Catherine is an established indie film star and also a studio artist who grew up just outside of Philly and would travel often to NYC from a young age, moving full-time to NYC after graduating high school. She majored in Theatre Performance and minored in Fine Art. Early on in her acting career, she starred in a feature film that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, and she recently received a nomination for “Best Actress” for “Long Lost.” When not on set, she can often be found in her garden with her pup, Luna. We sat down to get to hear more of her journey:
Catherine, you moved to NYC so young. How did your acting career begin so early?
My father was a chef and my mother a dancer, so creativity was always encouraged in our home. Honestly, I was putting on performances for family from the time I could talk (laughs), so acting was just kind of the natural progression of things.
When I was around twelve, I actually spent an entire day researching acting agents and cold-calling them myself. Most hung up the phone on me but one woman did answer, and listened to me. She sent me to her husbands acting school to take classes on weekends. The two of them not only gave me an incredible acting and professional education, but were my first reps. They sent me out on castings and we just kind of went from there. I am still so incredibly grateful for their guidance.
Besides your roles mentioned above, you also starred in Hallmarks’s Christmas Film, ‘Last Vermont Christmas.’ Talk to us about this film.
‘Last Vermont Christmas’ was such a fun film to be a part of. The story focuses on widowed mother Megan and her two sisters Audrey and Bethany who have recently learned that their parents are selling their childhood home, making this their last Christmas together in Vermont. While the family deals with the emotions of their last Christmas together in the home, Audrey is keeping a secret from them, and both she and Megan must come to terms with their own struggles, all while making room for loves that were seemingly right under their noses.
What can people take away from this picture?
It is a journey about family! When we were making this film, we really did become an extended family and I hope that audiences will feel that bond, while learning that love is unconditional, and that no matter where life takes you, you can always find home again.
Do you relate to your character, Audrey?
Absolutely. I think we all go through Audrey moments in our life as we decide what we want and who we want to be. I think we all worry about disappointing our family as we navigate adulthood. However, I think Audrey’s journey in the film is a perfect reminder of the importance of personal growth and the key role that the support of your family can play in that.
If you could play any character in an upcoming picture, who would it be?
Oh goodness- I have a list, and here is just part of it: I’d love to play Lúthien in an adaptation of The Silmarillion. I’m a total nerd. I love history and fantasy genres (I’m a big ‘Lord of the Rings’ fan). I’d also love to take on Stevie Nicks in a biopic at some point, and (when age appropriate), Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire.
How are you using your influence as an actress to give back in your community?
I do a lot of work with a local women at a family shelter in my neighborhood. Also, a lot of times film productions can be a bit wasteful, so I’m big on encouraging the projects that I’m a part of to try and be as sustainable as possible while giving back to the communities that we work within. I also take that into my day to day, trying to be as environmentally conscious as possible. I’m a big advocate for urban gardening and solar sustainability.
What advice would you give to other women about the fashion and beauty industry?
I would remind women to trust their instincts. You owe no one any explanations when it comes to your personal safety or boundaries. I would also encourage women to take risks, to go after the projects they believe in and towards the change which they wish to see in the industry and in our world.
What are your biggest life dreams and goals for the future?
That’s a heavy one. I became passionate about storytelling, because I believe that it is the closest way that we can understand true empathy for one another. Ultimately, I hope that, if nothing else, I can leave this world with a little more understanding and love than was there before. Even if a story only changes one person, that change is invaluable and powerful.
What up-and-coming projects are you working on?
I have a film coming out which I can speak a bit more about once the trailer is released, and I am actually developing a series, which I wrote. I promise to update more on both of those things as soon as I can.
Follow Catherine online at:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/instacatherinec
Twitter: www.twitter.com/cathercorcoran
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thecatherinecorcoran
Credits:
Model: Catherine Corcoran @instacatherinec
Photographer: Brandi Nicole @brandinicolephoto
Wardrobe: Designer Vivienne Hu, @viviennehustudio
Hair and Makeup: Franny Berkowitz @hairbyfrannyb
Article interview by Holly Glasser @hollyglasser
