Rachel Alig
Rachel Alig is an American actress, host and model who has appeared in many adverts, films and television shows throughout her career so far. Rachel trained at the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music, and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Electronic Media. Whilst in college, Rachel worked freelance at CNN during the summer and earned a spot as a nightly news anchor for WTOK.
She has appeared in commercials advertising for the likes of Oasis Legal, Mattel Hot Wheels, IPM Group and Car Champs One, among others. Some of her film and television roles including Hot Tub Sleeper Picks (2009), Beverly Hills Ghost Club (2011), The Men Next Door (2012), The Elisted (2012), Morgue (2013), Gridlocked (2014) and Bachelor Night (2014).
Rachel also has many more projects currently in post-production that comprise of Lori Sheedy, F*** You (2015), At Granny's House (2015), Desperate Losers (2015), The Final Table (2015 and Kill Me Once (2016), to name just a few.
I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity of interviewing Rachel to speak with her about her life and her career.
SN: Hello Rachel, welcome to Screen Nut. Thank you for joining me and taking time out of your schedule. You have an impressive back-catalogue of appearances in film, television and advertisement, and I'm always interested in how people got started. How did you find yourself going down this career path and when did it all start?
Rachel: Mike, you are such a rock Star! You do not need to thank me; I'm happy you considered me worthy of an interview.
I find myself navigating through Los Angeles, driving to set, and staring up at the blue skies and palm trees. I can't help but grin, knowing that I'm going to work when it doesn't feel like work at all. Loving what I do for a living is one of the greatest blessings of my life.
I first started taking theater and acting classes when I was eight years old. I had a talent agent in Cincinnati, close to where I grew up, who got me local work. Eventually, I started getting gigs in Chicago, Florida, and elsewhere. That's when I realized I was able and willing to pursue this as a career.
I've now been in Los Angeles, California a little over four years and the city feels like home. The first two years I spent educating myself on the business, exploring the audition and casting scenes, and learning the ropes. Although I recognize I still have a lot more learning and growth to be had, the past two years have been much more prosperous. I am now what the entertainment business considers a working actor; I can live off of my acting jobs. I credit that mainly to my work ethic and professionalism. Essentially, I don't ever have a day off. I'm either filming, auditioning, going to class, or updating my materials. And quite frankly, I wouldn't have it any other way!
SN: Thank you, that's very kind of you to say. So you said you started acting classes at eight years old; you must have had some great support behind you from family and such. Is acting something that comes from family inspiration or is it just the result of a natural born passion?
Rahel: Acting is by far my deepest passion. I believe it stems from a natural born love of performing, storytelling, and human beings. My need to feel and emote is quite simply, a piece of me.
That doesn't go without saying that my family definitely inspired me along the way. My parents strongly encouraged the arts to be a part of my life as well as my brother's life. Throughout my youth, into my teenage years, and into my adult life I took acting classes, dance classes, piano lessons, and chorus. Beyond that, whenever I was with my friends or cousins, we were always putting on some type of production; whether it be a play or a dance number, we were always creating some type of show.
I feel beyond grateful that my family, specifically my parents, recognized the natural born performer that I was and fostered that. There is a fire and passion in me that must be released. I am blessed to be able to do that and have the support of my closest peers and family.
SN: You seem like a very upbeat and positive person, and you come across as having a enthusiastic and romantic approach to your career. Was there ever a time when you started to doubt whether this was the right path for you?
Rachel: What can I say? I'm a romantic at heart! The truth is, I can't do anything unless I'm passionate about it and I believe in it. Sometimes it feels like a blessing other Times a curse. That's just the type of person I am though. I'm either committed 100% or not.
My first two years in Los Angeles there was a lot of self-doubt. I was new to the scene, I wasn't booking as consistently as I had hoped, and I had a lot of learning to do about the overall business.
Thankfully, over the past two years I have been able to mentally eliminate that doubt. I am more confident as an actor; I understand my skill set, the potential for greater things, and the path in which I aim to keep pursuing. Whether or not I get a huge 'break', has become irrelevant. I now understand that I can maintain this career as a working actor. That in itself is a beautiful thing.
With all of that being said, I do realize that there will be ups and downs. The entertainment business can feel like the ultimate roller coaster. But I've come to understand that that can be the case for any line of work and life in general. I'm willing to accept the lows with the highs, as long as I get to pursue what I love.
SN: That's a great attitude to it. You've done your fair share of both comedic and dramatic roles. I always find that comedians tend to make the best dramatic actors. Do you favour one genre more than the other, and which one sits more naturally with you?
Rachel: Yes, I am very fortunate that casting, directors, and productions have allowed me to bounce back-and-forth between dramatic and comedic roles. Truthfully, I do not favor one genre over the other. I find both of them to be exhilarating. Whether it's drama or comedy, the goal is the same: to give truth to your performance.
If you had asked me three years ago if I find comedy or drama to be more natural, I would've said comedy instantaneously. However, I now find myself falling into both Genres with equal confidence and ease. Presently, I am much more grounded as a person and as an actor. With that type of stronger foundation, I found that dramatic roles have translated into my life and into my art much more fluidly. It is my greatest hope that I can carry comedic and dramatic roles throughout the rest of my career.
SN: So let's talk about your career; You have so many projects out this year it's hard to keep up with them all. Tell me about At Granny's House, to begin with.
Rachel: At Granny's house was a wonderful creative experience. It's a psychological thriller that comes together full circle after many unexpected twist and turns. It's a smart script that I think will translate well onto the big screen.
