth it when you finally find your people and you get to perform. You have to push through the fear, the exhaustion, and the hurdles, to reach a point where you know your craft inside and out. As long as you are doing a little something in your craft every single day, you are successful.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d say we’d first hit up my new favorite cafe which is the OG cafe in WeHo. It’s a lovely little spot where you can sit and enjoy brunch and a cannabis treat. Then we’d head over to Book Soup because I love browsing for books and they usually have a lot of upcoming events you can go to. For dinner I’d say we hit the Melrose Rooftop Theatre because I LOVE sitting outside and enjoying a movie, especially something spooky.

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’d say all the fierce females that came before me and blazed the creative path. I’m obsessed with reading autobiographies of big-name women like Diane Keaton, Carol Burnett, Amy Poehler, Britney Spears, and Helen Mirren. I love learning about their life experiences and seeing how they forged a path for themselves and grew up as wonderful creative minds. They gave me hope and inspiration, so I’d say I’m very grateful for fierce women who follow their hearts and creativity.

Website: https://www.shaylatharp.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaylatharp_/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shayla-tharp/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shaylatharp?lang=en

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVWayE2PpjEBnDdonwQwJTw

Image Credits
Yellow Belly photography, Candid Studios, Fausti Films

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