Morgan Hammel

TrunkSpace: Was there a particular performance or actor/actress from your childhood that you remember being drawn to and inspired by?
Hammel: The first thing that came to my mind was “Will & Grace.” I used to watch that show all the time with my mom. In my opinion, it doesn’t get better than Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally. In one episode, “Jack” had a crush on a barista, so he goes to the coffee shop all the time to see him. There’s this one scene where he’s all jacked up on caffeine and barrels through the apartment talking a million miles a minute not letting anyone else get a word in. I couldn’t do it justice trying to describe it, but that scene sets the bar for me! (Also Jim Carrey in “Ace Ventura,” “Liar Liar,” etc. The things he can do with his voice/body blow my MIND).

TrunkSpace: How did you decide to approach your career as an actor? Did you formulate a plan of how you wanted to attack what is known for being a hard industry to crack?
Hammel: That, I’m still working on! I loved where I went to college and it gave me the confidence to move to New York with training under my belt and a strong group of friends who moved to the city as well. But most of it is just learn as you go! I didn’t know what “craft services” was until I did a day on set as an extra. I didn’t know how to submit online for projects until I overheard a girl talking about it at an audition. I think you just kind of throw yourself into situations and learn from them and meet people and keep going. Keep showing up.

TrunkSpace: When did you decide to move away from your home and pursue acting as a career? How old were you at the time?
Hammel: I moved to Connecticut for college when I was 18, and moved to New York right after at 22. I was lucky to move here with my roommate from college and a good amount of classmates. I don’t know how people do it alone!

TrunkSpace: Was that move an easy transition for you initially? How long did it take you to feel at home and find a good support group of friends and peers?
Hammel: The city definitely took a little while to feel like home. A few months. Maybe a year or so. I was also incredibly lucky to find the theatre company I’m in, Theatre 68, only about a month after I moved here. I instantly had a community of about 40 other actors. We meet every Monday night to “work out” the acting muscle. The company and the people in it have led me to so many jobs, opportunities, auditions, agents, etc. and I’m very thankful to still be a part of it. I didn’t think I would love this city as much as I do now. The lows are low but then the highs are addicting! I think everyone may have a slightly unhealthy relationship with this city in their own way!

TrunkSpace: What has been been your biggest break in terms of a particular role or project thus far?
Hammel: Hmmm. I got to work on a project for Verizon with James Franco! Of course you can’t see me in the final cut (not the first time that’s happened to me) but it was fun to be on set with him and the director Whitey McConnaughy who has directed several films. We had to improvise with James Franco and I remember saying something like, “What’re you doin’ later?!” And the director called cut and said, “Ok let’s do it again and this time please don’t ask him out later.” How embarrassing! (Laughter)

TrunkSpace: Is there a specific type of role you’d like to take on or a specific genre that you feel more at home in?
Hammel: My go to genre is always comedy. It’s SO HARD but I love doing it. And I always feel a little happier leaving a rehearsal for a comedy rather than say, Hamlet. I would love to be in a Nicky Silver play. He’s one of my all time favorite playwrights. BUT I also love Chekhov. I’d love to be in a production of “Uncle Vanya” or “The Seagull.” I also have a total crush on the modern adaptation of “The Seagull” called, “Stupid Fucking Bird.” I’m not a Masha, but I so want to play her!!

TrunkSpace: What would you say is the greatest strength an actor/actress can have outside of acting ability itself?
Hammel: I feel like my favorite actors are smart actors. Smart people. Or people who are interested and curious about the world and who’ve lived full lives. This is something I need to figure out how to balance myself. You have to be able to live your life alongside your career. The experience can only help you.

TrunkSpace: What is your ultimate dream when it comes to your acting career? Where would you like your path to lead?
Hammel: My ultimate dream is to be consistently WORKING! And respected and able to take on interesting, rich roles. I would love to make a living as an actor. I’d love a consistent role on a TV show. The cast of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” has the dream job in my opinion. They create their own work and work with their friends and have been one of the longest running sitcoms in history. As far as the acting world goes, that’s probably the closest to job security you’re going to get.

TrunkSpace: What advice would you give another young aspiring actor/actress who is considering moving away from home to pursue their dream?
Hammel: My advice would be you have to love it and you have to love ALL of it. By “it” I don’t mean only the time onstage or in front of a camera. That’s only a small percentage of the work you put in. I mean you have to love the business aspect of it, the submissions, the auditions, editing your reel, editing your website, taking an acting class, memorizing lines, working on a scene, hearing yes, hearing no, creating your own work, doing an intimidating workshop with a casting director, etc etc. There is SO MUCH work that goes into this every day beyond the actual “acting” part of it. You have to find a way to learn to love the ugly parts, too. Granted that’s not always the case, and I’m not always in the mood to edit my resume, website, reel when I need to, BUT, I think you have to find a way to enjoy all sides of the business. It is also important to love where you live. Moving away can be very difficult, especially if it is your first time away from home and if you end up living on your own, so you need to be comfortable where you move to. When you’re looking to move, make sure you find good realtors (like these realtors Winston Salem) who will help you with the whole process and make sure that you end up somewhere that will be good for you. Otherwise you will find it will affect your acting and the other aspects of your life.

Jim Carrey (yes I’m going to mention him twice in this interview!) once said in a commencement speech, “You can fail at what you don’t want, so might as well take a chance on doing what you love.”

TrunkSpace: Where can people (and casting directors) learn more about you?
Hammel: I’m in the next one act festival at Theatre 68 at the end of March/early April, and I’ll be shooting a short film, “They Walk With Me” in April as well. You can learn more about me and these projects on my…