Fortunately, I was cast as the lead role, Rebecca. During preproduction, I worked extensively with the director/writer, Les Mahoney, to properly develop my character into the complex person she is. Our main goal, was to incorporate the light and the dark elements of Rebecca. At Granny's house is a strong character piece, so it was important to remember both of these characteristics when entering every single scene.
We shot the film in Haxtun, Colorado, which was perfect because the movie itself navigates the misgivings of small town activities. My favorite parts of at Granny's house are the strange, yet unique relationships that develop. Underneath what looks like typical human interaction from an outsiders point of view, are vastly different dynamics and intentions.
At Granny's house is having its Colorado premiere in May 2015. Soon after, it will premiere in Los Angeles.
SN: What was it like working with the great Glenda Morgan Brown?
Rachel: Glenda is HILARIOUS! She was always so on point and well-prepared. If you give that woman the freedom to improvise, she can come up with some brilliant material.
By the end of the shoot, Glenda and I had become good friends. My respect for her is very high; I respect her as a human being and I respect her as an actor. I shared rather personal details with Glenda. Thankfully, she trusted me enough to do the same. I'm happy to say that Glenda and I had a blast while filming and bonded offset.
SN: Tell me about some of your other upcoming films, and which are you most excited about for your fans to see?
Rachel: I must say, I am most excited for my fans and a general audience to see LAST CALL AT MURRAY'S. This film was made with such love and enthusiasm that I can't wait to share it with the world. It was a large ensemble cast that consisted of entertainment veterans and new up and comers. Either way, the chemistry, respect, professionalism, and talent excited by the entire cast was definitely special. That also goes for the amazing crew, producers, and all involved. Not only was the making of the film personally and professionally rewarding, the script and the characters involved are superb.
SEX AND THE SINGLE ALIEN premiered in Los Angeles in February of this year. It will have a week long theatrical run throughout the city a well starting March 20th. I am so pleased to have had the female lead in this and share it with the cast and writer-director. This independent film was hugely collaborative and at the end of the day, I think we made a very funny movie. There is nothing better than creating laughter in a theater!
SN: Last Call at Murray's sounds like a great character-driven comedy, and a great opportunity for each individual actor to shine and show their talents. How much freedom are you given as an actor on a film like this, in regards to your script?
Rachel: Personally, once a film starts shooting, I like to stick to the script. At that point, writers have already gone through multiple drafts, directors and producers have also analyzed the script, and hopefully, actors have taken the time to look at their dialogue thoroughly. If I have questions or concerns regarding my character's dialogue I try to bring that up in advance.
Brian Beatty and Betsy Hannis Morris co-wrote, LAST CALL AT MURRAY'S. It was clearly a labor of love. Brian was on set every day and Betsy visited quite often as well. Anytime I or another actor did have questions about the intent or motivation of a line, they were happy to discuss.
SN: You seem to be constantly on the go. What do you do to relax?
Rachel: Work begets work. Love begets love. Kindness begets kindness. I truly believe you get what you give. I try to always be doing something to move and grow forward.
Down time is also hugely important. As an actor, my tool is me. In order to thrive and perform at my best, I must give myself time to relax. I'm just like a batter; I deliver awesome results when I'm charged, but when I need energy, I must recharge! I find walking to be my greatest mental therapy. It's a time when my body, mind, and soul are all active together. Physically, I'm moving, my mind is clear, and I'm aware of what my soul is feeling. Plus, it can be fun with friends. I also love hiking, dance class, and just spending quality time with my friends. Of course, going to the movies is always a treat!!! I honestly would rather stay in on a Friday night and read a wonderful book next to a fireplace than anything else. What can I say? I'm an old soul.
SN: What would be your absolute dream role and why?
Rachel: My dream role will be the ultimate challenge. When this type of role comes into my life it shouldn't be easy and I don't want it to be. I want it to be physically challenging, emotionally challenging, and mentally challenging. The beauty of acting is that it forces you to be so open that you can feel emotions that are foreign to you and quite possibly undesirable. That's exactly what I want. I want my mind, heart, and soul to have to dig even deeper within. Along with that, I want a total physical transformation. Whether that be shaving my head, gaining weight, or losing weight, I want to look like a completely different human being. My dream role is going to force me to look different and to look at the world differently. And I say it is because that role is going to come into my life eventually.
SN: What is your happiest memory of your career so far?
Rachel: To say there is a happiest moment of my career thus far, feels as if I may be diminishing the journey that I've been on. I try to value every booking, every audition, every lesson learned, and every person I get to collaborate with as equally and as highly as the next. The realization that it really is all just one big adventure has been prolific in the expansion and growth of my career. For me, every project I've been a part of and every person I've creatively worked with, no matter good or bad, has value and has contributed to my personal and professional life in some manner.
That being said, the Chicago premiere of the feature film, OFFICER DOWN, holds a special place in my heart. It was the first full-length feature film I did as the leading lady and seeing it come to fruition on the big screen was pretty magical. Friends and family traveled to Chicago from California, Florida, Ohio, New York, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Colorado just to be there for that evening. Seeing the effort that my loved ones were willing to put forth to share that night with myself, and the rest of the cast and crew reinforced why I keep these special people are in my life.
SN: Is there anything that you would like to tell your fans about that we haven't already discussed?
Rachel: When I step on set in front of the cameras and lights, my heart pounds rapidly, my blood races, and I actually physically shake. That's just how much I love it and where I feel most alive. There's not a day that goes by that I don't feel grateful I'm doing what I love for a living and have fans who appreciate what I do.
SN: And your fans will no doubt appreciate that greatly. Rachel, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me. It's been an absolute pleasure. Congratulations on all your success so far and I have no doubt that you have a very promising future. Thank you.
Rachel: I feel Honored that you would even want to interview me. Believe me, The pleasure was all mine.