Meet Katherine Pudish: Actress

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

Hi Katherine, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk has played a really big part in both my life and career- it’s practically my job to take risks, because the actor who takes the riskier choice is usually the one who books the job. I’m admittedly not the person who does things out of impulse and I like to think things through, but I genuinely admire those with that spontaneous nature and I’ve been attempting to develop it within myself. When I was younger I was rather outspoken and quite the risk taker, and then as I grew up I came to this understanding that it was better if I just followed all the rules and was compliant because people would praise me for it and I would stay out of trouble. People had this idea of who I was because of it, so I think it came as a bit of a surprise to everyone when I declared that I was setting out to become an actress. I knew all along that was what I wanted, but I think my parents almost lost their minds over it! I think they had always assumed I would follow a more traditional path like they did. I absolutely knew it was a risk going into it, but to me it’s been entirely worth it. I’ve grown so much in such a short amount of time it’s unbelievable, and the best part is I’m not even close to finished growing. There’s so much of the world and of myself I haven’t discovered yet, and what I have discovered would have never been possible if I didn’t take these risks that got me to where I am now. 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Since I’ve been working in the industry, I’ve learned a lot of things that you can’t really learn elsewhere. I’ve been lucky enough to work with and learn from some of the most talented actors and directors and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I had the opportunity to work alongside twice Emmy nominated and finalist director Mike Shum as the lead actress in his short film. It premiered at the Plaza Theatre here in Atlanta last year. (Shum)’s actually doing some great documentary work right now for PBS which is really commendable. I know that a lot of aspiring or developing actors have this idea that things will magically appear to them and if they don’t then it just isn’t meant to be. I think that’s a common misconception because from my experience, like with any other career, if you put in the work you’re bound to see some kind of result. If you make an effort to learn everything you can about the industry, and to surround yourself with people who have similar goals, you start to create an energy to you that people will notice, and opportunities will come with it. I absolutely believe that the chances for your success are really about as slim or as great as you decide they will be.

What is a lesson you’ve learned recently that you could share with us? 
I’ve learned that it is more than okay to be less than perfect, in real life and especially when you’re acting. It’s the moments when you show vulnerability and imperfection that resonate and leave the greatest impact on people. It’s a terrifying thing to reveal the emotions and parts of ourselves that society has told us to keep hidden, but I think it’s really important to show people that whatever they’re going through, maybe other people are too. I think it’s my duty to convey that, so I try to take on roles that shine a light on important issues people are facing to help show them that they aren’t alone.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If a friend is in town for the first time, I’d say take them to those touristy locations you can find on the internet. They’ve never been there and you’d be surprised at how much they might enjoy them! Piedmont Park is one of the most versatile places that comes to mind, because there’s so much you can do there all while getting some fresh air. There are also a couple of drive-in theatres around that are absolutely dreamy. I’m such a sucker for those kinds of things. For restaurants, Atlanta is on top of the game. R. Thomas Deluxe Grill is a personal favorite that gives you quite the experience. It’s all organic food and the place is open 24/7. They have talking parrots and cockatoos to keep you company which is quite genius. Parking there is an experience of its own, if you’ve ever tried to park there you know exactly what I mean. It’s totally worth it though!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Other than my incredibly supportive friends and coaches, my grandfather is the one that comes to mind. He was not only an inspiration to me but to countless others as well. He spent his early years building up flourishing businesses in Hong Kong and dedicated his later days to funding bridges in the villages of mainland China and building roads and community centers there. I’ve been working closely with a few charity organizations as well in attempts to give back and hopefully make him proud. He was one of the few people who taught me from a young age that not only was anything I set my mind to possible but that I am able to inspire and influence others in the same way he did for me. I’d like to get to the point where I can make as great of a positive impact on the world as he was able to.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katherinepudish/
Other: https://www.imdb.me/katherinepudish

Image Credits
Milo Jackson