Thanks to the Actors Home platform we had the opportunity to meet talented actress Tanya – Kostadinova
FM42: What would you say was the turning point in your career?
Understanding and accepting rejection was a major turning point. I learned that rejection is part of being an actor.It’s never personal. It simply comes down to whether you align with the director’s and producer’s vision or not. Building your network with every audition and forming relationships it’s extremely important.Even though not all of them are meant to last. With each audition, you learn something new about yourself and your craft, and you keep working. Otherwise, it would be too easy, and nobody likes easy.
FM42: Was acting always your goal?
No, it was never my goal—it just happened to me. I had amazing teachers who pushed and challenged me. I started with ballet, then moved on to study Management in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, but I quickly realized it wasn’t for me. I returned to Sofia, intending to study Photography, but I wasn’t accepted—luckily.
All I knew was how to dance, so I danced and was accepted into Dance Theater. In my first semester, we had Acting classes. My beloved professor, Vasil Dimitrov, who is no longer with us, told me, “Tanya, you’re not a dancer, you’re a storyteller.”
That moment sparked my interest in psychology and understanding why people do what they do, what circumstances drive them—and it became part of who I am and my life.
FM42: What other factors add pressure to you as a performer?
There’s always pressure. Every new project, new team on set, every director it’s all a challenge, and thankfully so! The factors that add pressure for me as a performer could be everything and nothing; it’s all about how you choose to react to those pressures.
FM42: Is the ability to focus the most important skill an actor can
learn?
I would say the ability to listen is the most important skill. It’s difficult to just sit, listen, and reflect. Not everyone can do it. Trust me, even though everyone is saying, “Oh, I’m a good listener,” it’s often not true. We hide behind words as a form of self-protection. But having the skill to truly listen—that’s another cuppa tea.
FM42 : Tell me more about your debut as a director.
Being involved in a documentary and trying to direct it opened my eyes to so many things as an actor. The real “characters” I met during shooting were inspiring, and not having a script was both inspiring and challenging. It forced me to focus on how I wanted to tell that story. What questions am I raising while telling that story? This experience truly showed me as an actor not to be so self-aware and to simply focus on telling the story that matters to me.
FM42: Why is it good to be part of The Actors Home platform?
Being part of The Actors Home platform gives me the opportunity to learn from other actors’ experiences. Having the opportunity to learn about important events and what problems we face in the industry,it’s one of the reasons why I like the Platform.It also allows us to consider how we, as a community, can bring about the changes we want to see. Knowledge is power, and that’s why I’m part of The Actors Home community. It’s an opportunity to educate myself and connect with great people from whom I can learn.
Cover foto: Edo Brugue
