Actress Veronika Kurshinskaya discusses her journey to Hollywood, the challenges of building an acting career in Los Angeles, and the importance of education, discipline, training, and passion. In this archived interview, she explains why professional development matters more to her than fame or celebrity status.
Veronika Kurshinskaya and her daughter
At a time when the world is obsessed with fame and fortune, it is refreshing to meet young actress Veronika Kurshinskaya, who believes in the importance of education, discipline, and passion in her craft.
Establishing yourself is a long and difficult process in any profession. Veronika is best known in Latin America for the 2010 film Moby Dick, directed by Trey Stokes and also starring Barry Bostwick, Renee O’Connor, and Matt Lagan.
Veronika Kurshinskaya and Her Daughter
Soul Brasil: “Moby Dick” was very popular after being released in Brazil last year. What made that film such a success?
Veronika: Creating a character the audience can relate to, fall for – that’s the secret of success of any film.
Moby Dick was a huge hit in Russia as well. It’s been over a year since the film was released in Europe, and I still get calls and emails from Europe and Russia. They just love my character – Elena, a victim but also a survivor, a fighter. Someone who believes in redemption.
That’s what I think a challenge is for any actor – to find strong qualities even in a character who seems to be totally hopeless and weak. That’s what makes the audience watch you and remember you.
Building an Acting Career in Hollywood
Soul Brasil: How long does it take to establish a career in Hollywood?
Veronika: I came to Los Angeles four years ago with no friends or connections to the entertainment world. But what I had was an enormous determination and passion to become an actress.
Going to castings, you will constantly get rejected and discouraged. You are either too fat or too skinny, too funny or too serious. All you can do is stay true to yourself and constantly work on improving your craft.
The process of learning and establishing yourself never ends.
Education, Training, and the Reality of Hollywood
Soul Brasil: Thousands of young South Americans come to Hollywood every year in search of easy fame and big success. They drop out of school, quit their careers and leave families behind and move to Los Angeles. What are their chances to actually make it?
Veronika: I will be honest with you, I don’t think there is anything more difficult. But having proper and diverse training and coaching is crucial in the long run.
Moby Dick and Veronika Kurshinskaya’s international acting career
You may get lucky once or twice, getting parts because of your good looks, but at the end of the day, your knowledge, craft, and professional awareness are what make you special and desirable.
I was blessed to be accepted into the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, one of the most selective acting conservatories in the world. It was a great base of knowledge, but even after completing my course, I felt there was way more to advance and grow.
After graduating, I enrolled at the New York Film Academy at Universal Studios and got my MFA in Acting. It was a huge step in my life, and I am glad I did it.
Having the proper education makes me more confident as an artist and helps me perform a big range of characters freely.
My goal is not to be a celebrity or a sex symbol. I want to work on projects that appeal to audiences and challenge me. Whether short films, independent films, web series, or any creative projects that have meaning and significance – I love doing them all.
It’s all about being involved in what I love doing the most: creating, performing, and promoting art.
A Message About Passion and Dedication
Soul Brasil: Thank you, Veronika. We hope our young readers see you as a role model and understand that training, passion, and dedication are above fame and fortune.
This article/interview was originally published in one of our printed issues in 2009.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Veronika Kurshinskaya?
Veronika Kurshinskaya is an actress who built part of her professional career in Los Angeles and became known in Latin America for her role as Elena in the 2010 film Moby Dick.
2. What did Veronika Kurshinskaya say about building a career in Hollywood?
She described Hollywood as a highly challenging environment where actors face frequent rejection. According to Veronika, staying true to yourself and continually improving your craft are essential to developing a career.
3. Why does Veronika emphasize acting education and training?
Veronika argues that proper and diverse training provides actors with knowledge, confidence, professional awareness, and the ability to perform a wider range of characters.
4. Where did Veronika Kurshinskaya study acting?
According to the original interview, she studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and later enrolled at the New York Film Academy at Universal Studios, where she earned an MFA in Acting.
5. Does Veronika want to become a Hollywood celebrity?
In the interview, Veronika says that her goal was not to become a celebrity or sex symbol. Instead, she wanted to participate in projects that challenged her and had meaning, including short films, independent films, web series, and other creative productions.
