…Nobody is as focused on you as you think they are! I had a challenging experience on set where several of my lines were cut minutes before filming. I was thrown and struggled to snap out of it, and then beat myself up wondering if my disappointment affected my performance. When the show aired, I had a viewing party and asked my friends if they could tell, and the answer was a resounding no. I’m working on showing myself more compassion and grace.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Sigi Ravet. Sigi (Yes, like the yogurt…) is a bicoastal and bilingual Swiss-Israeli-American triple citizen. (Did you follow?) You almost saw her on Unprisoned, This Is Us, Henry Danger, and Jessie, but those roles ended up on the cutting room floor. You can, however, still catch her on Call Your Mother, Girl Meets World, The Middle, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and the hit Apple+ series Lessons in Chemistry.
Sigi has created lots of digital content and won Best Actress for her film Optimistic Realist at the Portland Comedy Film Festival for playing an aspiring actress slash Hebrew school teacher. It was a real stretch. Sigi is a member of Theatre of NOTE and has performed on stages all over LA. Favorite critically-acclaimed productions include The Diary of Anne Frank (Best Leading Actress), Bad Jews, The Immigrant, Featuring Loretta (Hollywood Fringe finalist) and Askance (Outstanding Understudy in a Drama). Aside from making people laugh, Sigi can often be seen carrying seven beverages at once and an overpriced diaper bag that conveniently has no beverage holders.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
Thanks for having me! I was born in Israel to Swiss parents and relocated approximately every four years for my dad’s job, from Jerusalem to Chicago, LA, San Diego, and finally to New York. My dad always said moving would give us a story to tell, and it sure has. I’m the quintessential baby child and much of my childhood is marked by memories of driving cross country in the backseat of our station wagon huddled together with my siblings, reading stacks of Babysitters Club books from the library, and making new friends in new schools, many of whom I’m still in touch with today. I learned from a young age that a home is unrelated to a physical house.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
While I can pinpoint certain landmarks, looking back, this career just makes sense with my personality. In a way I was always performing, acting as a chameleon and adapting to every new school/city/state like it was my job. All the moving meant I was constantly searching for my distinct voice and identity, and I think it felt safe to explore my layers via different characters. In high school I was cast in several productions helmed by a Broadway producer, which further solidified my love for the craft. I decided to pursue acting professionally after spending 14 intensive weeks at the London Dramatic Academy. During my final evaluation, my professors told me that due to my raspy voice, they weren’t sure I was cut out for Broadway — but thankfully advised that I move to LA to pursue comedy. Everything just clicked.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
There’s so much! I think one of the coolest experiences I’ve had was raising money to put up my own staged production of The Diary of Anne Frank. I had almost booked the titular character several times and knew it was a role I had to play. I felt a deep personal connection to Anne, having grown up with a grandfather who was in her elementary school class in Amsterdam. In addition to the performances, I mounted weekly talk-backs with Holocaust survivors. It was a life-changing experience to delve into my heritage and share this pivotal story with so many.
It has been said that mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I made the mistake that so many of us make when we begin our careers and accepted every job I was offered, which included some pretty shady theater. There’s one show in particular that I was cast in that was depicted as “LA’s longest running show.” The script was awful, we barely rehearsed, and half the cast held scripts in their hands. I can’t believe I invited friends to come watch. The biggest lesson was learning to say no. It’s a lesson I’m still struggling with, but I constantly remind myself to trust in abundance and unlimited opportunities.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
I recently finished a short film about a woman who struggles to be fully present with her son because she’s juggling her own personal and professional desires, a trait that might be deemed as selfish. It was a really cool collaborative process with a dear friend of mine who wrote and directed it. I became a mom two and a half years ago and am definitely still struggling to balance my artistry with parenting, but I’m learning that the two go hand in hand and am embracing this new shared identity. On that same note, I just had my second baby… does that count as a project? It certainly feels like one! I also have a national Wayfair commercial airing, and it has been so fun to hear from friends all over who are seeing it.
As a rising star, you’ve likely faced challenges along the way. How do you stay motivated and overcome obstacles in your career?
It’s really vulnerable especially when faced with constant rejection and auditions sent to the void, never to be heard from again. I think the best thing I’ve done is surround myself with a rich community that motivates and inspires me. Whether it’s acting class friends, self-taping friends, accountability partners, a friend to share gratitudes with, friends to just vent to when necessary (which is often!), or non-industry friends who remind me there is more to life, it’s impossible to do any of this alone. I also have a supportive husband who happens to be a filmmaker and fully understands the plight of an artist. As a bonus, this also means I live with someone who can tape and edit my auditions at a moment’s notice.
We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?
