Name: Viktoria Vinyarska
Hometown: Lviv, Ukraine
Current Location: Los Angeles
TrunkSpace: When did you know that you wanted to act for a living?
Vinyarska: From a very early age, my grandmother started taking me to plays in Ukraine. From the theater to the opera to the ballet, she had me experience it all. It was being surrounded by such energy, such poise, that inspired me to pursue a career in acting.
TrunkSpace: Was there a particular performance or actor/actress from your childhood that you remember being drawn to and inspired by?
Vinyarska: When I was about 10 years old, my grandmother took me to see “Swan Lake,” which became my biggest inspiration.
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?
Vinyarska: When I was 17 I started taking acting classes at William Esper Studio in Manhattan. Following that, I started at UCONN where I studied Dramatic Arts and Psychology. Characters are what inspire me, and being an artist, I want my work to move people, so the study of the human brain and personality became my focus.
TrunkSpace: When did you decide to move away from your home and pursue acting as a career? How old were you at the time?
Vinyarska: I moved to Los Angeles when I turned 21. There wasn’t really a specific moment that triggered the move, it had just always been a dream of mine and I was tired of waiting around for that “right time.” I was ready for a change so I just took the
dive.
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?Vinyarska: Well, truthfully, I didn’t have many friends in the town I grew up in. I spent most of my time alone, expressing myself through the classes that I’d take and the plays I would read. I’d get lost in their stories, the unique characters, and live vicariously through them. So, I think because of that, I wasn’t afraid of needing to make friends when I first moved here. I enrolled in classes and started auditioning so before I knew it, I was building a big circle of friends that shared similar passions and interests. That really helped to make LA immediately feel like home. This city has been a really great experience for me on a personal and professional level.
TrunkSpace: What has been been your biggest break in terms of a particular role or project thus far?
Vinyarska: A short film that I starred in, “Forever’s Gonna Start Tonight,” premiered at Sundance Film Festival, and was selected into the “Best of the Best” category.
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?
Vinyarska: I love exploring all types of characters and working with a variety of different genres so there’s not really one in particular that I’d say I connect with more. I do, however, love the fantastical world that Tim Burton creates. It would be a dream to work with him.
TrunkSpace: What would you say is the greatest strength an actor/actress can have outside of acting ability itself?
Vinyarska: I personally believe that a good attitude and an open mind, or willingness, to tackle whatever obstacles come your way, is the greatest strength an actor can possess.
TrunkSpace: What is your ultimate dream when it comes to your acting career? Where would you like your path to lead?
Vinyarska: My ultimate dream is to be able to work on myself and by doing so, create art that hopefully inspires people.
TrunkSpace: What advice would you give another young aspiring actor/actress who is considering moving away from home to pursue their dream?
Vinyarska: My advice to an aspiring actor would be to just go for it. If this is your dream, your passion, then believe in that and never let yourself doubt what you can do.
TrunkSpace: Where can people (and casting directors) learn more about you?
Vinyarska:
I’m on social media @v_v_vici and you can check out my demo reel here: https://vimeo.com/200233093
Or find me at IMDB at: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3941892/?ref_=nv_sr_1