Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Szymoniak.
Taylor, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Growing up, I trained professionally at various Ballet Companies in Georgia and Colorado, and continued my training as I transitioned into Competitive Dance at an Award-Winning Studio, in Illinois. This creativity allowed me to view the world in a less serious light, and through the eyes of an artist. However, leading into my Sophomore year of high school, I was diagnosed with a rare disease that greatly affected my back, so training at such a rigorous level was not an option anymore. Hearing these words felt like my relationship with dance would be over. After 16 years of intense training, I would have to find a new love and new passion. Fortunately, my mother, who is and will always be my number one supporter, helped me discover new avenues to pursue my artistic passions. This is when my chapters to acting on-screen began. At the time, we had lived near Chicago, so I had researched any opportunity I could, to dive right into the industry, allowing me to work on series like FX’s “The Bear” and CW’s “The 4400”, as a featured background actor. From that moment on, I fell in love with the world of Film and Television, and wanted to see how far I could go to pursue this new love of mine. Shortly after my newfound love was created, we moved to Arizona, making Los Angeles my neighbor; and soon-to-be favorite place. I was grateful enough to book a role that worked for a month and a half, out in Hollywood Hills, on Amazon Prime’s “Candy Cane Lane,” as a Recurring Featured Background Actor. Being able to surround myself with all of these creative artists, for over a month opened my eyes to the idea that I could do this as a career. So, I started training weekly with my acting coaches at Dearing Acting Studio in Phoenix and researching the potential colleges I could go to. This lead me to where I am today, a freshman at the Savannah College of Art and Design studying Acting with a minor in Film/Television.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Everyone’s journey in the acting industry will look different, no matter the starting place, and that is something that every actor has to learn and remind themselves. With my journey in particular, I have been very blessed with the opportunities that I have been given and that still await me. Although I have been on many amazing productions, the struggle for myself in this career has been the reality of it all, and how this industry is not a stable career. With that being said, I do my best to find other hobbies outside of acting and filming to pursue. Also, separating myself from my career by relaxing in nature, almost like a reset. The rejection from casting directors or the strenuous filming schedules can take a toll on each person’s mind, so to prevent some of that, I like to find myself in nature at least once a week to take time to be by myself, reflect on what has been going on in my life, and people watch; taking time to detach from the constant spinning world of acting. This then gives my mind a clear space for my work and my body to be able to continue in such a demanding career.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work as an Actor varies greatly between the various roles I have played and varies between both on-screen and on-stage. Most, if not all of my work makes me proud. I am proud of every win, and even the tiniest role makes me just as proud as being cast as the lead. Specifically, working on Amazon Prime’s “Candy Cane Lane” and my first lead in the short film, “Curtain Call”, would be some of my most memorable moments. With “Candy Cane Lane”, I think I was most proud of the fact that I was able to book this role and then work as a Minor on this mega-budget film, while gaining respect from all of the adults around me. It was the first time that I was able to see myself working in this field, and I believe it was solely because of the specific human beings that I had the pleasure of working with on that set. The cast and crew combined were some of my favorite people because not only would they make sure that I was safe, but they also went out of their way to educate me on certain film areas that I was interested in. Now, with “Curtain Call”, it became my first film as a lead, on-screen, and it created this sense of responsibility to my name, in my eyes. This role taught me how to be flexible with everyone around me, regardless of the task at hand, and how to act alongside other actors while being the focal point of the film. Each production that I have been a part of has given me the opportunity to learn more and educate myself as an actor, filmmaker, and as a human, and I believe that’s what sets me apart from the other artists in this field. With every audition I receive, every role I book, every set I’m on, I give 110% of myself to that piece of work, and continue to give my work with my passion to continue to grow as an actor. I want to continue to learn in this industry and continue to absorb the information that I learn while on this journey, separating me from the others who choose not to soak in the opportunities that they are fortunate enough to have. In the end, your work is portrayed by your effort, and if you’ve put in the work and are present in the moment, you can grow in your field and feel fulfilled in life.
Some of the works that I would like to be known for, in the future, would be an actor who portrays stories that need to be told, stories that others are too afraid to share. Films and series such as “Woman of the Hour” or “Unbelievable” have caught my eye and have inspired me to want to explore the raw and the discomfort in order to share a story with the world that people need to hear and take action on. I want these stories to speak volumes and make viewers sit back afterward and have a moment to themselves to think about what they just watched.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Something that many people do not know about me is that I am diagnosed with Juvenile Ankylosing Spondylitis, due to its invisible symptoms. JAS is a form of arthritis that is hard to diagnose in general, let alone in children. For me, it took 4 years for a doctor to finally place a name to what I was feeling, and still to this day, creates a mountain that I have to climb. This rare disease is a chronic illness, meaning that it does not have a cure, and that I will be living with JAS for the rest of my life. Many people do not know this about me, because the symptoms are invisible on the outside, but they are present for me. On a day-to-day basis, my struggles are small, which I am grateful for, as others have similar chronic illnesses much worse than mine. However, when JAS decides to be a big part of my day, it creates barriers for me in what I can do, and limits me on activities that I normally would do. With JAS, I’ve learned how to reach out and ask for help and how to be vulnerable with other people in my life (I can thank acting for that one). This form of arthritis has shaped me into a more resilient person and built me to be stronger, taking on the day with a little extra strapped on my back, and not letting it stop me from pursuing my aspirations.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylorszymoniak/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078787736360
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-szymoniak-a03b3a330/
