Today we’d like to introduce you to Hristiana Soula.
Hi Hristiana, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My tale begins in the town of Ozieri, on the island of Sardinia, Italy to an American father and a Greek-American mother; my background gave me the ability to speak multiple languages growing up, as I also attended Italian school. Being part of a military family, we would move around every three years. I grew up in Italy and Spain during those formative times and would often stay with family in Greece for vacations, the Mediterranean sea never too far.
I watched a lot of cartoons, particularly anime dubbed in Italian such as Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, Pokemon, Digimon and more. It was easy to get lost in daydreams, being an only child. When I was introduced to the Nintendo 64, it was game over! Having another realm to lose myself in was amazing, so I became entrenched in videogames and never looked back. I would draw a lot of my favorite characters and at one point had the desire to become a cartoon animator. The need to tell stories eventually developed into an interest in film – camera work, editing, and the like. At age 14, I had the opportunity to make my own commercial, so I made one about a banana phone, of which I even did the voice for. My interest continued, but there was something else missing which begged to be cultivated, and that was my passion for acting. I had done a play in pre-school wherein I portrayed “The Very Hungry Catepillar”, based on the book from Eric Carle, and strangely enough hadn’t had the opportunity to be in any more plays for a long time, even though I had liked acting out stories with my friends. It wasn’t until I performed Shakespeare’s famous soliloquy “Hamlet” in high school literature class to positive reception that it had solidified my desire to pursue acting in college.
After graduating in Naples, Italy, I went on to live in the USA and attend the University of Texas in San Antonio, where I took part in the “The Vagina Monologues” play by Eve Ensler. This experience, combined with video production class, ultimately gave me the push I needed to seriously pursue an agent. It was not the easiest thing in the world since I didn’t know anyone in the business, nor did I know where to even begin. I had much networking to do.
There was a period of time where I did runway modeling and worked as a pageant judge for NAAM (National American Miss), which was a ton of fun. After these experiences, I felt that I needed to seriously reign in what I wanted to do in terms of my career, and I had finally found a great fit in my agency Acclaim Talent. Since then, I’ve been able to land jobs in commercials and audition for television shows, as well as even star in and produce my own content. I am now also pursuing voiceover work, with the hopes of working on some of my favorite series one day (Final Fantasy)…! Let’s manifest it right now!
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?
It’s definitely been a journey for sure. Not having anyone in my immediate family be in show business makes it so that I am the first one, with myself as my biggest support system no less! I’m learning everything through trial and error. Sometimes I look back and think I could have achieved a goal so much quicker if I knew then what I know now, but then again that is all part of the learning process, which is always an uphill battle. I’ve definitely been on a set for hours on end in not the best conditions for little to no pay, crashed on friend’s couches overnight for shoots the next morning, and I’ve also struggled at just finding fellow creatives who I can trust in this business. Being at the mercy of other people’s egos on indie projects can be tricky, and some can undervalue the on-camera talent. Everyone has their own perceptions, but it’s important to remember that as actresses, we should be just as valued as much as everyone else is on a project from onset to creation, bringing our own unique experiences and viewpoints to the table. Just getting seen by the right people can also feel like a daunting task. To actually increase your chances of getting the job, you have to actually go through many “No”s. Part of it is a numbers game but the other part is taking those rejections in stride and knowing when it’s time to stop and look inward at what you can improve upon. Sometimes getting in your head too much can be the one thing that can kill your experience with the audition, and that’s something I’ve had to learn, being lost in my own thoughts a lot.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a multilingual actress and filmmaker prepared to go wherever the story leads.
Most recently, you can find me in a “Gym” State Farm commercial with Jake and in the instructional video for new Keller Williams trainees. I have also worked with brands such as Spotify, Cisco, and Conn’s Homeplus, as well as starred in short films put together by many talents; recent ones being “Forgotten Ashes” by directing duo Chronicles of Pheonix and “What’ll You Have?” by Kris Serold. I’ve produced two of my own works so far, “ASCENDANCE” and “MASQUERADE”, and have had the pleasure of winning accolades for both in several film festivals. I am proud of any work I have the privilege of participating in, especially if my aim while portraying the character translated well to the screen! I believe what helps me stand out from the crowd is my eccentricity, being able to have fun with different genres, and my willingness to tell a story no matter the good, the bad, or the weird. All are a necessary part of the human experience.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
There is no greater joy than being able to express another side of myself that other people do not always have the pleasure of seeing, whether that be a fantastical creature, an alien abductee, or someone more down to “earth”. Greater still is the joy of honing in on my own idiosyncrasies and transferring them to my interpretation of the character.
What is also important is leaving a positive mark in every aspiration that I have, creative or otherwise. Did I learn something from it? Perhaps a new way of being? It’s important to me that I try, even if every time isn’t a success so that I don’t become stagnant. Stagnation is the killer of creation. Most of all, integrity is important. Did it ring true for me? Did it fulfill me? I make sure everything I take on is significant to me in some way, thereby fulfilling my soul. I’m also a big proponent of advocating for yourself and standing up for who you are, even if others don’t show you the same respect. Know yourself and honor your background; a big part of who we are is rooted in where we come from. For me, that comes in the form of staying connected to my Greek roots by listening to Greek music throughout my day or eating the food that my mom cooks, one of my favorite dishes being trahana soup. Of course, I wouldn’t be anything without having other beings to share my day with, and my Pekingese Mina and Chihuahua(?) Zorro surely keeps me on my toes. Lastly, I pay close attention to my bodily health since it’s the only one I have in this life, and it’s one of my greatest instruments for acting. I aim to be fit and healthy, even in old age. Work it!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hristianasoula.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kira_mou/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hristianasoula
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/HristianaSoula
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnAnm8kyiK8jRVj9ZoYxLyQ
Image Credits
ABM Photography, Leonardo Reyes, Carlos Diaz, Patrick Murguia, Jeremiah Brite, Troy Romo, Jeremiah Brite, Charlie Pearce, Charlie Pearce
