Actor Transformation
Interviews
Ian Eugene Ryan
Please tell us a little about your background and what made you want to pursue acting as a career?
I grew up in Toronto and I started acting when I was nine years old. There was a Christmas play at my school. ( I can’t remember the name now). It was a take on The Wizard of Oz, and was about a little boy named Christopher and his fantastic dream on Christmas Eve. I got the part because I could read really well for my age, and I must have had some kind of confidence. So, I’ve always enjoyed performing and once I was in college, and my parents thought I had a sufficient amount of education, I went after it professionally.
What are your favorite movies, shows, and actors?
I really like the show Shameless. It’s the perfect blend of drama and comedy. Go Gallaghers! Sydney Poitier is my favorite actor…he’ll always be the gold standard for me. He made so many things possible and changed the whole game. And “Chariots of Fire” is my favorite movie. I love seeing history on film and the music is so powerful. I also love running.
Speaking of running, I hear you are a triathlete. How do you feel that sports and that level of discipline have helped you as an actor?
Yes, I’m a bit of an adrenaline junky, I guess. Every race gives me something to prepare for and work towards, so the mindset is quite similar. The training also keeps my body very limber and gets me out of my head.
What have been some of your career highlights so far?
It’s been quite a journey and I’ve been fortunate to work with incredible directors and actors. Peter Bogdanovich gave me my first job on a TV movie, “Naked City”. Agnieszka Holland is another world class director I worked with on a film called “The Third Miracle”, with Ed Harris. Other highlights include … “Behind the Red Door”, “The Adversaries” and “Westworld”. It’s all been very humbling.
What can our readers see you in next?
I’m working on a film called “Clemente” about the baseball legend and humanitarian, Roberto Clemente. It’s a project I’ve written and I’m producing. It’s an award-winning screenplay and I will be starring in the title role of Clemente, so it’s pretty exciting. I’m also doing a play next year called “A Shooting”, about two cops in South LA under investigation for the murder of a teenager on a routine call. I hope my work always leaves people with something important to think about. It doesn’t have to be life changing, but if it shifts the dial, or moves the heart in some way…I’ve done my job.
More Info About Ian:
IMDB
http://www.imdb.me/ianeugeneryan
Website
https://www.iadb.com/ianeugeneryan
https://twitter.com/IanEugeneRyan
Period Pictures
The New Studio LA
