RAINE MAGAZINE Volume 20 | Innovate

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Alysia ReinER
Alysia Reiner has made a name for herself in the entertainment
industry over the years with the characters she has brought
to life on the big and small screens. Often recognized for
appearing in the Oscar-winning film SIDEWAYS, Alysia has
expanded her roles over the years from actress, to producer,
humanitarian, outspoken environmentalist, and mother.
More recently Alysia can be seen in Netflix’s awardwinning,
hit series “Orange is the New Black.” She stars
as “Natalie Figueroa,” or “Fig,” the tough as nails assistant
warden, who runs a tight ship.
Join us as we find the secret to Alysia’s entrepreneurial
success as an actress and beyond.
RAINE: Why do you love acting?
REINER: I love learning. I love exploring and experimenting.
I love getting into the mind, psychology, heart, soul, life, family,
and profession of another being that I get to co-create. I fall in
love with each character and I love the compassion that then
brings me for every person I meet.
RAINE: Funny career story?
REINER: Most people don’t know this but I was once a “Miller
Beer Girl,” Super Bowl commercial and all, and in the commercial I was
caught staring a guy’s big...feet.
RAINE: Biggest challenge to overcome?
REINER: In life? I think the biggest challenge is maintaining a sense of optimism, joy and
gratitude. It’s so easy to look at what’s wrong in the world, in your life, in your career - and
for me, what I’m doing wrong - and obsess over it. No life is perfect, we all have major
losses, ranging from the death of someone we love to not getting a role you wanted - and
they all hurt. So feel ‘um and shed ‘um.
There’s magic every day if you look for it. I think I can be prone to negativity, so I work
hard - with yoga, meditation, healthy lifestyle - to practice looking for those amazing
moments every day.
I just read a brilliant quote about this from Brene Brown:
“A good life happens when you stop and are grateful for the ordinary moments that so many of
us just steamroll over to try to find those extraordinary moments. To me, my good life is soccer
practice and a carpool line. And tuck-ins. And date night. That’s the good life for me. And
knowing that it’s good. Acknowledging and stopping and saying that it’s good.” - Brene Brown
RAINE: If you could do it all over again what would be the one thing that you would
change in your career?
REINER: I would choose to be a child star, then get too famous and go to rehab,
then make a comeback at 25 and end
Photo Credit: Josh Merwin
up right where I am today. Nah, just kidding...I
wouldn’t change a thing.
RAINE: Where do you see yourself in five years?
REINER: My dream? I’ll be filming Season 8 of
“Orange Is the New Black,” and Fig will have
had an amazing journey over the years. I hope I
get to serve the world a ton, like the work I have
been doing with the women`s prison association
(http://www.kirakira.com/products/WPA-Limited-
Edition-Locket.html).
A few awards wouldn’t suck. In five
years I hope I’ll have continued to work in film and
theatre in awesome ways, to tell awesome stories,
with awesome folks like some I have worked with
recently, and even some new heroes like Wes
Anderson, The Duplass brothers, Tom McCarthy,
Tina Fey, Katherine Bigelow, Nicole Holefcenter,
Mark Rylance, Tracey Letts... I could go on and
on. Oh, and I’m really excited about an idea I
have for a female driven thriller that I’m working
on with a producer, and we just hired writers, so
hopefully in 5 years you will say it was one of your
favorite films! So basically playing, contributing,
storytelling and of course I’ll be looking exactly
the same as I do today!
RAINE: Tell us three things on your bucket list?
REINER:
An Oscar
Trip to India with my daughter
Visit my new family in Australia! My sister just
married an Australian bloke!!!
RAINE: What has been the most helpful advice
that someone has given you that has contributed
to your success?
REINER: “Don’t push the river,” just be yourself
in the boat and let God’s river carry you along
wherever it goes, there’s a bigger plan.
RAINE: What words of wisdom can you share with
other creative entrepreneurs?
REINER: Don’t wait, create! Never wait for that
magical chance or opportunity - you can create
every day and be of service in a billion ways.
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