​Preface

"Acting is not about being someone different. It’s finding the similarity in what is apparently different, then finding myself in there." - Meryl Streep

To be an actor, you must be completely open to everything that surrounds you. You must observe the world, the people, everything, and let every little moment and every detail touch your soul, body and mind. You must breathe into the deep valley of your soul every experience, and at a certain point, you must also let go. The good experiences and the not so good ones. The cheerful moments in your life, the tough moments, the heartbreaking ones too.

To be an actor you must be in tune with your inner self; you must be sensitive, you must know how to listen. This is such an important and essential part of acting: listening. To truly listen to others, not just wait for your turn to speak. Listening means to be present in that moment, right there. And being present means that you are taking it in, every word, and letting each one of them affect you for real. Listening is not merely hearing. Listening is reacting. Listening is being affected by what you hear. Listening is active. - Michael Shurtleff.

There are so many acting techniques, such great teachers and so many ways to discover yourself as an actor. No right or wrong. And there’s never an end; it’s an endless learning process. Acting is not an easy math equation, like 1 + 1 = 2. Acting is truly connecting to your feelings, to others’ feelings and to one another; connecting to the story that is being told, connecting to the person in front of you, and letting that resonate within you.

I am just at the beginning of my learning process as an actor. And this beginning is what I want to share with you. My path until now as an actor and experiences. My path and growth as a person.

I had the opportunity to study in an acting school in NYC. I lived four years abroad, having incredible moments, learning how to survive, discovering myself, opening parts of me I didn’t even know existed before, feeling joy, sadness, love taking over, passion, pain, compassion, caring, rage… I felt completely alone sometimes, away from my loved ones, tough moments, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Because otherwise, I wouldn’t be who I am today, I wouldn’t have the opportunities I am getting and I wouldn’t be writing this book and sharing my experiences if I hadn’t risked it all, if I hadn’t followed my dreams with faith and determination and faced all the obstacles that came into my path.

Such a long road ahead, but we should never forget why we are where we are now, in the present moment, and how long we’ve walked to get there. We should never stop learning to appreciate and be thankful for everything that happened and all the lessons learned.

I hope you can connect to it. Not only if you are an actor, not only if you are an artist, not only if you want to live in another country. This book is for all the big dreamers out there, for people who like to travel, for people who appreciate art, for all the people who just maybe like to read stories, autobiographies. I am not a famous actress, I am far away from that, but who knows? Maybe five, 10, 20 years from now, or maybe I will just keep working with what I love and sharing my experiences in these 25 years of my life, now, in this book. That’s already a big bonus for me. Maybe in my forties or fifties I will write another one. About my ordinary life.

Welcome aboard.

​Acknowledgments

Thanks to all my friends back home, and around the world. Thanks to my family. Geraldo Pedro Linn, Joana Quintana, Maria Isabel Alves de Campos, Cintia Fowlks, Rovena Zanchet, Grac¸a Cristina Campos, Marcelo Campos, Maria Teresa Campos, Maria Teresa Tschiedel, Marina de Campos Brandão, Maria do Carmo Campos, Luiza Eschiletti, Maria Ame´lia Campos, Maria Inês Campos, Rosa Maria Campos, Paulo Campos, Celso Campos, Zé Cam pos, Laura Hildebrand Campos, Antônia de Campos Varela, Tatiana Linn, Rodrigo de Marsillac Linn, Jane Linn, Suzana Linn, Muaren Porto, Matheus Linn, Lucas Linn, Thiago Linn, Gabriel Linn, Maria Paulina Alencastro, Manoela Alencastro de Moraes, Renato Abensur, Moyses Abensur, Tricia Abensur, Sirlene Abensur, Georgina Gomes de Figueiredo, for all the support and love always. To my producer and his family: Andre Frauenstein, Elbie Frauenstein, Samuel Frauenstein, Sarina Frauenstein, my director: Darrell Roodt and fellow actors Jamie Bernadette, Luthuli Dlamini, Armand Aucamp, Thandi Puren and the incredible crew of The Furnace: Christianne Bennetto, Pieter Georg Du Plessis, Dino Benedetti, Justus De Jager, Nadia Scott, Julene Paton, Charlotte Tardits, Michele Amaral, Haydn Van Zyl, Angi Boshoff, Halala Sabela, Leon Gerber, Hendre Jacobs and everyone who is part of the team and made this dream come true.

