LA and NYC-based actress Revell Carpenter is more than a familiar face. Without a doubt, Revell’s training in LA, NYC, and London prove her to be an asset for all her industry endeavors which include directing and writing. Amazingly she has been at work since seven years old, and now you can see Revell starring in her short film “Goodnight”, an emotional and gritty film about ending a relationship. Other than “Goodnight”, you can see Revell in “All American: Homecoming” and “The Deadly Debutante”. With so much under Revell’s belt, you are sure to love her. We urge you to get to know Revell through our interview! If you would like to learn more about Revell’s short film, her work at the New York Public Library, and the overall fabulous human being she is, please continue reading!

Where are you based?
I am based in LA — but also consider myself based in NYC, because that’s where I grew up and where my whole family is. So I am there often!

How did you know acting was a passion of yours?
I have wanted to act since I was a kid, and even got my first headshots and theater roles when I was seven in NY! I come from a family of very hardworking people in mostly practical careers — finance, marketing, etc., and tried to work in fields that were a little more…stable? Ha! In the end, there is nothing I love more than acting and storytelling.

You have studied in Los Angeles, New York, and London. What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned along the way? Do you have a favorite city?
I love London! I am not there nearly enough. NYC I am always biased towards because I grew up there. I’d say the best advice I received in class was to practice empathy all the time. It makes it so much easier to take on different characters if you’ve experienced compassion for people like them.

Can you tell us a bit about your short film “Goodnight”, which you wrote, directed, and starred in?
“Goodnight” tells a story about love ending. I chose a Film Noir style to depict just how overcoming and tragic a break up can feel when you are experiencing it. We also shot a series of flashback scenes using a 16mm Bolex to portray that nostalgia we feel when remembering falling in love.

What was the biggest obstacle in producing “Goodnight”?
We shot the film during the height of the pandemic so we really had very few people in our crew. Everyone was wearing many hats!

What was the biggest accomplishment with Goodnight?
I think the greatest obstacle was also the greatest accomplishment. I am so proud of our small, but extremely capable team. It really taught me that quality is more important than quantity when it comes to producing a film. Everyone felt connected to the story, and put their all into making it the best film it could be.

How did you feel when you found out your film was selected for the Cannes Film Festival? What are the emotions?
Just SO grateful! To have anything I’ve worked on be tied to such a historic and epic event is a dream come true :)

You just got casted in “All American: Homecoming”. Can you tell us a bit about your character? How excited are you to be joining this cast?
Oh I am so excited. I grew up watching the CW, and am such a fan of all of their shows. All American: Homecoming is AWESOME and there are so many incredible female athletes depicted in the show — to be able to play tennis and act alongside these fantastic actors is surreal. If you’d told me I would get to play a villainous tennis star on the CW 10 years ago, I wouldn’t have believed you.

You are fluent in Mandarin, Russian, and Spanish. Has your awesome multilingual skills opened opportunities for you within the acting industry?
So far, I’ve only ever used Russian! I mostly in auditions. I would so love to be in a movie like the Jason Bourne series or James Bond or Salt and get to be a spy or super villain speaking many languages. Definitely a goal of mine!

How do you prepare for roles? Do you have any must have rituals?
My acting coach, Maria Dizzia, who happens to be an incredible and very successful actress as well, taught me so much about character development and preparing roles from audition to set. A ritual she taught me to help calm nerves before an audition, meeting, or long day on set that I will never forget is to practice gratitude. Write down a list of everyone that has helped you get to where you are today. It’s such a beautiful exercise, and really helps me bring positive energy to whatever I am doing. It also helps ground me and the character I am playing. Everyone is grateful for something!

Are you still an active marathon runner and tennis player? What are your favorite things about each?
Yes! I play tennis whenever I can. It’s such a well disguised exercise — so much fun and social, while still getting a work out! I haven’t run a marathon in a few years, but I still run regularly. My sister is running her fifth marathon this year in NYC!

What is another hobby of yours that many don't expect?
I love puzzles. Word games, crosswords, and giant 1000 piece puzzles. Can’t get enough!

Jejune applauds you for your vigorous work with the New York Public Library! Can you tell us a bit about your involvement and why it is important to you?
NYPL is a fantastic organization — promoting literacy all over NYC. I think it is such an important cause both practically, and creatively. My grandfather was in publishing and my aunt is a writer. There’s nothing like getting lost in a book, and the library also provides a safe and quiet space for young people as long as they have a library card :)

With the age of the internet people are worried that libraries won’t be used as much, do you think this is true?
I think that is always a possibility. For the NYPL, however, I think it is almost more of a monument in that it represents so much history and knowledge. They have also done a great job modernizing, and provide internet access and computers to library members that do not have that at home.

How have you been staying positive through the pandemic? Are you back to normal now?
I have been very fortunate to get to spend a lot of time with my family in the pandemic. I think focusing on that silver lining has been the most helpful. I have also been really lucky in that I was able to stay moderately busy and working through most of 2021 — VERY much looking forward to this being behind us.

What is your motto in life?
Keep working hard, and don’t compare your success to anyone else’s.

For more content with Revell please follow her on the platform below:
Instagram: @revellcarpenter

A Little Of Everything With Revell Carpenter