Leanne Noelle Smith is an actress and producer from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan based in Toronto, Canada. Leanne found her passion for the performing arts at the young age of five beginning as a dancer, where she toured North America and Ukraine until the age of 23. Shortly after, she moved from Saskatchewan to Toronto to pursue acting as a professional career. We had the pleasure to speak to her about her blossoming career.
Thank you for agreeing to this interview with Occhi Magazine. Congratulations on your career to date. If you weren’t an actress and producer, what would you be and why?
Why thank you! It’s an absolute pleasure to chat with you. I feel like my life has always been destined to be a performer. I did gymnastics and was obsessed with Cirque du Soleil as a kid. If I weren’t an actress, I would have LOVED to of done Aerial Silks.
How did you get into the industry?
I got into the industry by exploring artistically when I was a kid. I started in dance, which I did until my mid 20’s, and went all the way to my RAD Advanced II Certificate. In high school, I started modeling and took acting classes. I’d say from high school onwards I was hooked and wanted to move to a bigger city to explore film and tv. Once I finished university I moved to Toronto and started building from the ground up.
You’ve been quoted saying your favorite training was in NYC at the Neighborhood Playhouse Summer Intensive. Please share your experience.
The Neighborhood Playhouse will forever be a part of me, the experience and people I met there changed my life. Even though it was a short time in the grand scheme of things every day was magical. My days consisted of waking up, going to an early morning yoga class, training from 9 am – 4/5 pm, exploring NYC, and reading as many plays as possible out of the library they have at the school. Looking back on it now and where we are with Covid 19, I feel incredibly lucky to of done it when I did. I got to study from masters like Ron Stetson, Todd Susman, Gary Ramsey, and Colleen Smith Wallnau to name a few.
So who has been your industry influence and why?
I grew up watching action movies and classics with my dad, so definitely saw a lot of movies with stars like Clint Eastwood, Robert Deniro, Al Pacino, and Tom Cruise. I think watching action movies influenced me to aspire and look up to badass women in the industry. Think Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich, Viola Davis, Charlize Theron, even timeless Hollywood icons like Elizabeth Taylor who was considered a bit more free-spirited in her time.
You’re currently starring in the Amazon Prime series ‘The Influencers’. Please share with our readers what the show is, your role, and what viewers can expect?
The Influencers is nothing but fun and laughs the whole way through, binge-worthy for sure. The show itself is all about six thirsty social media stars that are forced to live together under one roof as they compete for a dream brand deal. What’s the worst that can happen? I’ll let you see for yourself. My character is Deandra Styles, the host of the show, and as the audience, you get to watch how all the characters act when the cameras are rolling and cut. The twists and turns are never-ending.
You’ve starred in several productions including the popular award-winning series FAK YAASS. What have been your most memorable filming experiences that now shape your approach to acting and producing?
Every show plays a part to help shape me as an artist. It’s partly why I love acting, you’re always growing, learning, and exploring. FAK YAASS was my first time taking on the role of a producer, and what a learning curve that was, but well worth it. I learned so much of the work that goes behind the scenes and about tax credits. Seeing all the moving parts before you even hit set actually helped calm my nerves as an actor because I now see more clearly what’s happening while on set and am more aware of how I can make everyone else’s life easier.
You are part of Counterbalance Collective, a non-profit women-led and women-focused film development and production organization. Can you tell us more about the collective and your assessment of women-led and women-focused content in film creation? Do you feel the industry is moving significantly in the right direction?
So, the Collective was formed because a bunch of us met while studying together at Raw Acting Studios under Sophie Ann Rooney. Some of us were tired of waiting to work together, to get that first break, or make the jump from non-union to union. We got together and wanted to do something about it, so we decided instead of waiting for a seat at the table, we would just make our own. We all vary in experience and the Collective is really just that, a place for women to come together, learn, grow, and keep creating. Right now, we are premiering Season One called Closed Doors, an anthology of nine short films that we shot in 9 consecutive days. Season Two is in the works.
Personally, I think the industry has definitely started to move in the right direction, but there is still more to go when it comes to equality and showcasing stories that haven’t been given enough attention. It’s why I’m a huge supporter of LGBTQ+ content and I hope to see more content created around BIPOC communities. I found when creating content with Counterbalance that having stronger feminine energy was comforting and discussions were really open. Being women lead and women-focused we weren’t afraid to touch on things like sexuality, loneliness, body image, periods, or abusive relationships. You’ll see some of those themes looked at in Season One of Closed Doors.
As part of the Collective, you produced an anthology of nine short films in nine days including ‘Pineapple’ Please tell us more about the project.
So, the anthology is called Closed Doors and we’re currently premiering them, one each week. You can find them on Youtube or our Facebook Page @counterbalancecollective. ‘Pineapple’ was a short that I got to write with Dianne Aguilar and act in. It was incredibly fun and scary at the same time because it challenged me to be comfortable in my own skin. My character comes across as super reserved, initially but then you see how open she is with her partner behind closed doors.
What has been your biggest challenge as an actor/producer and how did you overcome it?
Oh goodness, a tough one to answer. I would say coming to terms with the unknown, perhaps more so with actors than producers. As actors, you never know when you’re going to land a role and sometimes it could take years before you get that “big break” that moves your career. Being ok with that and not having stability like 9-5 jobs has definitely always posed a challenge. As a producer, there is ALWAYS pressure. You’re constantly putting out fires or balancing funds and that can be stressful enough when jobs are on the line.
For dealing with the unknown and being ok with instability I find scheduling helps a lot. If you aren’t auditioning, make yourself busy with acting whether that’s class or running lines with a friend. Having a side hustle isn’t unheard of either, so find something you love that’s flexible and doesn’t take away from your true career. I know a lot of friends that do coaching, have a self-tape studio, or try to get in rooms as a reader. When it comes to money and producing BE ORGANIZED, I can’t stress that enough. It’ll save you a lot of stress and color coding things can be super fun. If I’m too overwhelmed, taking some me-time to either meditate, stretch, or even do a quick workout always helps me refocus and let the stress take a back seat.
Can you share any information on other projects in the pipeline?
I can’t say all of them because they’re still in the works, but you can catch me on Season 7 of Good Witch on the Hallmark Channel. I believe it’s also available to stream on Google Play and Starz.
As an ambitious and talented artist, are there any goals you’ve set yourself?
100%. I find goals keep me motivated and active to achieve what I want in my career. Right now, I’m focusing on the development of a few projects and pitching another. My goal by 2022 is to have one or two picked up and be able to work with representation in LA, Toronto, and Vancouver.
Where can our readers find out more about you and your projects?
I post more on Instagram than anything, so social media or my website is best. Readers can find me on Instagram under @leannensmith_ or Facebook under @leanne.noelle.smith and my website is www.leannensmith.com
To see any of the projects I’m a part of their Instagram’s are below:
The Influencers – @influencerstheseries
Fak Yaass – @fakyaass
Counterbalance Collective – @counterbalancecollective
Photos by Denise Grant. Additional images provided by Project Four
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