Meet Lauren Dreggors | Actor

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

Hi Lauren, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
A career in acting wasn’t something I ever really thought about as a kid. I used to have pretty debilitating stage fright and would refuse to say any lines during school plays. One day in college, more or less on a whim, I auditioned for a production with the theatre department. I got a small role in the play, and it wasn’t until then that I discovered my passion. I fell in love with every aspect of putting on a show. Being part of a collective group effort that comes together to tell stories that need to be told is an incredibly fulfilling endeavor for me.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m incredibly passionate about telling truthful stories, and I always strive to put forth an authentic performance that an audience can relate to. I want people to be able to see a part of themselves in the characters I portray.

I also hope to be able to entertain people. When I was younger, I had a few favorite TV shows and movies that I would turn to whenever I was feeling a little down. They provided a lot of comfort to me during trying times, and I hope to one day be a part of something that can provide that same comfort to others through my work.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way is perseverance. As an actor, you face a lot of rejection. Sometimes it messes with your head and makes you think that you’re not good enough, even when that’s very rarely, if ever, the case. But I can always rely on my amazing circle of friends and family to encourage me to keep going.

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.
I have so many favorite spots around Atlanta!

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, and two of my favorite breakfast places in the world are right here in Atlanta. The Silver Skillet has a fantastic Southern comfort breakfast. They have a classic menu of things like pancakes, bacon, and biscuits, but you can’t let the seemingly simple menu fool you because every dish is incredibly delicious. They also serve lunch on the weekdays. A lot of TV shows, movies, and commercials, have been filmed at The Silver Skillet, so you can take a look at pictures of the actors who have been there. Java Jive is another great breakfast spot. It is a quaint little spot with great espresso drinks and fun twists on breakfast classics.

I love to go hiking, and in Atlanta, we are so lucky to have so many great and diverse parks in the area. Stone Mountain has incredible views of Atlanta and surrounding cities. Arabia Mountain is a breathtaking hike with a beautiful lake and rock formations that look almost extraterrestrial. If you’re able to take a day and drive a little outside of Atlanta, Amicalola Falls in Dawsonville is home to the highest waterfall in Georgia.

Atlanta also has a wide array of other attractions to visit. The Atlanta Botanical Garden always has gorgeous plants and flowers on display, and they do events during the holidays that are fun for people of all ages. And I love to visit the sea otters (my favorite animal) at the Georgia Aquarium.

I always love it when my friends and family visit me in Atlanta because there are so many amazing things to do! And the restaurants and places I just mentioned don’t even scratch the surface. The last time my friend Sam visited me, I gave her a self-made list of things there are to do around Atlanta, and she picked out the activities she most wanted to do while she was visiting. It’s hard to be bored here!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am incredibly fortunate to have so many people who helped me get to where I am today.

I couldn’t have asked for better parents, and I will never be able to thank them enough for everything they’ve done for me. They are always there for me whenever I need them. Despite neither of them having much background in the industry, they have encouraged me to pursue my passion for acting and have helped me in any and every way they can. My mother, Robin, is always willing to jump in the car and drive to Atlanta to help me film self-taped auditions. My father, Steve, is always quick to tell me how proud he is of me when I feel discouraged. I don’t think I would have started this journey without their support.

My extended family, comprised of aunts, uncles, and cousins, has driven miles just to watch me perform. I can remember one night in particular when they all drove over two hours to Macon just to watch me perform as Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet.” It was my first lead role, and it meant everything in the world to me to know they came all that way to support me.

My partner, Evan, has continuously helped and encouraged me. It’s not always easy to be in a relationship with an actor. Pursuing an acting career can take up a lot of time. Sometimes our time together is unexpectedly interrupted by deadlines, meetings, or acting classes. Sometimes I have to travel for extended periods of time for filming. Evan has not only taken in it stride but has offered his help every step of the way. He has taken photos and headshots for me. He has helped me film auditions. He has urged me to keep going when I feel defeated. I consider myself lucky to have a partner like him, who is not only supportive of my passion but is right there cheering me on and reminding me what I’m capable of accomplishing.

My best friend, Sam Bell, and I have known each other for over twelve years. We grew up together, and I have had the great privilege of seeing her become the amazing and accomplished woman she is today. From the first moment that I told Sam I wanted to be an actor, she has assured me that I can do it and has always believed in me. Sam used to drive hundreds of miles from Florida to see me perform in Georgia. She is my “Chief Hype Officer” in charge of inspiring and motivating me when I feel deterred (and she’s really good at her job).

I also have to thank my adorable dog, Dixie. No matter how bad of a day I’ve had or how low I may be thinking of myself, Dixie always greets me at the front door with such a joyous welcome, you would think I’ve been gone for days (even if it’s just been five minutes). And she’s always ready for a good snuggle.

And I owe just about all of my success in acting to my first director Scot Mann, who took a chance on someone who had no acting experience when she first walked into that theatre. It is all because of Scot that I am an actor today. I truly don’t think I would have ever discovered my love of acting had he not cast me in that first production. He gave me a role and showed me the ropes. He was patient when I didn’t understand what “stage right” or “stage left” was. He was kind in answering all of my questions. He offered his insight and advice when I told him after graduation that I wanted to be a professional actor. And it doesn’t end with him. I am also eternally grateful to everyone in the Mercer Theatre department, students and faculty alike, who welcomed me with open arms into their tight-knit community. They accepted me as I was and yet still made me better. They constantly raised the bar and challenged me. They showed me what it meant to be a true artist. They made me a better actor and a better person. I loved my time at Mercer Theatre, and I go back every chance I get to see the next great roster of talent they produce.

As Leslie Knope from the TV show “Parks and Recreation” says many times, “No one achieves anything alone.” I will never be able to express with words alone how much every single one of these people means to me. I hold each of them dearly in my heart and dedicate all of my successes to them.

Website: https://imdb.me/LaurenDreggors

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

Other: https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/LaurenDreggors

Image Credits
Sammie Hottel