Los Angeles-based actress Anastasiya Mitrunen makes it her mission to advocate for those that can not advocate for themselves. Whether Anastasiya's work in her industry or her philanthropy, she does everything with the hope of ending others' suffering. You can find Anastasiya recently starring in her feature film "The Walk," opposite Terrance Howard and Jeremy Piven. "The Walk" premiered on June 10th and relays the story of a court-ordered Integration in Boston. Although Anastasiya's character is not on the right side of history, her acting is genuinely insightful to the hate we are still trying to counter in modern times. Anastasiya Mitrunen has won the Best Actress Awards in several film festivals, and without a doubt, "The Walk" is a must-see movie! If you are interested in Anastasiya's feature film, her thoughts on her character Pat Coughlin, or Anastasiya's humanitarian work with L.A Animal Save please continue reading the interview below!

Where are you based?
I’m based in Los Angeles. I moved to L.A. because it is a city where creativity thrives. Being surrounded by like-minded people who are pursuing careers in the arts and are constantly working on creative projects raises my own ambitions to a level that I could never achieve living elsewhere.

When did you know acting was a passion of yours?
Growing up in such poverty in Siberia, as a little kid, I always fantasized about becoming other people who lived what I thought to be better lives, and I would pretend to be them. But it wasn’t until I really learned the craft of acting at the Stella Adler Academy in Los Angeles that my interest grew. The immense amount of preparation it takes to play a character so different from myself is now my biggest passion in life.

From your first ever role to now, what is a crucial lesson you’ve learned about the industry?
I’ve learned that hard work pays off. Acting is a skill that requires both natural ability and acquired technique, and although there are so many people in Hollywood who consider themselves actors, a majority have not put in the work to learn the technique, which requires years of study.

Please tell us a bit about your feature film “The Walk.”
“The Walk” is an intense character piece about two families struggling with hatred, set against the forced integration of the Boston Public Schools in 1974. It gives a critical insight into an instrumental yet conflicting time in U.S. history. The film really tries to get inside the heads of several types of people: racists, the victims of racism, and people who don’t think they are racist but realize they might be.

Why are films like “The Walk” so vital to the awareness of racial discrimination and bigotry in society?
Racism and bigotry continue to be as big a problem as ever, if not worse. Films like “The Walk” keep the dialogue going and expose people to the traumatic effects of hatred, which will hopefully spark empathy, and empathy results in healing.

You are obviously a white woman. How did being in “The Walk” help you become more understanding of minority’s plights? How can white people become better allies?
Growing up in a foreign country, I didn’t really understand the concept of racism until I moved to America, and quite frankly, I still don’t understand why people can hate others so much just because they look slightly different. I think if white people can really experience the effect racism has on its victims there can be change.

You play Pat Coughlin. Can you tell us a little bit about her? Do you see any part of yourself in that character?
Pat is nothing like me, and that’s why I loved playing her. She’s a very religious, clearly oppressed housewife who was bullied as a teenager because she had a funny accent. In that sense, she’s a positive familial force because her experience has tempered her husband’s natural, cultural tendency toward racism. When Pat sees her daughter becoming the type of kid who bullied her at that age, it breaks her heart. On the one hand, Pat and I have little in common. She’s a very religious, clearly oppressed housewife. On the other hand, she was bullied as a teenager because she had a funny accent. I’ve experienced bullying and mockery due to my own accent. In particular, several former acting teachers had told me that I could never be a successful actress due to my speech. Hearing that harsh criticism was demoralizing and discouraging. In that sense, I can certainly relate to Pat’s childhood trauma, which eventually shaped her role as a positive familial force because her experience helped temper her husband’s natural, cultural tendency toward racism. Similarly, I’ve used the negativity I received as a motivation to work even harder honing my acting skills.

How do you prepare to step into roles like Pat Coughlin? Do you have any techniques that help you easily transition into acting?
First, I do lots of research. Since Pat lived through a time period long before I was born, I had to find out what that era was like. I then create a back story for her, and I am always conscious of that, and how her past traumas and current outside influences affect her behavior in each scene. Once I become the character, I simply listen to my scene partners, and react the way Pat would react.

What was it like to win Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress at venues like the Rome International Movie Awards, the New York Movie Awards, and theIndieFEST Film Awards? What were the sentiments, and how did you celebrate?
It was a shock, quite frankly. I am my most ardent critic, always thinking about how I could have improved my performance, so to find out that other people liked what I did was mind blowing.

What audience do you hope this film will reach? What do you hope they will take away from the piece?
I’m hoping people who contribute to the suffering of others see the film and start to understand the effect of their actions.

Can you tell us a bit about your work with the L.A. Animal Save? Why is this organization important to you?
I feel that empathy doesn’t stop with just humans but should extend to all sentient beings. Suffering is suffering. I am active in an organization called L.A. Animal Save, which is a group that tries to raise this point and increase empathy for the animals. The local chapter holds vigils, of which I’ve taken part. We protest the killing of animals for food and “bear witness” to their deaths by peacefully protesting outside slaughter houses around Los Angeles. In the case of our pig vigils in front of Farmer John slaughter house in Vernon, CA, we wait for large trucks carrying pigs, stop them at the entrance, and give the animals one last drink of water before they are sent to their deaths. We also visit Mao Foods in Los Angeles and bear witness to the large trucks delivering chickens to that slaughter house.

Do you believe social media is an effective way to spread awareness about the slaughter of innocent animals?
Yes. Social media is now the most popular way people receive their news, and to graphically show the inhumanity of how animals are treated on social media may effect change.

What can the average citizen do about the issue?
The average person should stop eating meat and other animal products, and instead consume alternative, plant-based foods. This will not only relieve animal suffering, but is also the best solution to climate change. We can save animals and the planet at the same time.

Do you have any upcoming projects fans should know about?
I’m preparing for a leading role in a film to be produced this winter called The Panic, based on a true story, about the financial meltdown in 1907 wherein J.P. Morgan saved the economy but, by doing so, lined his own pockets. I will play the wife of Charles Barney, who created the mess through his own greed, fueled by pressure from my character. I play the “bad guy” in the film, which I’m really looking forward to. Villains are always much more interesting and challenging to play because, no matter how bad their behavior, their actions always must seem real to the audience.

What is one hope you have for humanity?
I’m hoping we evolve into a society that has more empathy, and I’m in an industry that can have the greatest effect in achieving that.

It has been a crazy few years. How have you been staying positive?
We are living through a time of great social and political upheaval, and the best way for me to stay positive is to work on movies that try to proliferate peace and harmony.

What is your motto in life?
My motto is to live life trying to relieve the suffering of others because ultimately, that is the only path to your own happiness.

Please follow Anastasiya on the platforms below:
Instagram: @anastasiya_mitrunen

Anastasiya Mitrunen: Understanding The Effects of One’s Actions