Check our exclusive interview with stunning and very talented award winning actress, author, board certified life coach and TV dating expert Brooke Lewis.
Lewis is perhaps best known as a “Scream Queen” in the horror genre. She can currently be seen starring in the award-winning film Psycho Therapy, which she also produced. Lewis plays Tonia, a distressed wife who seeks help from a psychiatrist to discuss her husband’s infidelity. The session takes an unexpected turn and Tonia finds hers in a psychological game. Lewis won several awards for this role, including Best Actress at the 2017 Los Angeles Horror Competition. She will also be seen in the upcoming film “½ New Year” where she plays Pam DeLuca. Lewis has been keeping busy and recently wrapped production on the short film Allen + Millie: A Short Romance, opposite Courtney Gains. Gains plays Allen Mitchell, a die-hard fan of Millie Lane, who has just lost all hope of a successful life.
Lewis’s reputation for excellence is backed by the many accolades that she has received for her work. In total, Lewis has won over 60 prestigious awards, most recently the Stella Adler Award for Excellence in Film at the 2017 Action On Film International Film Festival in honor of her work in Psycho Therapy as well as the Outstanding Filmmaker Award at Hollywood Dreamz to name just a few.
Outside of her projects on the silver screen, Lewis is a promising author and board-certified life coach who released her book, Coaching From A Professed Hot Mess on iTunes, Amazon and B&N.com. The book has already earned Lewis four awards thus far. The fun bedside table book, which is based on her own life experiences, provides coaching tips on life, love, online dating and LGBT support.
She is constantly taking her lifestyle expertise to new levels. She has coached for shows on Lifetime TV, Reality TV and is currently an advice expert for Hollywood Life. She also has written previously on the Huffington Post, Woman’s Day, Girl’s Life and many more!
Hi Brooke. Please, tell us a little about you?
Oh, there’s lots to tell, so all you fabulous Naluda Magazine readers, jump on the Hot Mess train! From Philadelphia to New Jersey to New York to Hollywood, I am a “multi-hyphenate”, with a colorful career, as an Actress-Scream Queen-Ms. Vampy-Producer-Board Certified Life Coach-TV Dating Expert-Author-Writer-Speaker-Philanthropist… no wonder I am a Hot Mess.
Describe yourself in 3 words?
Tenacious, Courageous, Integrous (Integrity)!
Who is your biggest supporter?
This is a tough one, because I have been through many challenges in life and I am blessed with supporters! My parents have supported me through thick and thin. I truly have some of the most supportive, wonderful friends a woman could wish for. My talent reps have supported me through the crazy ebbs and flows in the entertainment industry. And, last, but not least, my fiancé has proven to me that it is possible to find a partner who supports my career, while sustaining a loyal and loving relationship in La La Land!!!
How did you get started in the industry?
I was such an emotional and sensitive child, that I feel I was destined to do be an actress. I loved TV and movies as a little girl and used to talk to the TV and characters and pretend I was on the show with them, and improv. I was singing and dancing from a young age, which led me into musical theatre in Philadelphia, which led me into comedy in New York. I got my first “break” in the New York Off-Broadway comedy “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding”, then went on to do TV sitcoms like “Quintuplets” and “Mafiosa”, then acted in mobster dramas like “Pride & Loyalty” and “Sinatra Club”, then broke out in the horror genre with films like “Kinky Killers”, “iMurders” and “Slime City Massacre” earning the title of a “Scream Queen”, then was fortunate to act in sci-fi films “Starship: Rising” and “The Mourning”.
What is the best and worst part of being an actress/producer?
The best part of being an actress is the precious moments when you actually get to do what you love! My favorite moments are those when you lose yourself so deeply in a character that you forget there is an entire crew around filming you. Okay, I would be lying if I did not say I love the part when I am blessed to get styled in a fabulous pair of Louboutins!!! The worst part of being an actress is that we so often have little control over the auditions or jobs we get. The best part of being a producer is a wrap around from the former question, because I love the control producing offers you to choose or create a role that you can be passionate about playing! The worst part of being a producer is the amount of work, commitment, stress, and years of your life it consumes to produce one feature film. Some people have no conception of what it takes to produce a professional feature film. I shock people when I speak about producing and I share that it took me seven years to produce a feature I worked on, from the time I found the script in 2004 to the time it was released in 2011. Truth!!!
Best advice ever given?
One of my very first female mentors in Hollywood, who was a successful film director and producer, shared a piece of advice with me that I have never forgotten… “You have to always be willing to walk!”
Tell us about your work in “1/2 New Year”?
