Meet Tatsumi Romano | Actress and Advocate

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

Hi Tatsumi, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I think one of the biggest risks we can take professionally is fully putting ourselves out there. When you put yourself out there for something you are passionate about, there is naturally a risk of disappointment and rejection. Risk-taking has always felt intimidating to me, but there is little room for growth without taking that chance. I’ve lived on my own since I was 17, so moving to the West Coast right after my 19th birthday was a big risk for me. I questioned whether I could support myself in a big city, and also knew that taking the risk would involve a great deal of determination and commitment. There was no way of knowing exactly how things would turn out when I moved. However, I am now appreciative that I took that risk. I feel like I have learned a lot and am closer to the person I would like to become personally and professionally.

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.
I am originally from New York City and moved to LA right after I turned 19. It was a somewhat spontaneous decision; I had been working and living on my own in Georgia during the two years before that. However, I have always been drawn to exploring and seeing new places, so it felt like a natural progression for me. As for my professional path, I have been passionate about both acting and the mental health field for a long time. A few months after I moved to LA, I worked on a film called Ladyworld (an Official Selection of BFI London Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival’s Frontières Platform). Over the past year, I have shifted from film and television work to mainly doing commercials. Some of my shoots over the past few months were for Carl’s Jr., Arco/AMPM, Better Help, etc. Staying involved creatively through commercial work has been a fun way to balance acting with my graduate school schedule with my day job as a counselor at a treatment center. Ultimately, I’d love to continue finding ways to incorporate both creative expression and clinical work into my life.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m still a New Yorker at heart, so I love going on long walks even without a specific destination in mind. The first place I would take them would be Silverlake in LA. There are so many delicious food spots and I love how close you are to Echo Park. I would also take them to Griffith Park for a hike and to see some of the best views of LA. There is also nothing that beats a drive along the coast with great sunset views.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people who have helped me and supported me. My social worker growing up has been one of the most influential and inspirational individuals in my life. She showed me grace, compassion, and perseverance when I didn’t have many adult role models in my life. I fully credit her for my academic and personal achievements and for helping me believe in myself.

Website: www.imdb.com/name/nm3795317/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/tatsumiromano/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/tatsumiromano

Youtube: www.youtube.com/tatsumiromano

Other: Vsco: www.vsco.co/tatsumiromano/gallery