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

Hi Yulie, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I am a firm believer that nothing great comes without risk! My coming to the United States was a huge risk. About 8 years ago, I received a scholarship to come over here and pursue my M.F.A. in theatre, without any guarantee for future employment or financial stability. And I left behind – in Greece – a great apartment, a stable job and a good income. And it proved to be one of the best decisions I ever made in my life. My advise to everyone: TAKE THE RISK! if it works, it will be the best thing that happened in your life. If it doesn’t, you will have learned a great lesson about yourself.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art!!!!…..Let’s see! I can not describe myself as one thing, I describe myself as a storyteller of many media. I am an actor, a Flamenco dancer, an architect, a musician (occasionally) and I recently found a way to combine all my passions in one: I write and illustrate stories! And this is something fairly new for me. I recently published two books which I wrote and illustrated: ‘The Diary of a Weird* Child’ and ‘The King’s Special Spice’, and you know that everything new is exciting and scary at the same time. Exciting because it’s a new creation, a new way of expression, and scary because it forced me to exit my comfort zone. Especially with ‘The Diary of a Weird* Child’ where the subject is very delicate and personal, it took a lot of thinking and doubt and uncertainty before I actually went public.
But, I do believe that storytellers are there to ‘tell the story’ and this is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. This is how I overcome any doubt and fear associated with a new challenge. I simply go back to the basics: The need to tell the story.
I know many actors who are very shy and introvert, and when they find themselves on stage, they completely transform, simply because of their need to ‘tell the story’.
My brand and my story is what my late mentor Sam Christensen described: ‘Like Gravity. One of those forces that can not be stopped’.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Here’s a list of the places I would take someone who has never visited L.A. before: Venice and Santa Monica, 3rd street promenade for a walk and hang out, the Hollywood walk of fame, Rodeo Drive, the Farmer’s Market and Grove, the Sunset strip, Pershing Square and the surroundings, The Last Bookstore, one my favorite places to hang out, Los Feliz and Griffith Park, and I would stop for a bite at Alcove, and then it depends…If they are interested in places like Disneyland or the Universal Studios! L.A. has a lot of things to do, it’s just a matter of taste!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to give a shout out to the people I met here in the United States, those who have been continuously supporting me in the past 8 years with their hospitality and generosity, the Dell’Arte School for both of their scholarships which allowed me to come to California and pursue a second Masters Degree, my close friends who are always present in my life and my late mentor Sam Christensen for his insight and encouragement.

Website: www.yiouliarchontaki.com

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yiouli.archontaki

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeXoyRhc4sGs7YvAbMINX5Q

Other: affiliated account of facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Yulie.The.Storyteller affiliated account on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yulie_the_storyteller/

Image Credits
Photo Credits: Richard Michael Johnson, Maria Proios Photography

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