Meet Charlotte Rothwell from Southport, Merseyside who moved to LA 5 years ago to pursue acting!
Was there a particular reason you chose LA?
I started acting at 4 years old and had always dreamed of taking my career to the next level. I desperately wanted to live abroad and craved a life in the sunshine, so that, paired with my love for acting made LA the obvious choice. I was accepted in to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and given the option of choosing the LA or New York campus- and I didn’t even have to think twice!
What do you miss most from home?
I miss my family so very much and plus the little things, like curling up on the couch with my lovely mum watching The X Factor! I also really miss the beautiful old buildings, the Great British high street and the good old NHS, which I definitely took for granted. I often crave that fresh, clean countryside air and that tranquility when you can only hear the birds chirping- so peaceful! There’s nowhere quite like England at Christmastime – you wouldn’t know it was happening here!
What was your first impression of LA and has it changed since? If so, why?
I couldn’t believe the sheer size of it and how spread out everything is, but having lived here for a few years I now know the city well and it just feels like home, more so than England in a way. I also couldn’t believe that the weather was this beautiful and sunny every day- it seemed too good to be true! Now I’ve got used to it and even enjoy the rain on the rare occasion it happens here, which is something I never could have imagined saying before! I was in awe of the amount of resources available to people in ‘The Industry’ and love how there are always opportunities to collaborate and get involved.
What do you find the biggest difference is living here versus Southport?
As a vegetarian and health foodie, I absolutely love the constant accessibility to all things healthy and green here and how easy it is to eat well and live a healthy lifestyle. I also love the fact that you can drive an hour out of LA and be in the stunning Laguna Beach, or less than two hours away and be in the desert. You can drive out of town for a day and feel like you’ve had a little holiday! I find the positive, ‘anything is possible’ attitude here so refreshing and infectious, and still get a little thrill that the hub of the film industry is right on my doorstep. Not to mention, Southport beach doesn’t have any ocean anymore, so the beaches here can’t quite compare!
Do you have a hidden gem in LA that you want to share with us?
There’s so many and I’m sure I’ll keep thinking of more later! There are so many great restaurants in LA and though they definitely aren’t hidden gems, they are absolutely worth a visit. My favourites are Nobu Malibu, Gjelina, Little Door, Gracias Madre and Backyard Bowls for delicious acai bowls for breakfast! I love that there is always something interesting to do here, like Abbot Kinney’s festival that happens once a year (on Sunday 27th September this year) and the concerts on the beach in the summertime. I would highly recommend exploring areas outside of LA too, like all of the other beautiful beaches that are just breathtaking. My absolute favourite is Laguna Beach- I could go every week and sometimes do, it’s food for my soul! And of course, the Hollywood Bowl and the Greek Theatre, for the most wonderful outdoor concert experience.
What would you suggest to others who are thinking about making the move here?
I would say to ‘find your own LA’. There are so many great areas here and I believe that a lot of feeling settled in this city depends on how happy you are in your neighborhood. Definitely do your research before your arrive and do lots of exploring when you get here so you get to know the lay of the land and find places that make you feel at home. Also, definitely set the money aside to get a car (a mistake I made!) and make sure you FaceTime or Skype with family whenever you can- it’s an absolute blessing!
If your your life was a TV show which would it be and why?
Probably ‘Girls’- though I wish Lena Dunham were my friend, I love her!
Lastly, how can we find out more about you?
www.charlotterothwell.com (currently in the works, but please stay tuned!)
I’ve recently got more involved with social media after years in the dark ages!
Twitter: charlotterothwl
Instagram: charlotte.rothwell
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/charlotterothwellactress
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