You gotta have balls to act…ya got balls? Well, I didn’t when my journey began, but that’s what started me down this path in the first place…
My parents were born, raised, and married in Germany. My father was captured at Normandy and spent 3 years as a POW in Chicago. Afterwards, he was hell bent on living in America. Their first go at life in the states was in Michigan where my sister was born; I came along 6 years later when they settled in Wisconsin (yup, I’m a cheese head don’t cha know!).
They kept their heads down, never rocked the boat and accepted authority without question, acclimating to a new country under the radar. Speaking my mind or being unconventional was NOT how I was brought up.
After a year of college, I convinced my conservative parents to let me try modeling in NYC. It wasn’t the first time I’d listened to that inner voice telling me to follow my own unique path, but certainly one of the boldest. Alas, the industry was not ready for a square faced girl with broad shoulders, but I loved the energy of the city nonetheless and called it home for the next 15 years.
Yadah, yadah, yadah…fast forward years later when I found myself presenting at a PTA meeting and had an unexpected panic attack. These repeated attacks began to threaten my confidence in other areas of my life too. I made it my mission to address what I considered my hated weakness, trying both homeopathy and meditation, eventually getting up the nerve to try an acting class. Since then, every class, teacher, and challenge has given me the belief that my life is far more interesting outside of my comfort zone. A self-proclaimed late bloomer I now find joy in allowing myself to be whatever I want to be.
Whether I’m playing a white-collar suit scheming for my own gain, a tough as nails doctor taking on big pharma, or a blue-collar woman whose been through it but loyal, my broad shoulders are now an asset that easily carry the weight of those characters. I’ve worked in films (both indie and major), experienced the thrill of performing live in theater productions, done voice over and commercials, each adding a piece to my puzzle.
From panic mode to Best Actress award, I now revel in doing less conventional things. I’ve traveled extensively, been heli-skiing, zip lined over the rainforest and the Zambezi River, took aim at pistol training, survived a courage ride in NM (that’s horseback riding with a spirited Indian guide!) paddle boarded in Florida (hey, there’s always a gator somewhere!), dabbled in Krav Maga, snuggled with Sylvester the cheetah and am about to embark as a volunteer for the LAPD.
“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t…you’re right.” Henry Ford
Susanne currently lives in LA with her husband of 30 years, two boys and two pups.
