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My Story.
Rachael Kathryn Bell
Considering this story has evolved over the span of 20 years, I feel like I
might bombard my readers with random rambling, but I’ll try to keep this on point
of my acting adventures!
Once upon a time, my Elementary School in Butler, PA put on a 6th grade
musical, and my friends talked me into auditioning considering, “I like to talk a
lot”. I ended up booking the lead of Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden and through
learning that character & memorizing her lines & songs I completely fell in love with
acting. Shortly after, I started taking acting classes in Pittsburgh, Pa. I would go to
Jr. High during the day and down to Pittsburgh two nights a week and all day on
Saturdays for acting/ singing/ performance/ improv classes. My acting studio had
agents come every month just to scout our Pittsburgh talent. One of the agents really
had interest in me, but wanted to wait until I was a little bit older and my skills were
more developed.
A year later I met up with that same agent again when I was at a competition
in Los Angeles, CA. She told me that it was “my time”. That was the beginning of the
numerous trips to be made to Los Angeles. My dad and I drove across country in
the spring of my 8th grade year to sign with my agent. When I was there she set up
an appointment with a manager she worked closely with, who, upon first meeting,
I thought hated me. I realized quickly her harsh questioning was only to test my
fragile skin of a small town girl, to see if I could hold the rejections to come in the
future of being in this entertainment industry. Before we even pulled out of the
parking lot, my agent called to tell me that this new manager absolutely loved me! I
instantly started crying just because of how overwhelming and exciting this new LA
life was.
With an agent and manager on my team, I started auditioning. My first
job I booked was a Sprint commercial that didn’t air. I went on a year later to book
the role of “Addison” on Suite Life on Deck. The moment I walked off Stage 11 that
day, I was solidified in my soul that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
The passion and excitement I feel when I am on set working is unlike any feeling I
can describe. It was just supposed to be a guest star role for that episode, but
everyone loved my character so much that they brought me back throughout the
next 3 seasons! Addison was a very energetic character that always left me
exhausted at the end of the day, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Throughout
the next 3 years of high school I spent two months every fall, and two months every
spring, auditioning in LA. One job I booked in that time was a Totinos Pizza Roll
commercial. I put all my earnings into savings in hopes for a future permanent move
to LA.
While I was in LA I taught myself what my classmates were being taught
back at home, so whenever I left LA to go back to my high school in PA, I was right
on track. I stayed home for the whole second half of my senior year to enjoy all the
simplicities of high school like sporting events, prom & graduation. I loved every
moment of high school. I loved the people who supported me and I am grateful to the people who didn't, because all together it gave me a grounded experience to carry with me the rest of my life.
After I graduated my parents helped pack me up and we drove for the final
time across the country to my new apartment in LA. Everything I’ve mentioned so
far was in no way possible without the immense support from my parents, brother,
and extended family. In my eyes, they’re the most wonderful people in the world.
Once two weeks had passed and I was all settled into my new apartment, I said my
goodbyes to my parents and braced myself for living on my own! I’ve always been
independent and since I spent so much time in LA over the years, my apartment felt
like my true second home! An incredible feeling to grasp, really.
Over the next year & a half I booked a guest star role on Body of Proof ,
three indie films, and another national commercial. All of which I’m proud of, but
one must know that it does not satisfy my hunger! Every morning that I’m not on
set I wish I could wake up and go work. There’s nothing like creating the details
in your imagination of your characters life, from age 5 to the present day scene
you’re filming. My acting studio in LA has become my second family and pushes
me every week to grow deeper with every character I work on. As I type this I can’t
help but get excited for what is to come with my career. This industry is blunt, full
of rejection, & double standards. But the root of why I push through it all? Acting. A
brief novel later, and there you have it. My story? My story.
Did you like this story?? Go get the shirt!
Rachael Kathryn Bell
Considering this story has evolved over the span of 20 years, I feel like I
might bombard my readers with random rambling, but I’ll try to keep this on point
of my acting adventures!
Once upon a time, my Elementary School in Butler, PA put on a 6th grade
musical, and my friends talked me into auditioning considering, “I like to talk a
lot”. I ended up booking the lead of Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden and through
learning that character & memorizing her lines & songs I completely fell in love with
acting. Shortly after, I started taking acting classes in Pittsburgh, Pa. I would go to
Jr. High during the day and down to Pittsburgh two nights a week and all day on
Saturdays for acting/ singing/ performance/ improv classes. My acting studio had
agents come every month just to scout our Pittsburgh talent. One of the agents really
had interest in me, but wanted to wait until I was a little bit older and my skills were
more developed.
A year later I met up with that same agent again when I was at a competition
in Los Angeles, CA. She told me that it was “my time”. That was the beginning of the
numerous trips to be made to Los Angeles. My dad and I drove across country in
the spring of my 8th grade year to sign with my agent. When I was there she set up
an appointment with a manager she worked closely with, who, upon first meeting,
I thought hated me. I realized quickly her harsh questioning was only to test my
fragile skin of a small town girl, to see if I could hold the rejections to come in the
future of being in this entertainment industry. Before we even pulled out of the
parking lot, my agent called to tell me that this new manager absolutely loved me! I
instantly started crying just because of how overwhelming and exciting this new LA
life was.
With an agent and manager on my team, I started auditioning. My first
job I booked was a Sprint commercial that didn’t air. I went on a year later to book
the role of “Addison” on Suite Life on Deck. The moment I walked off Stage 11 that
day, I was solidified in my soul that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
The passion and excitement I feel when I am on set working is unlike any feeling I
can describe. It was just supposed to be a guest star role for that episode, but
everyone loved my character so much that they brought me back throughout the
next 3 seasons! Addison was a very energetic character that always left me
exhausted at the end of the day, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Throughout
the next 3 years of high school I spent two months every fall, and two months every
spring, auditioning in LA. One job I booked in that time was a Totinos Pizza Roll
commercial. I put all my earnings into savings in hopes for a future permanent move
to LA.
While I was in LA I taught myself what my classmates were being taught
back at home, so whenever I left LA to go back to my high school in PA, I was right
on track. I stayed home for the whole second half of my senior year to enjoy all the
simplicities of high school like sporting events, prom & graduation. I loved every
moment of high school. I loved the people who supported me and I am grateful to the people who didn't, because all together it gave me a grounded experience to carry with me the rest of my life.
After I graduated my parents helped pack me up and we drove for the final
time across the country to my new apartment in LA. Everything I’ve mentioned so
far was in no way possible without the immense support from my parents, brother,
and extended family. In my eyes, they’re the most wonderful people in the world.
Once two weeks had passed and I was all settled into my new apartment, I said my
goodbyes to my parents and braced myself for living on my own! I’ve always been
independent and since I spent so much time in LA over the years, my apartment felt
like my true second home! An incredible feeling to grasp, really.
Over the next year & a half I booked a guest star role on Body of Proof ,
three indie films, and another national commercial. All of which I’m proud of, but
one must know that it does not satisfy my hunger! Every morning that I’m not on
set I wish I could wake up and go work. There’s nothing like creating the details
in your imagination of your characters life, from age 5 to the present day scene
you’re filming. My acting studio in LA has become my second family and pushes
me every week to grow deeper with every character I work on. As I type this I can’t
help but get excited for what is to come with my career. This industry is blunt, full
of rejection, & double standards. But the root of why I push through it all? Acting. A
brief novel later, and there you have it. My story? My story.
Did you like this story?? Go get the shirt!
