Meet Aletha Shepherd from Wallington, Surrey who moved to LA 3 years ago to pursue acting.
Was there a particular reason you chose LA?
LA really is where all the big fish come to play. I wanted to take my career further and I knew this was the place to do that. I had gone to the Cannes film festival the summer before moving so I felt I had enough contacts to get my foot in the door when I landed. I knew I wanted to pursue a film and TV career and LA is where a lot of the greatest films and shows originate, especially those with diversity.
What do you miss most from home?
I miss my family and friends the most. I also miss the busy streets of London with its great architecture and interesting people. The ambience of the UK really is like no other, especially in central London where I lived for the last five years before I left. It’s a magical city with a rich history.
What was your first impression of LA and has it changed since? If so why?
My first impression was that it would be easy to get a career started. A lot of people here make false promises especially to people who are new to the area. When nothing of what they say comes to pass, people tend to come across fake and in England we are a lot more straightforward and people won’t mess you around as much. Fortunately, I managed to find my feet by getting a strong group of friends and this helped tremendously with the ups and downs of living in LA. My impressions remain the same however I now know how to overcome situations that arise and handle them differently.
What do you find the biggest difference is living here versus Wallington, Surrey?
I came from a small village where life is a lot more simple and you have plenty of time to read great books and watch enough movies to your heart’s content. LA is very different as there is always something going on and always somewhere to be. You can never get bored in this city and there is never enough time in the day.
Do you have a hidden gem in LA that you want to share with us?
I get a lot of work done at coffee shops, my favorite being Andante either the Silverlake or West Hollywood location, both have a great, easy going environment.
What would you suggest to others who are thinking about making the move here?
Step out in faith as life is too short to not take every opportunity that comes your way. Live your dreams and if you’re lucky enough to get a visa in your speciality field of what you love, don’t be afraid to take the plunge and give LA a real shot. It has taken me three years to really find my feet, so don’t give up at the first hurdle and push through the hard times as the good days make it all so much more worth-while.
How can we find out more about you? Are you working on anything at the moment?
I just finished filming my third short film. My first short I produced and wrote actually won ‘Best Short Short’ at the 9th LA Indie Film Festival a few weeks ago. Off this success I have started scripting my first feature film that I’m currently working on. I also recently starred in a James Franco’s feature film called Roxana, that comes out next year. I play Mrs Collins. You can see all my latest productions at the website www.aletheia.la And if you want to follow what I’m up to find me on Instagram and Twitter @alethashepherd.
Lots of our members join our group Brits in LA seeking out words of wisdom – what is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
You’ve got to keep moving you, you can’t stop. Every tomorrow is a new beginning.
