Fayna Sanchez
Interviewed by: Amanda Lenker Doyle, CSA
1) Has there been a Casting Director that has encouraged and/or supported you in your career?
Amanda Lenker Doyle has always been a champion of not only myself, but of all artists. She is a CD that really loves actors and understands that for an actor to do their best possible work they need to be comfortable and feel supported. Amanda always creates that environment in her audition rooms, a safe place to play and do your best.
2) What work are you most proud of?
I look forward to many challenging roles in TV and film, but I would have to say that the work I am most proud of is Veronica in Stephen Adly Guirgis’s The Mother****** With The Hat. A stage piece that I self-produced. One that earned many nominations and brought home a win for Best Ensemble Theatre at The Hollywood Fringe Festival. The role required an extremely deep emotional and physical life. Veronica is an alcoholic, drug addict, and passionate lover who struggles to hold on to what little control she has in her life. I worked on the role for nearly 2 years performing on both coasts, and learned so much not only about my craft but also about myself.
3) What or who inspired you to pursue acting as a career?
I’m a theatre kid. I’ve always been inspired by the stage and chasing the palpable feeling you get when you see a good performance or when you can make an audience feel something. It’s truly where my heart feels most alive. That also naturally lends itself to the classic films of old Hollywood. Some of my fondest childhood memories were watching old black and white films. Many of which were so theatrical and could evoke emotion with one line of dialogue. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. Make people stop and think or feel something different. Even if it’s just for a moment in time, I’ve done my job.
4) What was your first IMDbPro credit and how did you feel when you saw it?
My first credit was a co-star role for Angie Tribeca on TBS and it made me feel like I was finally able to be a part of the conversation. So much of the work we do when we are early in our careers is creating relationships and trust with Casting Directors and other industry professionals. Having my first co-star credit on a show with such talented artists was a way to show that I belong here and that I can be trusted on set and to do the work. It was a rite of passage!
5) How has IMDbPro helped you market yourself to filmmakers?
IMDbPro gives a voice to artists who are working hard to generate traction in the industry. In an industry that is saturated with talent, it’s a great tool to stand out from the crowd. The features are easy to use and allow you to add photos and videos that filmmakers can quickly review in a clean and professional way. With so little in our control, it’s nice to be able to showcase our work on an even playing field.
6) Any funny casting room stories?
I was at a callback and paired up with a man who I had never met before. As we were preparing to go into the session, we realized that we had graduated from the same BFA acting program. We had the same mentors and had just missed each other by a year. We immediately bonded, and when it was our turn to go into the improvised scene, we were able to create a whole world together and had a wonderful session. I ended up booking that role and was reaffirmed about the power of comfort and confidence in the audition room.
7) Tell us a fun fact about you outside of acting:
I love the city but crave time away from the sights and sounds of city life. So, in 2022, I bought land in the high desert near Joshua Tree National Park and I am slowly building an off-grid oasis (complete with a compost toilet!). My hopes are that someday it will serve as an artist’s community - a place for people to connect with nature and get quiet with their artist’s inner voice, while living in a simpler and more sustainable environment.
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