Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharon Pfeiffer.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Sharon. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have ALWAYS wanted to be an actor.
But growing up as one of six children didn’t seem to allow for it. The desire always remained, but raising a child of my own, and life, kept me from pursuing my dreams.
Before I left NY, I was a mob wife. Yes. A real-life Mob Wife. Watch ID Channel’s ‘I Married a Mobster’ Season 2- Episode 3. I had to leave NY in the middle of the night, and try to reinvent myself. I didn’t try acting then, as I was still raising my daughter and the allure of being a starving actor wasn’t appealing. Real estate and working in salons (I’m a licensed cosmetologist in Florida and NY) kept my daughter and I sheltered, clothed, and fed, and I’m grateful I was capable of doing those things to earn a living. But my creativity was being stifled, and I always dreamed of being able to act.
The opportunity to finally explore the idea of becoming an actor came after my second divorce- on my own finally!- free of any restrictions of pursuing my childhood dream…
Pursuing acting presented some challenges.
I had ‘crooked teeth’. Doesn’t sound like a big deal, right? They never really were before… well, EVERY agent I spoke to strongly recommended I get my teeth ‘fixed’ if I really wanted to be an actor. That was an expense I hadn’t planned for!
I have a strong NY accent which immediately puts me in a different category. Agents were also recommending I fix that, as well. Hey! I like my accent!
I’m short, I have big boobs, and I know that agents wanted me to fix that too, but… lol!!!
Also, at that time (10 years ago), there weren’t a lot of productions going on in South Florida, so the competition was fierce. Unfortunately, it’s even worse now, with the lack of tax incentives from the state.
I had no experience, and getting experience was difficult because they wanted people WITH experience.
Wait… whaaat???
Despite these challenges, I kept auditioning and going to castings.
I took every class and workshop.
I worked on every set that would have me.
I was starting to get booked!
Because people liked what I was bringing into the audition room- ME.
As soon as I was eligible, I proudly joined SAG-AFTRA, the union for actors. That too presented challenges, as Florida is a ‘right-to-work’ state, and there are seldom projects being produced under a union contract. Most are non-union.
Yet, I was still building a resume.
Working on commercials, independent films, short films, even music videos.
My big break came in August of 2017.
An audition for the feature film ‘The Beach Bum’ came. I went, but instead of being booked for the role I auditioned for, I got booked for a completely different role- a role written for a 20-something-year-old girl. When I met Harmony Korine, the writer/director of The Beach Bum, he told the Casting Director, LaShawnna Stanley “She’s my ‘bar girl’!” I ended up having a very funny scene with Academy Award Winner Matthew McConaughey!!! BTW- the scene was originally written with NO dialogue. It was to be just a quick montage of shots of MM and whomever they cast in that role. By the time Harmony and I were done discussing the role, I had an almost 2-minute scene, WITH dialogue.
I’m very proud of the 20-year journey I made to South Florida from NY. I left NY knowing I had to reinvent myself. It took some time, and lots of changes and sacrifices, but I can now say, with confidence, that I have accomplished my dream of BEING an actor.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It definitely has NOT been a smooth road! More like a bumpy ride! LOL.
From being 3rd of six children in a lower-income family in Long Island, NY, to a real-life Mob Wife until I left NY to come (escape!) to South Florida, to a woman trying to pursue a childhood dream of acting in a state that theoretically doesn’t support that industry… it has been my confidence, faith, support from family and friends, tenacity, and sheer will has kept me going- even when I didn’t know WHY I was.
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m probably best known as ‘the Mob Wife that left NY and went to Florida and became an actor that was in a movie with Matthew McConaughey and now is a professional stand-up comedian’…
I am most proud of being able to be reasonably successful as an actor while also pursuing a stand-up comedy career. All the while, maintaining a position as an executive assistant at a construction company.
I think what sets me apart from other actors in my demographic (women over 50) is I am very comfortable being ME on screen, as well as whoever the director wants me to be. I will take roles that maybe other women would turn down. I’m not saying that’s wrong of them. I respect that choice. I’m just saying I think THAT is what makes me different.
Any predictions for the industry over the next few years?
I see lead actors in big feature films being more diverse (more minorities, women, older women) than ever.
I hope to see more people with disabilities being used in the entertainment industry, more inclusion…
It’s happening, but slowly…
Contact Info:
- Email: shardan323@hotmail.com
- Instagram: @sharonpfeiffernotmichelle
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/shar.dan.18
- Other: www.imdb.me/sharonpfeiffer
Image Credit:
Rick McCawley
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