10 Things about Taveeta Szymanowicz
Originally from Toronto, how did you get your start in the entertainment industry?
My professional start in the entertainment industry began on a Toronto FRINGE Festival project called DABDA. It was an original coming-of-age story of seven affluent teenagers in the 1940s and their journey to find themselves through acts of rebellion, self-liberation and freedom of expression. I was 16 when I booked that job, and it really was the fueling push behind looking at a full time professional career in the entertainment industry. A year later, I had auditioned to be a part of a popular Canadian TV Show called “The Next Step” and was chosen to be a series regular, and from there my love for working in film and television began.
What were some motivating factors that led you to decide that acting was the path you would take?
I had always loved and appreciated film and television but had never fully understood the work, time, commitment and AMOUNT OF PEOPLE that it took to bring a story to the screen. So my first experience on a set was a massive motivating factor for me, because it really made me fall in love with the behind the scene’s action and the work itself. Flash forward six years later, and it is still a massive part of my love for the industry. As I grow and continue to learn and experience life, I have come to realize how privileged I am to have a career that can be used as a platform to represent different aspects of life, and thus tell many different types of stories. And, it’s also a major reason why I love my job and remain motivated to keep on pursuing a lifelong career as an actor.
Which actors have had a positive impact on your career thus far and which ones would you want to work with if given the opportunity?
Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron and Scarlett Johansson have always had a special place in my heart. I admire their performances as actors but also LOVE the types of roles they have gotten to play. From their character portrayals of strong, dominant, powerful women to their portrayals of women with stories of fragility, submission and exceptional depth—not to mention I am extremely interested in playing action roles, and all three of them really set the bar when it comes to action performances. I am also consistently fascinated by Cillian Murphy’s work, and I think Timothee Chalomet is incredible and would love to work with him. Right now, other actors I would love to work with given the opportunity include: Florence Pugh, Ana de Armas, Anya Taylor-Joy, Zendaya, Kristen Stewart, Sophie Turner, Nick Robinson, Robert Pattinson and Justice Smith.
You’re on USA’s crime series, “Dare Me,” which is an unflinching exploration of teen angst, jealousy, loyalty and the dynamics of power in a small Midwestern town. How were you first introduced to the series and what made you decide to jump on board?
“Dare Me” came on my radar in late spring of 2018 when I originally had an audition to come in for the role of ‘Beth.’ At that point I had only read the pilot script, and it wasn’t until I was later brought in to read for the role of ‘Riri’ that I had picked up Megan Abbott’s novel “Dare Me.” I had finished the novel in one day and fell in love with Megan’s story instantly, and I knew then how special it would be to be involved with the project. I am very grateful to Megan Abbott and Ginna Fattore for trusting me to bring ‘Riri’ to life in the beautiful, dark, and twisted world that is Sutton Grove.
On “Dare Me”, you play the role of Riri Curtis. What can you tell us about her personality and what you enjoy most about bringing her character to life?
‘Riri’ is a vibrant young woman, eager to rise to the top of the social chain and cheer squad. Her mother JJ Curtis— a former Sutton Grove Top Girl herself — is the leading booster mom and female business model in Sutton Grove and expects a lot of ‘Riri’ in terms of meeting her “social and cheer” expectations. I think ‘Riri’ is a very good example of how teenagers can easily turn to partying, drugs, alcohol and sexual behavior as coping mechanisms for dealing with the pressures of social expectations in adolescence. You can expect ‘Riri’ to make you feel young and free, but also remind you how quickly all that vibrancy can fade in an instant. I really enjoy portraying this character. She’s not what you initially expect her to be, and that is what I love the most about her. I am eager to see how that reads to the “Dare Me” audience and fans of Megan’s novel.
You’re also in the upcoming Netflix series “October Faction,” which follows the story of globetrotting monster hunters Fred and Deloris Allen who, after the death of Fred’s father, return to their hometown in upstate New York. What can you share with us about the process of getting on this project?
I had a really fun audition process for my role on “October Faction.” I was brought in twice to read for ‘Young Deloris,’ and I got to work directly with the show runner Damien Kindler and our opening episode director David Frazee alongside Charles Vandervaart (who plays my husband on the show). We worked together for about an hour on various scenes throughout the series and got to play and find out just who these characters were in that very moment.
What more can you tell us about playing young Deloris Allen?
I play the younger version of the lead character ‘Deloris Allen’ who is played by Tamara Taylor. So essentially, I fit into the story every time you get a glimpse into Tamara’s character’s past, and over the course of the season, you get to piece together how her character and her character’s husband ‘Fred’ became the people they are today. I can’t give away any spoilers, but it was a great role in terms of its range, and I am happy with the way our scenes translated to screen. It is available for streaming now on Netflix.
If you weren’t working on your career in acting, what other type of work could you see yourself doing?
Before I chose to pursue acting and performing, I had two ideas of what I wanted to do professionally. One also was focused on the arts, as I wanted to pursue a career as a dancer in the professional contemporary concert world. The other was to become a geologist in Hawaii as I was very fascinated with the physical science behind the Earth. Flash forward to me now, and I feel a massive duty to contribute to work in child poverty, homelessness and climate change sectors, so I feel I would choose to bounce around working for different nonprofit organizations.
When it comes to fashion, which designers and styles appeal most to your personality?
I love fashion for the simple fact that it has no limits. I truly have such a wide range in how I like to dress, and what I enjoy wearing very much depends on my mood when I wake up that day. Right now, I have been loving bouncing between light, airy, minimal looks and very bold edgy looks. In terms of big designers, I am really loving Zimmerman—genuinely anything and everything Zimmerman, my favorite brand at the moment. I also have been liking most of what YSL, Coach, Dior, Miu Miu, Moschino and Giambattistavalli are conceptualizing right now.
What projects do you have coming up in the near future?
I can’t give away any details, but I am very excited for all that’s in the works. I look forward to continue forward down this wonderfully chaotic, ever-changing and evolving, path that is this industry.
Twitter: @Taveeta
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Photos: Rebecca Hitch