Meet Bruna Sampaio | Actress

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bruna Sampaio and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bruna, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I started having ballet classes when I was only four years old and later on, I discovered theatre, so performing arts was always part of my life. As a child, I used to create plays for my family during Christmas and loved to play different characters, which sparked my creativity and imagination.
At the age of 12, I enrolled in theatre classes, and that’s when I discovered my true calling. Being on stage made me feel alive, fulfilled, and content. It was a transformative experience that I knew I wanted to pursue as a career. Acting became my future goal, and I was determined to make it happen.
However, I feel like the turning point was in September 2018. I just moved to London to study Theatre Arts and I was looking at the Tower Bridge. I had to pinch myself because I couldn’t believe that I was there. I remember taking a picture and posting it on Instagram: “I can’t believe I’m going to stay here forever.” Little did I know that in the next year I would surprise myself and I would go to New York. That moment was the spark that ignited the beginning of my journey.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I would say that being brave and resilient over the past five years are the qualities that describe me the best. My journey has been proving that even though I’m still very young, I’ve been fighting for my dream and that’s what makes me so proud!
A lot of people ask me how I can do it, to cross the Atlantic all by myself and take that risk. The truth is, it’s scary, but highly rewarding. It’s uncomfortable to step out of our comfort zone, to move to a different country, with a different language, culture and with people that you don’t know. But it’s only when you do that, you start building the life that you always dreamed of. That’s what happened to me when I moved to London and to New York. Every time I went back to my country, with all the highs and lows, I always carried a bag filled with obstacles that turned into victories, because you can find happiness (and a lot of laughs) in the whirlwind of your trip.
At the end, every step counts. Giving up, for me, was never an option.
However, moving abroad from Portugal to London and to New York was and still is a challenge.
Living on the other side of the world in search of a dream has a cost and I’m not talking about money, it’s a lot more than that. It’s the cost of missing the people I love and had to left behind. It’s the cost of leaving my comfort zone and my financial, social and mental stability. And the worst part is all of this won’t give me back the moments I lost with my family. That’s the price you must pay when you want to pursue your dream.
That’s the biggest challenge!

I learned that rejection and failure are commonplace in this industry. We must view them as opportunities to improve rather than taking them personally. Most of the time, it’s not about our talent or our work but whether we’re the right fit for a specific character. It’s a lesson that comes with experience, and as we grow and mature, we won’t do well on the roles we didn’t get. Instead, we’ll celebrate the auditions we landed because that’s already a victory. Getting the role is just the cherry on top. Life is short, and we only get one shot at it. So, it’s up to each of us to believe in ourselves and take action on our dreams instead of just dreaming about them. It takes courage and faith to leap forward, but there’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing our efforts come to fruition.
Another lesson I’ve learned is “Never stop learning!”. This lesson has opened many doors for me in the industry. Although I’m an actress, I have also learned about backstage roles such as lighting, sound, costumes, and front-of-house positions. Understanding these aspects has granted me access to theatres, which ultimately led me to the big stage and the opportunity to perform.
Having knowledge is critical. It’s essential to learn as much as you can because you never know when you might need it in the future.

To conclude, my advice is to enjoy the process and not be afraid to fail because good things don’t just happen to others. The secret is to work hard, be humble, learn from others, and never give up on your dreams. Don’t let rejection crush you, but rather focus on achieving your goals with the right tools, determination, and persistence.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

The most emotionally place that should not be missed is the visit to the Memorial 9/11. Here, people can experience the intimate pain felt by the American people, as well as visiting the museum. It is a place of memories that take us back to that tragic day of September 11th.

The various parks, such as Central Park and Bryant Park, are examples of how a big city also has space for preserving nature. They are places of relaxation and contact with nature that everyone should take advantage of and get to know.

Finally, I recommend the diverse gastronomy that exists in the USA, from Brazilian, Italian, Chinese, and Portuguese restaurants. NY is truly international.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am grateful to many people who have helped me along the way and made me who I am today. My parents have always been a strong support system for me and my brother and I can’t thank them enough. They wanted us to be happy and encouraged us to follow our dreams, unlike some parents who may push their children to become doctors or lawyers. My parents invested in my education and helped me achieve success in both my academic and professional life. Without their support and sacrifices, I wouldn’t be where I am today. My brother, who is 26 years old and an aeronautical engineer, is also a great source of support and advice for me. He is always there when I need his help. I am also grateful to my dance, English, and drama teachers who believed in me and helped me along the way. My drama teacher, in particular, told my parents that I was meant to be on stage, and I have never stopped pursuing my passion for acting. Having people who believed in me gave me the strength to follow my uncertain but fascinating path.

Website: https://brunalisasampaio.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brunalisasampaio/