I had the honor of acting in the dramedy “1/2 New Year” with the most incredible cast and crew, including director Tom Morash, writer and producer Georgia Menides, writer and star Drew McAnany and actors Shanley Caswell, Rome Flynn, John Ierardi, Afton Jillian, Jermaine Alverez Martin, Ashley Platz, Matt Schulte, Rebecca Vinagro, Bo Youngblood and Jeff Dye, to name a few of this crazy cast! This is an indie film with a lot of heart!
Tell us about your character?
I play Pam DeLuca, an Italian chick from Philly with big hair and a big mouth, who is the older sister to Reed DeLuca, played by Drew McAnany. Pam loves to mess around with Reed’s younger friends and lends some funny moments to the story. This role was written for me a few years ago and I am so grateful to have gotten the opportunity to act in it and bring Pam DeLuca to life!
What was the most memorable experience from the set?
Professionally, I cannot “Spoiler Alert”, but allow me to reveal to your readers… just wait until you watch the laundry room scene! Personally, I had the experience of meeting and working with some of the hardest working people in the business, and I can truly say I made some lifelong connections.
What other projects have you been a part of?
Recently, I have been on a whirlwind film festival run with a cherished thriller short film “Psycho Therapy” that was written and directed by the talented Staci Layne Wilson (“Cabaret of the Dead”), produced by Bryce Campbell (“Sprinkles”) and I, and I was fortunate to star in, opposite Ricky Dean Logan (“Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare”). We have been traveling and winning awards throughout the past year and I have been honored with several Best Actress Awards…I truly am one blessed actress! As an author, I have also been on book festivals and awards tours all year, and I won the Halloween Book Festival 2017 Top Honors for Young Adult books for my teen girl power book Ms. Vampy’s Teen Tawk: There’s A Lotta Power In Ya Choices.
What upcoming projects can you tell us about?
2018 has proven to be another incredible year thus far! We have hit the ground running at the festivals and awards circuit with our recent award-winning film “Allen + Millie: A Short Romance”, written and directed by the talented Markus Redmond (“Fight Club”) and starring icon Courtney Gains (“Back to the Future”) and I! I am also thrilled to share another super fun and sweet short film, “Rotting Love” that was written and directed by the passionate Dave Reda (“Zombie Dave”) and stars Dave and myself. This is a horror romcom with a “battle of the sexes” theme and I am proud to announce that we were just chosen as an Official Selection for the prestigious Dances With Films Film Festival 2018 in Hollywood. Last, but not least, I want to share my gratitude for recently wrapping an amazing role in a creative Sci-fi feature, “Evolution War”, directed by my genius “Starship: Rising” director, Neil Johnson, and starring the talented and gorgeous Tracey Birdsall (“Rogue Warrior: Robot Fighter”). No further “Spoiler Alert” allowed for this one, but your “vessels” will be pumping in the very near future!
Who is your favorite actor/actress? And why?
One of my favorite actresses, icons and idols in the world is the late Elizabeth Taylor. Along with her talent, beauty, passion, charm and style, she inspired me with her relentless fight against HIV and AIDS and she created her own charity and legacy, The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
Oh, we heard you’re recently engaged, congratulations! Can you tell us about your new “Rock Your Hot Mess” Bridal Collection?
Thank you so much! And, may I add…planning a wedding is more stressful than producing a film! LOL! My fabulous wedding planners at Rheefined Company are holding my hands through this! So, in 2017, and inspired by my “Hollywood Engagement”, our ‘Bridal & Bachelorette Rock Your Hot Mess’ style was born! As stated in my book, I was a proud, empowered single woman for a long time. In that time, I was a bridesmaid and bachelorette in 18 weddings. I had been reminiscing about all the Bachelorette parties and weekends I had attended and all the “late night” champagne toasts with the ladies, or the “walk-of-shame” mornings or flights home from Vegas with nothing cute and comfy to ROCK! Once I got engaged and started visualizing my Bachelorette party, I felt so inspired to add the ‘Bridal & Bachelorette’ style to our ‘Rock Your Hot Mess’ line and my partner, Alison (Owner Metal Babe Mayhem), was all in! Since “MetalBabe” and I are all about female empowerment and supporting one another, we could not think of a better way to support brides and bridal parties to ‘ROCK YOUR HOT MESS’ and OWN IT! Now, that is a great “gift” in every sense of the word!
Tell us about your coaching career?
