It only took one audition for Liora Kats to fall in love with acting. After two years of training—and booking a major role on Nickelodeon—her commitment has only deepened.
Expand your horizons.
“I moved from the Netherlands to New York City, where I am now based. New York is the melting pot of creativity, inspiration, culture, wildness, and opportunities. There are so many theaters, events, acting schools, actors, and industry people, and you never know whom you may meet tomorrow. My biggest advice is to put yourself out there and go after what you want.”
Choose an auditioning method that works for you.
“Depending on the audition, I prepare accordingly. If there’s a script or sides provided, I make sure I understand it all and start my script analysis. That work on the script allows me to memorize the lines quickly.”
5 Gigs to Kick-Start Your Acting Career Believe in yourself.
“Get out of your own way. Trust yourself and your work. Be open, and do it for the love you have for the craft. Make sure you fully understand what’s expected, and always give it your all. Keep working on yourself and on the craft. You’re never ‘done’ or ‘finished.’ ”
Connecting with your co-stars and directors can help you grow.
“Building relationships with fellow actors on set is usually quite easy, considering the fact that we share the same passion. I love getting to know who I’m working with prior to and during the shoot. Through my studies at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, I’ve gotten to know and build great relationships with fellow actors, directors, and instructors. Being open, curious, and eager is the key to connecting with industry people, and keeping in touch allows relationships to grow.”
Inspiration always starts somewhere.
“I always loved my high school drama classes, because they allowed me to express myself in new and different ways compared to my everyday life. Later, working on set was really what got the ball rolling. I absolutely loved meeting like-minded people and connecting with them. I would come home incredibly inspired and wish every day was like a day on set. Overall, this experience made me realize [that acting] was what I wanted to do in my life, and it allowed me to learn more about acting and working on a set while creating new connections and friends.”
This story originally appeared in the June 15 issue of Backstage Magazine.