Diversity and authenticity is critical because everyone wants to see themselves represented. It’s the most powerful way to promote empathy and understanding among cultures and ethnicities because it reaches such a far and wide platform of people. I can’t think of a better way for people to feel united under a shared humanity.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
1. Getting “discovered” doesn’t mean you’ll instantly be successful. For all intents and purposes, I was discovered by an Emmy-winning Showrunner when I first moved out here. She brought me to set and introduced me to casting directors and producers. I thought this was it, I’ve made it! But the saying about taking “15 years to be discovered overnight” is accurate. Even when people know you and your work, you have to continue showing up, proving yourself, and putting in the hours. There’s really no easy path, no matter how connected you might be. That said, I’m so grateful for the relationship I built with her as she continues to mentor and support me to this day. I call her my LA mom.
2. You are not only as good as your next job; people do actually care about the job you just did, but even if they didn’t, you should! Own your wins along the way and don’t always search for the next big thing to promote; otherwise you’ll never be satisfied with the status quo, and so much about being an actor is living in the grey in-between. There will be weeks/months/years of dead air, and then you’ll suddenly be thriving for a moment. I’m trying to enjoy the highs but not expect them, and trust that I’m an artist at my core, whether I’m on set or on my couch.
3. Nothing is a done deal, so try to appreciate the ride and not just focus on the destination. I auditioned for ABC’s The Middle 17 times before I booked a role. It happened right before winter break and I went on vacation with my family. I literally told everyone and their mothers (including strangers on the plane) that I was filming in the new year. A day before flying back to LA, my agent called to tell me they cut the role. I was devastated and cried into a beach chair. But the casting director continued calling me in and eventually I booked the next role. I told everybody yet again. When the episode aired, my lines were cut. I was deeply disappointed, but realized that it was still a rewarding experience. And though I learned to stop counting my eggs (or telling the world about a booked job), I simultaneously discovered the art of owning my accomplishments, no matter how they ultimately manifest.
4. Live your life and don’t be scared about missing opportunities. It’s a running joke in Hollywood that if you want to book a job, book a flight. It used to be the case that if you left town, you’d notoriously miss auditions. Since the pandemic, when everything switched to self-taping, this is no longer the case — but there’s still a panic that sets in when leaving town. In any case, I traveled last summer and booked a recurring role on the Apple+ series Lessons in Chemistry all while abroad. Traveling doesn’t guarantee that work will inevitably come up, but it certainly makes you a fuller person and therefore artist. Your acting will be that much richer if you draw on real life experiences. So when in doubt… visit your family!
5. Nobody is as focused on you as you think they are! I had a challenging experience on set where several of my lines were cut minutes before filming. I was thrown and struggled to snap out of it, and then beat myself up wondering if my disappointment affected my performance. When the show aired, I had a viewing party and asked my friends if they could tell, and the answer was a resounding no. I’m working on showing myself more compassion and grace.
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
As I’ve said, having a flourishing and supportive community is important on both a personal and professional level. I’d also recommend having a self-care plan in place, whether it’s a weekly yoga class or a daily (hourly?) oat milk latte, or honestly, a nap! Don’t be afraid to take breaks. The business isn’t going anywhere, even if you snooze for 20 minutes, or dare I say, an hour. I also highly recommend The Artist’s Way — it changed my life.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I would love to live in a world where every person is obligated to employ someone who isn’t as accomplished in their field. Even the biggest power players started somewhere, because somebody else inevitably took a chance on them and gave them an opening. If we each took a risk on just one person, we’d be perpetuating a cycle of outreach and opportunity.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
I mentioned my “LA mom” as well as my high school director, who I (jokingly?) blame not only for uncovering my love for acting but also for influencing my incessant need to play Anne Frank. He did not cast me in the production during my sophomore year and I just couldn’t let it go! Rejection is a great motivator, it turns out. He flew in from NY and surprised me in the audience, and it was an emotional full circle moment.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
My phone lock image says, “I didn’t come this far to only come this far.” Every time I’ve considered quitting (which is both always and never), I remind myself of how far I’ve come and that we never know what tomorrow will bring — I could be one audition away from the dream role. I remember telling my therapist years ago that I wanted nothing more than to join SAG-AFTRA and get an agent, and now here we are, many jobs (and agents) later.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
I would love to have a private lunch with Amy Sherman-Palladino. I’m inspired by her work and feel I’d be a great fit for her shows. Stage Raw wrote about my Bad Jews performance,
“[Ravet] is imbued with devastating wit, made even more cogent by her powerhouse, rapid-fire delivery.” Rapid-fire wit IS Amy Sherman-Palladino!
How can our readers follow you online?
I’m on Instagram at @sigiravet — give me a holler! You can also keep up with my latest news on www.sigiravet.com.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
Thank YOU so much, it was a pleasure!
Photos by Candice Rose
Rising Star Sigi Ravet On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Entertainment Industry was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.