Ironically, many of my most powerful career choices have been made while hitting walls! I had been a working actress and producer for many years, and shortly after the economy crashed in 2009, my investors pulled out of my production company and projects and I was forced to make changes. In 2011, we launched the award-winning TV pilot/talk show for teen girls “Ms. Vampy’s Tween Tawk, Teen Tawk and In Between Tawk” and I was hugely inspired by my young cast and their issues and messages. It was the first time anything beyond acting inspired me, so I paid attention. When my reps were pitching my show and I to TV talk shows, we were receiving incredible feedback, BUT…the networks were all asking if I had a “credential” as a therapist, counselor or life coach. Of course, I had two college degrees, but they wanted a certification in the coaching arena. Since I am not one to leave any stone unturned, I chose to go back to school again to receive my life coach certification at the Life Purpose Institute. My initial intention was for the purpose of my Ms. Vampy brand and TV series in development, but I became so passionate about my support career, I launched my company Be You And Be Fearless Life Coach. beyouandbefearlesslifecoach.com
And about your book “Coaching From A Professed Hot Mess?”
I am an actress first and foremost, so it is kind of funny that I had been facing challenges in my “acting support” career as a Life and Dating Coach. I was paying my dues again and feeling overworked and underpaid, shelling out fabulous advice for various publications and morning shows and several people had suggested that I write a book for myself and my coaching business, instead, and my “blessed lil bedside table book” was born! Now, I am going to cheat a bit here, as I pull an excerpt I love, right from my pages: “Life can be crazy! So, in 2016, I chose to embrace my “crazy” and use my blessed and beautiful bedside table book to profess…”I am a HOT MESS!” Yup…I said it, rock it and OWN IT! Now, being an Actress, Life Coach and Dating Expert in the public eye, some may think I am really “crazy” sharing this with the world! I know some of you are thinking (and judging) that a Board-Certified Life and Dating Coach, professional and working actress should not “air her dirty laundry.” Well, I cannot tell you how good it feels to be self-aware enough to admit and embrace my “flaws.” Along with my strengths, my “flaws” and weaknesses make me vulnerable, special and unique. I also believe that by sharing my HOT MESS quirks with you, it will support you in embracing your HOT MESS quirks, too! Let’s break the ‘rules’ and stop chasing “perfection.” It gets tiring trying to be “perfect” all the time, doesn’t it?”.
Where can we buy it?
Barnes & Noble / Amazon
3 things you can’t leave your house without?
Makeup, Heels & Altoids.
Your idea of a perfect Sunday is?
Brunch outside with friends, then a movie or Netflix marathon, snuggled up with my man! Lazy, Baby!
How’s a normal day in your life?
“Normal”? I’m sorry, whatever do you mean? LOL! Kidding aside, there is nothing “normal” about this life. I work about 15 hours per day and that includes…social media, auditions, director and producer meetings, TV pitch meetings, production, filming, coaching, press, premieres, red carpet events, interviews, writing, expert interviews, charity meetings, charity events, philanthropic work, working with my acting and life coaches to stay “sane”, and finally spending some time catching up with my fiancé before passing out!
What is your favorite healthy food?
I do not leave my home without my No Cow Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars.
And your favorite cheat food?
Pizza and French Fries.
How do you see yourself in 5 years?
I am blessed and would not change much! I would love to land another TV series (hopefully a steady one for a few years this time), live here in Hollywood, but have an apartment in New York City, and a Villa in Italy each summer… is that too much to ask? LOL!
Do you support any charities?
I choose to “give back” as much as I can, and in many ways. I have worked with, and supported, many breast cancer charities over the years, including Busted Foundation and Babes For Boobs, volunteer for the Los Angeles Mission to feed the homeless on Skid Row, and am honored to be a Celebrity Ambassador for Breaking The Chains Foundation, supporting eating disorders and body image through the arts.
Where we can follow you?
I am so grateful to have the fans I have for many years and I take pride in my social media, as a way to communicate with them and share my crazy careers. I have a Facebook Fan Page, Twitter and Instagram. Please follow me @BrookeLewisLA @brookelewisla.
You can also catch the latest “Brooke Lewis” at:
beyouandbefearlesslifecoach.com
Favorite Music: Broadway Show Tunes & Jazz.
Quote: “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough,”- Mae West
“Be You…And, Be Fearless!”- Brooke Lewis
Holiday Destination: Dying to get to Italy & Greece! But, for now, I will settle for a weekend of Wine Tasting in Napa!
Drink: Skinny Margarita! Tequila, Baby!
Celebrity Crush: Joe Manganiello from “True Blood”! Respectfully, Mark & Sofia! LOL!
Song: “Ain’t No Stoppin Us Now”- McFadden & Whitehead, “Firework”- Katy Perry & “Skyscraper”- Demi Lovato.
Sports Team: Philadelphia EAGLES! Okay… I am now a Los Angeles RAMS fan too!
Movie: You think I could name just one? “The Godfather,” “Goodfellas,” “Pretty Woman,” & “The Notebook”.
Naluda Magazine, it has been an absolute honor chatting with you and your readers. Much love to all! Brooke Lewis
Photo Credits
Photographer: Birdie Thompson @birds_eye_photo
