Just a small town girl, Mia Rose Kavensky, an aspiring actor talks about the struggles of her journey.

Mia Rose Kavensky is an actor from Rock Island Illinois, a small town on the Mississippi, right next to Iowa. She has been living in New York for the past four years as she chases her dreams of acting. Mia ‘s impressive career include working on numerous independent short films. She was the lead in an immersive theatre piece that was slated to go to Toronto and Winnipeg Fringe Festivals (post-poned due to COVID). Mia’s has also worked on feature films which includes the Room 9 starring Michael Berryman and Kane Hodder, as well as playing a lead role in The Devil’s Drop, a Peruvian horror film currently in post-production.

We had the luxury of working with Mia on our Dream On commercial and getting her to answer a few questions about her career.

Q: How long have you been acting?

M: I’ve been acting since I was a kid. My mom used to drive me 3 hours every Saturday to Chicago for acting classes. I ended up doing a few plays, some commercials, was in one of Scott Beck’s and Bryan Woods (Writers of A Quiet Place) first short films and modeled for American Girl doll. After being on the cover of American Girl Doll, so many kids made fun of me in elementary school I didn’t want to act anymore. Like most kids, I just wanted to fit in. I took a long break before finding my way to an acting class when I was in New York working in Fashion PR and now have been acting for about three years!

Q: What brought you back into acting?

M:  Always knew deep down this is what I wanted to do. Growing up in the midwest, you don’t meet many actors so it didn’t seem like an actual career. Hollywood to me was literally a dreamland. In college, I majored in broadcast journalism because I think sub-consciously that felt like the closest thing to acting - getting to tell stories on a multi-media platform. I ended up getting my first job at a Fashion PR firm in New York and one of my clients was 20th Century Fox. We assisted in PR campaigns surrounding the fashion in the films. One of my first projects was The Greatest Showman, and working on that film changed my life. Getting to go to set and seeing the magic of production was a lightbulb moment for me. I finally connected the dots in my head that I wanted to be telling stories in that medium. Being in New York, I was lucky enough to have some of the best acting schools at my fingertips so I immediately enrolled in my first acting class as an “adult.”

Q: What are the biggest obstacles you face as an aspiring actress?

M: I think the biggest obstacle facing an aspiring actress is getting in front of the right people. You could be the most talented artist and not have the representation or resources to even have a chance at being able to work on a project you are right for.

Q: What inspires you each day to go after your dreams each day?

M: My dad passed away in 2019 which completely changed my life. I never had someone so close to me pass away. I never was able to conceptualize the phrase “life is short” until then. I believe life is way too short to do anything that makes you unhappy. I find the most happiness in storytelling, working with creative people and living life to its fullest – for me, acting encompasses all of the above. I’ve already tried the desk job route so I really can’t imagine myself doing anything else.

Q: How do you feel acting has changed you as a person?

M: I feel that acting has enabled me to live more honestly and empathetically. I’ll never forget sitting in one of my first Meisner classes and my teacher, Ray, had me do the classic Sanford repetition. I thought it was so silly, just repeating whatever my partner was saying. It took me MONTHS, for my brain to rewire itself and realize that repetition wasn’t about repeating. It was about responding. Responding truthfully to your partner. Not bullshitting, not lying to spare feelings, but being honest and responding with love. Not only with your partner but with yourself. This exercise not only taught me how to be a responsive and truthful actor, but also a better human in all aspects of my life. 

Q: How do you cope with the uncertainty that this career brings? 

M: A LOT OF WINE!!! Hehe, just kidding. I think for me, the uncertainty is more of a challenge that keeps me driven. I don’t like being “safe” in a career. But when I am feeling uncomfortable about the prospects of where my next job is coming from or any other negative thoughts infiltrating my brain I tell myself: it’s important to remember you can’t always control your career, but you can control the happiness you surround yourself with and for me, that’s my family, my boyfriend, my friends and my dog Buddie.

Q: What do you think are some of the biggest barriers aspiring woman actresses face in the film industry?

