Meet Matt Lewis: Actor

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

Hi Matt, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Years ago, I got a great piece of advice from a former acting teacher named Bob Moyer. He noticed that I was being a pretty lazy teenager and gliding through my life in general. He said I should, “avoid being comfortable,” meaning that I can’t really grow as a person or as an actor if I’m not challenging myself. I really took that to heart over the years, and it’s always in the back of my mind when I tackle a new challenge in my life. There are aspects of being an actor that can be really scary, or difficult, or both, but whenever I choose to accept the challenge of doing the difficult, scary thing it almost always pays off.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
“Hustle until the haters ask if you’re hiring.” I stumbled upon this quote a few years ago and its really stuck with me. I always try to tackle every opportunity, every audition with gusto and positive energy. Being an actor inherently includes a lot of rejection and self-doubt, so I’m always striving to rise above those things and just hustle as hard as I can. People may be able to act better than me, and they can’t outwork me.

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 rarely have the time these days, but I like to play golf. I picked it up when I was thirty and taught myself. I got some cheap clubs and started playing at the course very close to my home at the time, Candler Park Golf Course. It’s a nine hole walking course. Back then the course was in embarrassingly terrible shape. The greens were hard dirt and the fairways were full of weeds, but it was cheap. I think a round cost $5. It’s around $10 now, which is still quite a bargain, and it’s now one of the prettiest public courses in Atlanta. It’s also very challenging. My favorite part are the local regulars that are seemingly always there. I love showing friends this hidden little gem in Atlanta. 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?
My wife Madlon is the glue that holds our household together, and I can’t imagine being where I am today without her in my life. She’s always been so supportive of my dreams and ambitions, even though it always means she has to take on more responsibilities. My work as an actor takes me away from home quite a bit, which means she has to take care of our two children by herself. She’s an amazing wife and mother.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mattlewisactor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goreadabook

Image Credits
Headshot: Stacey Bode