Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Channel.
Hi Sarah, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
The journey to becoming an actress has been a long one. Mostly because I kept trying to convince myself not to pursue it. I’ve always loved performing arts but whether it was fear, or feeling like I needed to follow a more practical path, I kept pushing it aside. I joined drama in high school but chose stage management instead of auditioning. In college I studied psychology yet still found myself selecting a film class. Looking back acting always seemed to find its way back into my life. I just wasn’t ready to take the risk. Eventually, I met an actor while working who encouraged me to take that leap. I had spent years trying to convince myself to want a life that made sense on paper until I realized I needed to give myself permission to want the life that made me feel alive. I had spent so much time choosing what felt safe but I wasn’t happy. There’s a saying that a plane is safest on the ground but that’s not what it’s meant to do. I realized that every path comes with a sacrifice. I could sacrifice the stability I knew to pursue my dream or I could sacrifice my dream to maintain that stability. For the first time I decided to take a chance on myself. I left school and my job to give acting my full commitment. I joined an acting class and something just clicked. I felt welcomed, accepted, and energized in a way I hadn’t experienced before. My coaches believed in me and pushed me to submit to projects. Eventually I started booking and found representation. Things that had once seemed impossible suddenly felt attainable. But as much as I love acting itself, I think one of the biggest reasons I’m drawn to the performing arts is connection. In everyday life we’re often taught to hold parts of ourselves back. We worry about being too emotional, too vulnerable, or simply too much. But when we watch a film or a show we’re allowed to sit with those feelings. We recognize pieces of ourselves in other people’s stories. We laugh, we grieve, we feel understood. And I think in a world where it’s so easy to feel alone there’s something incredibly powerful about being reminded that we’re not. That’s what makes acting so meaningful to me. All the hardships I went through now had reason. I get the opportunity to connect with people through something I genuinely love. To tell stories that make someone feel seen and understood. To be able to create that connection with people I’ll probably never even meet is an incredible privilege and an honor. Though I didn’t get here alone. Some of the most meaningful parts of this journey have been my friends, the people I’ve met, and the relationships I’ve built along the way. They’ve encouraged me, believed in me, and given me so many reasons to keep going. I came into acting hoping to find fulfillment but I found a community and connections that have become just as important to me as the work itself. Chasing your dream is hard but so is abandoning it. I’m proud that I finally gave myself permission to pursue the life I wanted, and I’m excited to keep growing, both as an actress and as a person.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I wish it had been a smooth road haha. But I think the challenges are part of what makes the journey so meaningful. There were things in my life I needed to process and heal from before I was ready to take on this path. Mental health was probably my biggest challenge. Somewhere along the way I had lost the spark that always kept me going and it took a long time to find it again. I let so many things get to me and didn’t have the strength to stand against it. Then losing my dad at 19 only added to it and navigating that grief was incredibly difficult. Another challenge was telling my mom that I’d chosen to leave behind the stability I had for something as uncertain as acting. When you have an immigrant parent you know that choosing a less conventional path can be difficult for them to understand. I was terrified to tell her but when I finally did she said “I’m not surprised”. Though she still tries to get me to go back to school haha. Then, of course, there are the challenges every actor learns to navigate…figuring out an industry you initially know very little about and facing rejection over and over again. It can be overwhelming at first and rejection can make you question everything. You wonder if you’re good enough, if you made a mistake, or if you should be doing something differently. I had to learn not to take those moments personally. You can’t control every outcome and not booking a role doesn’t mean you weren’t right for the work or that you don’t belong here. What keeps me going is remembering how it feels to do something I genuinely love. That feeling of fulfillment is something I couldn’t find anywhere else, no matter how hard I tried. I think about how many people we admire today faced uncertainty and setbacks before finding their way and it reminds me that I don’t need to have everything figured out right now. I just need to keep showing up. I think that’s what this journey has taught me most. Sometimes the victory isn’t just getting where you want to go. It’s becoming the person who has the courage to keep pursuing it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m an actress who loves exploring a wide range of genres and characters. I’ve had the opportunity to work on several films, most recently Infernal, a dark fantasy film in which I had the honor of playing Rheiya. I’m proud that I took the risk to take on this path. Otherwise I would’ve missed out on so many life experiences that mean everything to me. As for what sets me apart, I think that’s part of the beauty of acting. We each bring something uniquely our own to a story, shaped by our individual experiences and perspectives. No two people will tell a story in exactly the same way. And what a beautiful sight that is to see.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I do a little bit of everything. What I’ve realized helps you do your best in life is enjoying a variety of experiences. Listening to podcasts for motivation, story times, or perspectives of people within the industry. My current fixation in books is every new Hunger Games book Suzanne Collins puts out. I also watch a lot of film which helps me empathize with all different situations. A favorite movie of mine is Everything Everywhere All At Once. Also Hamnet is brilliant. If you haven’t seen them it’s a must watch!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahchannel_?cplk=Z2Y1bWhjajdqenAy&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14916556/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
