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

Hi Kres, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I try to follow creative impulse and trust that it will take me where I need to go. If a project is exciting me , I like to think that’s the path to follow. I’ve left projects and in my case, left a working career as a an actress in film nd television because I couldn’t express myself fully there. I have to say it reduced my income, but the creative freedom that came with that decision was well worth it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I fell in love with acting in my teens and pursued it passionately working in film, television and theatre. I’ve created several solo shows that I currently tour with throughout the U.S. and Canada. I look for ways to express myself with humor, originality as every artist does. In some sense I’ve taken the less ” commercial” route to my career because I felt I had a particular way of seeing things- the absurdity of things, life – I guess you could say and that has been my imperative to express that. It’s always challenging to be an artist of any kind, actor, writer, painter. There’s much rejection, disappointment, frustration and certainly financial uncertainty. Sometimes I do lament that I had chosen a more ” normal” career. I’ve had success though, through determination, courage, discipline. Such important things to keep you going. I’d like and I think people do see my work as funny, off beat and original.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I think one of the places I’d probably want to take a friend or visitor is to the many ” hidden stairs ” in Los Angels. Old walkways that were created many years ago that go over many of the hilly areas in L.A. They’re so surprising and tucked away in great old area of the city neighborhoods. Los Angels is so diverse and the neighborhoods can be so filled with the marks of different architecture. I love L.A’s old neighborhoods. Ad I would definitely want to show visitors some of the cities older , beautiful libraries.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I owe so much to a theater group in Los Angeles, Theatre West , where I have been a member for many years. Their support and encouragement in their writing and acting workshops has been invaluable. I am particular grateful to that late Edward Parone ,an eminent theatre director, poet and editor for his belief in my work and its originality and to the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angels for producing some of my early writings. And of course, my husband Paul who’s always cheering me on!

Website: https://www.kresmersky.com

Youtube: Kres Mersky channel

Image Credits
Photography by Paul Gersten

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