This month’s professional spotlight features Bisserat Tseggai, an accomplished actress with credits including, Seven Seconds, Law and Order SVU, Luke Cage, Orange is the New Black and more. Learn more about Bisserat, her path to becoming an actor, and her advice for people looking to break into the acting business in the full spotlight.

Could you briefly explain some of your responsibilities in your career role?

I am an actor. My job is to contribute to the telling of people’s stories and bring characters to life. I do theatre, film, and television.

What inspired you to pursue a career in acting?

When I was little I was always telling stories and impersonating people and after I did my first play in elementary school I was hooked. I loved stepping into the lives of other people and telling their stories. When I realized you could make a living doing this I was sold! As I got older, I realized that so much of how we become who we are is influenced by the art we consume. I can’t tell you how many times I had a thought or a feeling that I couldn’t articulate, but then I read a poem or heard a song or watched a show or film that helped me put language around it. I wanted to be a part of that.

What was your approach to following a career path in acting?

There are an infinite number of paths that can lead to a career in acting. For me, I knew I wanted to act but didn’t know where to start. One day my best friend randomly told me about a showcase where you could perform in front of casting directors, agents, managers, etc. and encouraged me to do it so I did and got some great feedback. After that, I moved to NYC and did an acting program at a conservatory then found an agent and started booking acting jobs.

What has been your favorite role you’ve played so far?

I just finished doing a play called “The Jungle” about a refugee camp in Calais, France and I played Mahalet, an Eritrean refugee. Never in my life have I ever had the chance to actually be Eritrean AND speak Tigrinya ON STAGE! It was such an honor! I also was the understudy for the characters Helene, another Eritrean refugee, and Beth, a British volunteer at the refugee camp which meant that for the shows where the women who usually play those roles couldn’t go on, I went on in their place. I honestly had so much fun playing all three of these characters. They are each so different from one another and all three of them were always in my head and I loved it.

Is there a philosophy that drives your career?

 I think it’s important to always remember why you’re doing what you’re doing and to cling to that.

You pursued what many in our community would consider a non-traditional career path. Did family and friends try to encourage you to pursue another career path and how did you navigate through that?

Of course they did! But I understand that any push-back I’ve ever gotten from my parents stemmed from a place of care and concern for my well-being and I love them and appreciate them so much for that. When I think about how much they sacrificed and everything they went through to be here and give their children opportunities they never had, I understand why they would be hesitant to support a dream that includes zero job security, endless rejection, and only a small chance of success. So I went ahead and finished college then got a big-girl job for a few years but I hated it. I was so unhappy and decided that, since I was an adult, I was just gonna go ahead and try acting. Once I showed them that you could actually make a living as an actor, they got on board. Now they are my biggest supporters and always bragging to their friends about me. My siblings and friends never doubted for a second that this was the right career move for me and have believed in me more than I even believed in myself since day one.

What do you consider to be your greatest professional accomplishment?

Honestly, not quitting. People think acting is such a glamorous job, and I know it can be, but it is actually hard work. It’s hard on the body, the soul, the mind (the bank account!). We get rejected every single day, there’s no job security, and we keep going anyway.

What tips or advice would you offer anyone looking to break into the acting business?

The best advice I’ve been given as an actor has been: If you can think of any other job/career that could make you happy for the rest of your life, go do that instead. This is not for the faint of heart. But if you know that acting is the only thing that will bring you joy and contentment (as far as a career is concerned) then move to a city that has an acting scene and just do it. Take acting classes, network, volunteer at theatres to be an usher so that you can see shows for free, find other actor friends who are also figuring it out and do it together, exercise, eat right, go to therapy, GO TO THERAPY, and don’t be afraid to ask questions and “look stupid” because I guarantee you any question you have, I’ve had and every other actor has had at some point. Most importantly, figure out the “why” at the center of your desire to act and meditate on it daily. Remember it when things are going well and when they’re not.

Outside of all of your hard work and efforts toward building your brand, what do you do for fun? Hobbies?

I love to read and I love reading several books at once. Right now I’m reading four books that are so different from each other. Recently, I also started writing and I love it and hate it but mostly love it. I also love spending as much time as I can with my family, especially my nieces and nephews.