To my dear friends that encouraged me so much through this journey: Clarissa De Gonçalves, Paula Lavratti, Débora Pisigodisnki, Denise Dallas, Paula Pieralisi, Jéssyca Divan, Jéssica Barcellos, Bibiana Nodari Borges, Luiza Moron, Reine Swart, Francesca Dolan, Carolina Bueno, David Thomas, Ana Maria Frota Lisboa Pereira de Souza, Fabíola Bothomé, Estela Piccinini, Juliana Luiza Agostini, Ana Paula Silvani, Carolina Brandão, Paloma Gabriel Cavalheiro, Maite Jover Marset, Tatiana Fagundes Fischer, Michelle Prompt Alvarez, Bruna Fuzetti, Clarissa Reschke Martins, Rafael Stiborski, Dani Heindrich, Natasha Heinz, Luiza Mattos, Bruna Burmeister, Bianca Duarte, Kandice Van Gról, Lívia Adams, Jacob Carstens, Sula Zatelli, Douglas Nunes, Douglas Pereira, Christelle Belinga, Vivian Martins Costa, Helly Elisabeth Bowens Pereira, Darby Bixler, Laura Cardoso Derlam, Caio Riter, Juan Jose Gonzalez-Zuazo Contreras, Hanno Van Wyk, Camila Vergara, Andrea De Niemeyer-Depero, Haley Drago, Aline Fioravanso, Bete França, Marthina Levezon, Yng Lng, Patricia Mears, Renata Mendes, Paula Casanova, Sabrina Monique, Sequoia Davis, Sam Kate Green, Elisa Petry, Rosa Maria Murtinho, Carolina Gross, Cristina Gross, André Arteche, Deborah Bapt, Aisha N’Jaye, Ana Paula Nunes, Márcia Ferracini, Renata Ferracini, Martha Sittoni, Tuca Padilha, Raissa Peniche, Giovana Rebelatto, Jonas Souza, Maikel Rosa, Daniel Sasso, Nina Schwab, Dani Suzuki, Dani Faria, Daniella Molon Cecchini, Daniel Dos Santos Tomaz, Dani Valente, Ana Stradiotto, Sabrina Barreto, Fabienne Klotz, Ana Luísa Guedes, Júlia Stradiotto, Eduardo Terra Lopes Simch, Alisha Soper, Andreza Teixeira Ribeiro, Marcello D’Azevedo, Neca Santos, Gary Martin, Michelle Knight, Carol Borne, Marina Coelho Hofmeister, Claudia Pickering, Anna Bennett, Kitty Coufal, Taylor Peer, Laura Krebs, Fernanda Schmitt, Carolina Rosa, Aletéia Selonk, Sarka N. Santos, Neli Costa, Ivana Verle, Susan Pilar, Zenon Kruszelnicki, Burke Pierce, Chris Dolman, Barbara Rubin, Chip Killingsworth, Becca Landis McLartis, Sheila Bandyopadhyay, Angela Nahigian, Todd Peters, Jim DeMonic, Chátila Far, Fernanda Kayser Maciel, Gabi Fleck, Sula Zatelli, Flavia Amon, Marc Aden Gray, Lara Bitencourt, Madalena Bitencourt, Carolina Burin, Marcia Ghignatti, Roberta Sant’Anna Volkart, Rose Ganguzza, Patricia Ganguzza, Paula Taiteulbaum, Graziella Calvano Ferst, Rafaela Teló Klaus, Antonio Grolla, Bibiana Picon, Fernanda De Almeida Lewin, Isabella Zanin, Paulo Nascimento, Carminha Beck, Rachel Zapata, Luiziane Brusa da Costa, James Liberato, Lalá Aranha, Elisa Petry, Sara Cicalo, Joana Trindade, Gabriela Jacques da Silva, Lu´cia Magnus Marques, Bruna Paranhos, Nelsa Cardoso, Bruno Wasconcellos Roncolato, Leticia Ribeiro, Camila Barbosa, Lucas Milhomem Valim Ferreira, Jessica Cotton, Jerri Tubbs, Toni Tingle and Erica Bier. My dear therapist who have helped me so much on my journey: Bruna Holst. Also last but very important: To my incredible editor from Mereo Books: Chris Newton, without him this book would never be made.

And all the friends and people that I didn’t mentioned but who were such a big part of my journey, and who gave me so much love and support during these 26 years.

​Introduction

For the past four years, since I moved from my home town in Brazil to the US, I have had this desire to write a book, an autobiography of my own experiences and thoughts, along with funny and dramatic stories from my ordinary life. However I have never had the courage to actually think it could work out, or that I would be able to express my feelings or pass along some advice for you out there who might be reading it.

My mom said when I told her I was writing a book: Laura, what? But you are not a writer, you are an actress. I know it sounds harsh, but that was her first reaction. I didn’t study to be a writer, but I’ve always loved reading and writing.

I wanted to share my experiences as an actor so far. I know there’s so much ahead of me, so much to learn as an actor, as a person, but maybe some of the things I lived already can click to someone who’s reading and help their path, give some light in the way, who knows? But here am I, putting it out there for you.

After I moved to the US, I kept a journal. Every day I would write about my experiences, fun moments and difficulties living abroad. I took all those journals and started reading them one by one, highlighting the moments I thought were more meaningful and then developing them afterwards. So well, here it is, after my notebooks were all joined together. My stories and adventures. My dreams and obstacles. My qualities and flaws. My life written in a book, in which I have put my heart and soul.

I guess I have some things to share about what I’ve learned so far, and I just hope that you out there can connect to some parts of it. And enjoy the ride with me.

​Chapter 1

Beginnings

I guess I should start telling a little bit about me. No, I’m not a famous actor, Oscar nominee or anything like that. I’m just a beginner, a working actress who does what she loves the most. It’s not about the prizes, it’s not about being famous, it’s about the job and what you invest in it. The secret I’ve learned so far is that you should not give up, you should dream big, work your ass off, give 120%, all you’ve got and put yourself out there, work hard and the results will come. It’s about trying, and trying again, and again. Even if you fail 100 times, it’s better than the feeling of realizing years later that you shouldn’t have given up on the things you wanted so much. So why shouldn’t you have high hopes and believe that you are on the right path? You really should.

I am not a famous writer either, and that’s not my goal, though I do love writing. I have been writing, and reading, since I was little. But my goal with this book is to share what I’ve learned so far and my journey as a human being and actress.

My full name is Laura de Campos Linn, but I just use Laura Linn as an actress or to present myself to people. My mom is still kind of mad at me about that, since I am not using her last name, de Campos, which is very Portuguese. Sorry, mom. In Brazil we are used to having two last names, instead of first and middle name.

I was born in this not-so-small but not-so-big city called Porto Alegre (‘Happy Harbor’, in English). Interesting name, right? It’s in the south of Brazil. Our state, Rio Grande do Sul, makes border with two important countries of South America: Argentina and Uruguay. Porto Alegre is close to two of my favorite cities in the world, Gramado and Canela. There’s a European vibe there, cozy, cute little houses, coffee shops, best meat and chocolate fondue ever. I give my word on this. And