Meet Lucia Scarano | Actor, teacher, mentor, coach, Mom, Nonna – not necessarily in that order.

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

Hi Lucia, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
“What’s worse than failure is regret.”

Turning 65 on Oct 20th and speaking with my close-to-retirement friends who are doctors, lawyers, and high-profile business people – the filter of old age allows us to reminisce and play “what if”. Many of said friends had regrets because they were either afraid or discouraged to pursue their passion, their dreams.
I defied my family’s wish to be a doctor and studied acting, both in college and afterward in NYC. I married and had three children, all of whom are adults and in creative careers (writers and musicians) because I repeated that quote to them ad nauseam.
Has it been easy? No. But regret will erode your soul.
Life is too short.
I’ll be a surgeon in my next life.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Actor/Storyteller

I am very proud of my tenacity. I have maintained a fairly decent flow of work for over 35 years. I put my career on hold to raise three children but tried to always keep my foot in the door.

My passion for theatre began on a dare in high school and after landing the lead as a freshman, I never looked back, I attended Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA, and earned a degree in theatre, art history, and Italian studies, I continued my acting education by moving to NYC where I studied for five years. In the 1980s the ethnic look was not popular but again, it did not deter me. I was eager to learn. My husband at the time was also an actor and studied with Stella Adler, who was ancient by then. Newly married and wanting children, knowing we didn’t make enough money to survive in the city, we moved far enough away so we would not be tempted to go in for ‘one more audition’.

We moved to Virginia Beach where I studied and became a Montessori teacher, thinking I was done with professional acting. My husband garnered a job at a new company as a director/producer of industrial/safety training videos. They needed actors, I was trained so I worked with them often. I cannot tell you how many of those videos I did. Hundreds. As my three children grew, I became active in local theatre, serving on the board, directing, and acting. Every so often, a film would come into town or nearby in Richmond or Charlottesville. I heard about an agent in North Carolina who might be interested in taking me on. I had to submit a reel and promise to take acting seriously – no excuses. I am still with that agent today and am happy to call him my friend,

In the early 90s, I got my first role in a feature film. My small scene was with two well-known actors, I won’t mention their names because they were so rude to me, if I didn’t have the aforementioned tenacity, I would have quit. I am happy to report those negative experiences were few and far between in my career. Over the 30 years in Virginia Beach, I was fortunate to work often, traveling all over, meeting and interacting with amazing and talented actors and directors: I earned my SAG AFTRA card after working three weeks on Evan Almighty. Even though I was a principle, I challenge you to find me. The director, Tom Shadyac was one of the kindest and most humble people I have ever met. I have rarely been star-struck but working on Meg Ryan’s directorial debut film Ithaca, was a highlight during those years. She was a phenomenal director.

I got divorced in 2013 and decided since I was working in the South often, and since my kids were grown and moved away, now was the time to move to Atlanta with the full support of my children and agent. I made the move alone, knowing almost no one in 2017, and hit the ground running. The ATL casting directors knew me already and embraced my local status. I booked thirteen shows my first year and nine the next and then Covid hit. Needless to say, now with the strike, the last few years have been very tough.

I turned 65 in October this year. When the industry picks up again, it will be interesting to see if I have ‘aged out’. Always a brunette, I am not going to transition to my ever-encroaching grey hair – my agent says it may make me land more of those grandma roles.

Over the years I have taught acting to actors of all ages and levels. The first question I ask is, “Why do you want to be an actor?” Sadly, close to 80% of them reply with, “I want to be rich and/or famous”. I immediately tell them I may not be the teacher for them. My approach is always the same. We are storytellers. Our job is to connect with others on a visceral level. There is an invisible umbilical cord tying us all together. If we can reach one another emotionally, share and unite on the common ground of life experiences, then we are successful.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them to the Aquarium, and the High Museum, walk the belt line, and then roam around Decatur and end up at Sapori di Napoli for authentic Italian pizza. If the weather is nice, walking around any of the beautiful parks or the botanical gardens is a must. Shakespeare Tavern is fun and I would check out the local theatre for plays.

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?
Truthfully, my consistent source of support has been my three children. To hear my two boys, ages 35, and 32 say, “I am proud of you, Mom.” still makes me teary. When my 30-year-old daughter decided to move to Berlin, Germany she reflected on my move to Atlanta (alone and knowing no one). “Mom, you are such a badass. If you can do it, so can I.”

That is enough for me.

I should mention when I was studying in NYC in the early 1980s, Peter Miner, a well-known TV director, told me something I never forgot: “Lucia, you have all the talent to make it in this business but you don’t have the looks. You aren’t pretty enough.” As much as that stung, it made me think – I would rather have talent and learn and grow than “looks” which will change and fade. It motivated me to hone my craft.

Other: https://www.imdb.me/luciascarano

Image Credits
All the photos are mine and those taken on set were taken with permission.