Meet Yelena Friedman | Actor/Content Creator

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

Hi Yelena, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Right after I graduated high school at 17, I moved to New York to pursue acting head on. I decided to be in an acting conservatory rather than go to a traditional college. I didn’t know many people there besides my older brother who was going to NYU at the time. So making friends and being away from most of my family, was really hard at the start. I had moved to New York from Portland, Oregon, so I had no idea what to expect across the country! All I knew is that I wanted to act, and I wanted to work on my craft. One of the biggest turning points of my life during that time was being rejected from my dream agency. Which sounds bad, (and felt bad at the time, haha) But that ultimately lead me to take more risks and to start creating my own content! All of a sudden, inside of me to show what I was capable of on my own. And then quarantine hit and I continued to create. 3 years later, the same agency reached out to me (after seeing my content online) and told me if I came to LA they would sign me. And if they hadn’t rejected me 3 years ago, I may not have been as driven to show that I could create my own work – which ended up catching their eye (and others) later on! Life is all about risk. It’s scary but you never know what can come from putting yourself out there.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am an actor and content creator (mainly on Tiktok). What sets me apart from other creators is that I am multifaceted. I create unique and fun characters and do both comedy and drama! I really love what I do and I feel so lucky to have known what I’ve wanted to do from such a young age. I have always loved acting and always been so addicted to it. Story telling is really powerful and being able to make people feel something is magic. That and I’m also terrible at math ;). But seriously.. My family and my close friends know, I am a dog on a bone when it comes to working haha! I am extremely driven and continuously thinking about what’s next. I also like to try new things (characters, skits etc) and I think not just doing one thing continuously- but instead, always trying to switch it up, has helped me.
I sometimes have a hard time finding the balance between wanting to make art and wanting to make something “successful”. Especially on platforms like Tiktok where you can see immediately what ideas get more likes and views as opposed to others – it’s super easy to get distracted by that and forget to just make the content you like and want to make, regardless of the likes.
But I truly believe and have experienced in the past – that the times I have felt most successful, are the times I have created something that I really loved and had fun making. No matter what though, I love acting and always will! 🙂

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?
Oh me oh my. Let’s go through a hypothetical day, shall we? Breakfast : Aroma to get some iced vanilla oatmilk lattes and yummy breaky.
Maybe follow up breakfast by going to a nice little view point in the hills. That or, thrifting. I love thrifting and my favorite spots are Buffalo Exchange and Crossroads.
Other ideas: I love the beach – don’t have a favorite yet! I also have recently gotten into hiking with my friends and there are beautiful hikes all around LA.
Lunch/Dinner : My favorite spot currently is called HomeState. Which is great for tacos and spicy palomas (they have the best palomas there!!)
If we wanted to hit a bar or get drinks after : My friends and I often go to The Thirsty Merchant or Idol Hour! The Sherman also has a really cool, cute speakeasy bar at the top of it that my friends and I like to go to!

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 am insanely lucky to have an incredible support system. I’d like to shout out my family, for being so incredibly inspirational and amazing creatives themselves.. My friends, who are the funniest most caring people and make living in LA a dream! My amazing acting teacher, Doug, who has helped me grow as an actor and as a person.. and finally, My reps who always have believed in me and continue to fight for me.

Website: https://yelenafriedman.sellfy.store/music-merch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yelena_friedman/?hl=en

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC10yhspzyj-GhRmpLbLXA-A

Other: Tiktok : https://www.tiktok.com/@yelenafriedman?lang=en Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/track/2strVYrrpXk6ycJdK7SVM4?autoplay=true