I recently had the opportunity to exclusively interview Gemma Kraehling to learn five random facts about herself and what inspired her to become an actress. Check out my interview with Gemma below:
Loryn: What inspired you to become an actress?
Gemma: It was a distinct moment of realization. It was when my parents finally let me watch The Hunger Games for the first time. I remember the competitors in the arena when the starting bell goes off and the killing begins. Katniss runs into the forest to get away and hide. I so vividly remember watching the simple clips of her running through the forest and saying to myself, I WANT TO DO THAT! Something about the silence and only being able to hear natural sounds; her jacket, her breathing, the twigs breaking beneath her feet, everything adding a pure intensity to the scene. It made me feel alone and physically with Katniss. I could not just see the fear on her face but I could feel it as if it was my own. I knew there and then that I wanted to bring that experience to other people. As well as wanting to be able to live so many different lives in one.
Loryn: Who is an actress or actor you'd like to work with in the future?
Gemma: It would be a dream of mine to work with Timothée Chalamet. When I watch his work I am always in awe. He has a way of making the scene feel incredibly raw and as if you are not watching a movie but instead feeling as if you are a participant in the scene as well. For that reason, I often feel a sense of discomfort watching him. I feel so involved and connected to the scene. I cannot imagine acting in a scene alongside him and being able to react and exchange emotions with him. In an interview, Chalamet described acting as making yourself an open wound. I think being in a scene with him would be like mixing two wounds creating a truly real and pure moment. In addition, I completely relate to how Chalamet approaches acting. I prefer looking at a role as chasing an emotion or certain feeling, instead of viewing a role as another mask of a character. I love this technique! I feel like I can truly become a sponge of what the character is feeling and receiving in a scene and I often find myself acting subtly in moments that usually are overlooked but happen to people in real life naturally. Timothée Chalamet often talks about his journey in acting and he always clarifies that he is not finished the marathon, this makes him seem more relatable and inspiring to me. Fame is not the goal, the goal is to live moment to moment doing something that brings so much passion and happiness.
Loryn: What lesson have you've learned so far about becoming an actress?
Gemma: To be an actor you have to have the drive and a good work ethic but in saying that I believe it is still important to remain grounded and stay connected with the pureness that originated an actor’s love for acting. I find that giving yourself time to play with acting for fun also helps you remember why you are passionate about the craft and in turn refuels your motivation to continue the chase for your dream. Especially, in an industry where rejection is constant, it is crucial to remind yourself of why you started and the pure happiness acting provides. In times of discouragement or anxiety, it helps me remember that I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.
Loryn: How has the pandemic changed you?
Gemma: I believe the pandemic helped put my life in perspective. It helped me realize what I wanted instead of being influenced by societal expectations. Acting is not a common career pathway and when you are someone who decides to pursue it, you stick out like a sore thumb. It is truly terrifying. It feels like walking down a dark hallway where the destination is completely uncertain. Before the pandemic, I started to begin walking down that hallway self-conscious and tense. I knew I loved acting but I felt that since I didn’t have a guaranteed destination I had to justify it to people who reacted as though I was unrealistic or thought that I should pursue something more “secure” I had to keep my resolve in order not to get lost in that darkness. Quarantine isolation forced me to focus on myself and discover that in the end, it is my life no one else’s and if something makes me happy I should chase it. My life is not scripted for me. Not to make this dramatic but, when I am on my death bed I want to make sure I explored my dream. Now I walk down that dark hallway with confidence and I surround myself with a support system to walk it with me. Even though it is still dark and scary, I can provide myself with a little light because I know at the very least I am happy.
Loryn: What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
Gemma: People would be surprised to learn that my personality is conflicting. I am a shy introvert that often worries and stresses over unimportant things. I like to have a plan for things and change often makes me uncomfortable and anxious. However, I am also someone who loves to be spontaneous in some settings because I feel more alive and in the present moment forcing me not to be concerned about the future. Usually, people who meet me outside of acting are surprised to learn that I am an actor because I am so reserved. I believe this helps me understand characters so well because I have the opportunity to observe people. This perception of me is often reversed when people meet me through acting, they are surprised to notice that I am more withdrawn in real life. And that is another reason I fell in love with acting. As an introvert, it was hard for me to put myself out there so I thought of it as acting a role. I remain myself but just portray a more social and out-there version of myself. I believe that adaptability is a gift in an industry like acting.
Be sure to stay updated with Gemma Kraehling by checking out her website: https://gemmakraehling1.wixsite.com/my-site-2. Be sure to follow her on her social media platforms:
IG: @gem_acts