Artist Interview
Stephanie Barkley, actor, comedian, writer and director in Los Angeles, originally from Chicago, is half Sicilian with some German, English and French mixed in. As a young girl, Stephanie wanted to be a pro tennis player had a lot of energy and grew up wanting to be everything from a pro tennis player, to radio announcer to painter and beyond. In college, she decided to continue her passion for art, and studied Studio Art. While working as a production designer in New York, she began taking classes at UCB and fell in love with performing. Stephanie branched out into the comedy scene after moving to LA. She started performing live and writing and producing more short sketches with original characters.
One of MITH’s favorite characters that Stephanie created herself, is Sensei FuManchu, who teaches us how to have inner peace, balance and harmony. (Click on the hyper-linked text to see Sensei.)
Photo by @mattmisiscostudios
Last year, Stephanie co-founded a creative video agency with partner Chase Joliet, called Two Socks, an internet and television commercial agency with in-house creative production and post-production. Two Socks just wrapped their 7th campaign Stephanie’s next goal is to be directing series. She also wants to see her uniquely created character Sensei on the big screen. Stephanie says, “I get excited when I see an original idea come to life.”
Photo by @tylerjnewman
Stephanie uses her influence in the community, and is passionate about bringing awareness to others about the environment through comedy and art. Finding ways to eliminate trash from the ocean has been a focus of hers. She was excited when asked to be the spokesperson, Shelley the Mermaid, for the eco-friendly, travel-friendly FINAL STRAW.
Screen grab from Final Straw Commercial
Besides being a role model herself, she mentions to us that her biggest role model in her own life is her mom, who is also one of the funniest people Stephanie knows, laughing, “she takes care of so many things with attention-to-detail like I’ve never seen… thinks she is funny, and I think that’s hilarious.”
We wanted to know how Stephanie spends her time when not acting or doing art… She loves to stay present with friends and family… as this makes her most happy in life. She also listed some of her favorite things:
Movies: Moonstruck, Tombstone and Field of Dreams. Songs: Friends by Francis and the Lights, I’m Alive by Johnny Thunder, Falling Water by Maggie Rogers, and The Christmas Song sung by Stevie Wonder is always a great one. Food: Zucchini pasta, tacos, and cannolis.
Photo by @mattmisiscostudios
Stephanie’s biggest advice to others is, “Befriend a funny person. When you laugh, laugh hard. Loosen up, smile more.” Stephanie says if she wasn’t acting, she’d be creating more artwork.
Find Stephanie Barkley on Instagram: @stephbarkley
or visit her artwork website at https://www.stephaniebarkley.com/shop
Interview by: Holly Glasser, EIC of MITH Magazine
