Meet Amber Hodgkiss from Wigan who moved to Los Angeles in January to pursue acting. Her UK credits include Grange Hill, Hollyoaks and Doctors.
Was there a particular reason you chose LA?
I was ready to leave the UK, and LA was the best option to continue with my career. I also was lucky enough to have a project lined up here. A movie called ‘Speak’ which is doing extremely well on the festival front, so I think that made it easier to make the big move.
What do you miss most from home?
My momma and my sister! So much! English countryside, English weather (I think I’m one of the very few!) and English pubs! Oh and how could i forget…. digestive biscuits and super noodles!
What was your first impression of LA and has it changed since. If so, why?
It wasn’t what I expected. I was very unsure and slightly disappointed at first. However given time that has totally changed, it’s a crazy place, totally bonkers yet I love and appreciate every little bit of it. I feel I understand it more now. I recently spent a few weeks in Seattle filming the movie 11:11. I had a great time, and the locations were beautiful – however I was so excited to get back home to LA. I’ve never had that feeling before so that was really nice. I have met some of my best friends here in LA. I truly believe it’s what you make of it.
What do you find is the biggest difference is living here versus Wigan?
The weather. The mentality is a huge difference. The accessibility to all things health and fitness. It’s a shock when I go home having so much of this available here and little back there.
Do you have a hidden gem in LA that you want to share with us?
PACE – a wonderful restaurant under the Canyon country mart on Lauren Canyon it is fabulous! Also the Canyon Country Mart has a little coffee stand there, that has fresh coffee 7-2. The lady that runs it is called Lilly, she is so lovely. Seriously you can’t beat a morning coffee there. I love nothing more than sitting there looking over my scripts for work.
What would you suggest to others who are thinking about making the move here?
If you want to do it, do it. I treat the whole thing as one big adventure and if you don’t take it too seriously, are happy and have fun along the way then you’re winning.
How can we find out more about you?
Visit www.amberhodgkiss.com or search Amber Hodgkiss at imdb.com. or see my reel at https://demoreel.com/amber-hodgkis
Are you working on anything at the moment?
I just recently finished working on a pilot called ‘Don’t Mess with Julie Whitefield’ with Casey Wilson. Directed by a fellow Brit, Amy Barham. She was the executive producer on a show I worked on back home in UK, ‘Bedlam’ so that was great to reunite. I now have a few weeks’ break and then I will be starting work on a pilot for Freeform. The producers actually wrote the role for me, so I’m super excited about this and I’m sure the Wigan accent will be out in full force!