M: It’s really cool getting to be a woman in the industry right now because I do believe things are changing. I think the old days of the “casting couch” power dynamics are fading away. Women used to be scared to speak up because speaking up sometimes meant we wouldn’t be able to work in the industry - but with the Times Up and #MeToo movement, I believe we’re building a strong community of women to support each other when there are poisonous actions taking place. One of my favorite women activists is Busy Phillips. If you haven’t read her book, YOU MUST. She is so brutally honest about the sexism and misogynistic incidents she has encountered while working. I think women coming forward and being honest is the only way the industry can see how horrible it’s been and then, understanding changes need to happen. 

Q: Do you think there is an uneven power dynamic between men and women in the film industry? If so why?

M: I mean, this uneven power dynamic has been ingrained in the industry – and all industries really – since the dawn of time. I like to think it’s getting better. I think in order for it to keep changing, it’s really important for women to support other women because a lot of the change is going to come with confidence and unity. Hollywood has sexualized women since the beginning, and we need to keep reminding ourselves and others that that is not our identity. That we are just as capable and entitled as men to tell our stories and be leaders in the entertainment industry.  We need to keep reminding ourselves that our stories need to be told. 

Q: Have you seen a change in the way women are being portrayed in roles? Are there any notable roles that you really like?

M: Oh, 100% Don’t get me wrong, I think there is still a long way to go in the industry, but I do think women are creating and given the opportunity to explore more fully-rounded roles other than “Hot Blonde” or “Hot Secretary.” My favorite women to watch are Amy Adams, Michaela Coel, Michelle Williams, Julia Garner, among others, because they’re not afraid to portray powerful, messy, REAL women. Unfortunately, I do feel that the opportunity to play something other than “girlfriend” is an opportunity that comes with “star” power. I still see so many roles on Backstage and Actor’s Access that include in the character description “must be hot” or “Tom’s cute girlfriend who wants nothing more than for Tom to be happy.” 

Q: Who are some of your inspirations in the film world?

M: Hands down Greta Gerwig, who was sick of the roles she was being casted as and created her own, real characters to play like Frances Ha and going on to direct powerful feminist pieces like Little Women. Micaela Coel who created “I May Destroy You” which is one of the most honest and moving pieces I have ever seen produced.  Others are Sofia Coppola, Amy Adams, Reese Witherspoon, Regina King, Maya Erskine, Olivia Wilde and so many more. There are so many female inspirations right now.

Q: Managers have played a huge role in guiding young actors' careers. More often than not, an actor's talent is enough to land them the role and they’re at the mercy of others. What do you think can be done to give actors a platform of being exposed and a better shot at being recognized?

M: Speaking from personal experience, I don’t think it’s so much of a platform but more so on productions taking chances on lesser-known actors who may not have any network credits. I have a great manager who will pitch and pitch for me to have the opportunity to audition, but since I am so new in the game, many casting directors or producers will see that I have no network credits and not want to take a chance. From a business standpoint, I get it. A lot of money goes into these productions and it’s hard to take risks, but as an actor just starting out, all you can hope for is for someone to take a risk on you so you can show them you’re worth it. 

Q: What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned so far on your journey?

M: I’ve learned you always need to be true to yourself. It’s not about impressing the right people, but just being you. I’ve also learned that even though the entertainment industry is competitive, it’s not about competition. My best experiences have come from collaborating with other creatives, not competing. 

Q: When you’re not acting, what else do you like to do? 

M: I like to be present and in the moment with the people I love. I am a big yogi, I love to read, I’ve recently revisited my childhood love of video gaming. When it’s not a global pandemic I love to travel and experience new cultures.

Q: What does happiness mean to you?

M: For me happiness is laying in bed in the morning for a few extra minutes cuddling my dog, it’s laughing so hard you start crying hysterically, it’s nights with friends sipping on wine and talking into the wee hours of the night, it’s keeping my lil cacti alive, it’s enjoying an iced coffee on a hot summer's day, it’s perusing the farmer’s market every Saturday, it’s curling up with a really good book. Happiness to me means a lot of things, but a lot of my happiness comes from the little things we do to enjoy the life we have. 

Q: What does success mean to you?

M: Success means getting to do what you love every single day. If you are creating, writing, performing and living every day, that is success. 

What’s your story?