Behind the Breakout: Best of Editions 1-10

There's no shortage of interviews with actors out there in the world. We aren't the first — and certainly won't be the last — to produce such content.

However, our lil' series does stand apart in one significant way: these features are exclusively by actors, with actors, for actors. We care 0% about the glitz or gossip, and 100% about celebration and candid conversation. 'Coz goodness knows us actors could do with feeling a little more seen and supported in this industry.

As we did with our #Verified Best of mashup, we're celebrating ten editions of Behind the Breakout with a mic-freaking-drop quote from each interview. We hope you find each as 🔥🔥🔥 as we did.

On perspective

• "A lot of people think [acting] is everything. It's really not. Not in a bad way, but it's a job, you know? ... Some people want the fame, but it's an occupational hazard sometimes. Not all the time, but sometimes. I think we need to be more clear about glamorising it in this way because it's just smoke and mirrors. It's fun, and I love it, and I'm so happy to do it. It's just, 'All that glitters is not gold'." ~ Danielle Vitalis
• "I don't want anyone to ever feel upset that they put their life on hold for this industry. This industry is great — it's lovely, it's got beautiful people — but it's tough. You sacrifice a lot. You sacrifice your time, your energy, your relationships... I didn't go on holidays for probably ten years because I was so locked in ... If you were to ask me if I'd do things differently? Yeah, I would have put myself first, rather than this industry first." ~ Bally Gill

On the work

• "Never give yourself a reason why not to do something ... If you don't know people, get to know [them]. If you haven't been in that building, go to the building. We're all the same. "I don't know what I'm doing" — nobody knows what they're doing. "I don't have any money" — no one has any money. None of those reasons are actually valid. It's so easy for us to give ourselves reasons why not. Give yourself the reason why." ~ Ann Akinjirin
• "If you are getting a successful result — that is, booking work — then you have to look at the actions that got you to that result. Often, people obtaining a high degree of success for the first time will then start to change up how they operate their business and stop doing the actions that got them there, but I'd say that the key is to actually continue doing the actions that lead to that success in the first place." ~ Freya Tingley

On rejection

• "Headspace-wise, I try and shift the energy onto the next thing. It doesn't seem to sting as much [now], although it does sting. I cry if I need to. I don't try and be strong. I'll give myself that window. I think it's good to get it out and then move on as fast as you can." ~ Kate Lister
• "Handling rejection well is something you have to practice, and although it gets easier to deal with, no one is hiding the fact that it hurts. A teacher once told me: 'Allow yourself to go to the pity party but don't outstay your welcome'. Let yourself be a little gutted — it's because you cared, you worked hard — but then you have to simply… let it go." ~ Jemma Carlton

On success

• "Don't let fickle internet opinions and popularity dictate your self-worth. Within the first two weeks of The Wilds airing, my Instagram went from 1,500 followers to 100,000 ... Social media can be such a fantastic tool, but don't let it run your life. The only thing that really matters is the love from your friends, your family, and yourself." ~ Shannon Berry
• "I now think success is making enough money to live on and doing work you care about and enjoy. Some of the actors whose careers I admire the most now don't have a lot of those things that I would have idealised [previously]. And a lot of people I speak to who have those things — it's not necessarily what it appears to be." ~ Sam Baker-Jones

On being an artist

• "Expand your artistic sensibilities! For a long time, I thought, "I want to be dedicated to acting. I don't want to be a jack of all trades and a master of none". That was a delusion. It was when I started to expand my artistic sensibilities and learn writing that not only did I have an amazing creative outlet, but I actually became a better actor. If you're an artist, you're probably an artist on many levels." ~ Michael Nikou
• "I once had a long period where I did around 70 tapes and had no yeses. So I definitely know what it feels like to hear nos! For me, other creative interests help. I picked up painting and photography and finally took the plunge to start writing and pursue directing." ~ Molly Harris

Big love to all our guests for their time. If you'd like to learn more about an individual's work or say hello, tap their name to be taken to the full interview. If you do reach out, let them know you're a Dojo amigo 👊🏼

Thoughts / feedback / challenges? We'd genuinely love to hear.

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