ACTOR BIO
Laura Benson is a Northern California native whose creativity has been nurtured by the diversity of cultures and natural beauty around her.
She began her journey as an actor unexpectedly at the age of six, when she was recruited by a UC Santa Cruz film student at a restaurant to play the younger version of his lead actress for his thesis film. She still has the original VHS of that project, and from those humble beginnings, has continued to hone her craft, both in film, and on stage over the course of nearly two decades.
Her education includes a double degree with honors in Theatre Performance and Hispanic Studies through Scripps College and the Pomona College Department of Theatre and Dance.
Additionally, she spent six months studying at the London Dramatics Academy before moving to Spain to study physical theatre and world music. She spent over two years teaching English in the country, working as an actor with Madrid's oldest English-Language theatre company, and training in Decroux-based mime and clowning techniques.
Her years spent living life in her second language have not only built tremendous character, they have provided her with immeasurable life experience which now informs her acting as well as her writing.In recent years, her love for theatre has expanded into film, and her deplth and diversity of experience drive Laura to delve deeply into her work as an artist, and she is currently working on a screenplay for a feature narrative based on her experiences abroad.
In addition to acting, Laura is a passionate musician, and has traveled throughout Europe with her violin on her back, learning traditional Scottish, Spanish, and Irish music. She has recently broadened her pursuits into the genre of contemporary music and blues violin and vocals. She studied blues violin and vocals at the Escuela de Musica Creativa in Madrid, and performed in a local Celtic band while living in Spain.
She enjoys all components of the arts, and when she is not onstage or camera, she often works in production. Recent Projects include "Faults," set to premier at SXSW this year, and "The Guest," which premiered at Sundance in 2014.
She is currently expanding her recently released short film, PHOENIX, which is set to premiere in a couple of weeks at the Chaffey Review Independent Film Festival, into a feature length narrative, and continue to explore the dynamic character she and her collaborative writing partner are creating.
She began her journey as an actor unexpectedly at the age of six, when she was recruited by a UC Santa Cruz film student at a restaurant to play the younger version of his lead actress for his thesis film. She still has the original VHS of that project, and from those humble beginnings, has continued to hone her craft, both in film, and on stage over the course of nearly two decades.
Her education includes a double degree with honors in Theatre Performance and Hispanic Studies through Scripps College and the Pomona College Department of Theatre and Dance.
Additionally, she spent six months studying at the London Dramatics Academy before moving to Spain to study physical theatre and world music. She spent over two years teaching English in the country, working as an actor with Madrid's oldest English-Language theatre company, and training in Decroux-based mime and clowning techniques.
Her years spent living life in her second language have not only built tremendous character, they have provided her with immeasurable life experience which now informs her acting as well as her writing.In recent years, her love for theatre has expanded into film, and her deplth and diversity of experience drive Laura to delve deeply into her work as an artist, and she is currently working on a screenplay for a feature narrative based on her experiences abroad.
In addition to acting, Laura is a passionate musician, and has traveled throughout Europe with her violin on her back, learning traditional Scottish, Spanish, and Irish music. She has recently broadened her pursuits into the genre of contemporary music and blues violin and vocals. She studied blues violin and vocals at the Escuela de Musica Creativa in Madrid, and performed in a local Celtic band while living in Spain.
She enjoys all components of the arts, and when she is not onstage or camera, she often works in production. Recent Projects include "Faults," set to premier at SXSW this year, and "The Guest," which premiered at Sundance in 2014.
She is currently expanding her recently released short film, PHOENIX, which is set to premiere in a couple of weeks at the Chaffey Review Independent Film Festival, into a feature length narrative, and continue to explore the dynamic character she and her collaborative writing partner are creating.