Portrait of Misha Osherovich
What is your biggest motivation?
That’s a difficult question. I have a few motivations, but I would say, as an artist, my biggest motivation is my desire to create meaningful work. I often say that I have more ideas in my head that I get excited about than I know what to do with. I’m very interested in using acting and theatremaking as a way to honestly- and sometimes brutally- convey the joys and pain of the human condition. Acting is how I channel those ideas into a story that I can tell to an audience.
How has Montclair State University fostered you as an artist?
Montclair State’s acting program has provided me with invaluable opportunities to play both in class and in performance. That’s what has been most important, a sense of play and opportunities to fail. I have learned the most as an actor when I get up on stage and fail miserably. How else can we learn? By having the freedom to try all kinds of things and seeing what works, I am being given an incredible artistic playground that doesn’t really exist anywhere in the professional world.
Who are your biggest supporters?
Certainly my classmates. We are an ensemble and support each other’s work unconditionally. When parents, friends, loved ones and everyone else do not understand or support what I do, I know that my classmates are always there for me.
Who are your biggest inspirations?
I love Dustin Hoffman. I aspire to have as strong a sense of commitment and work ethic as he does. A big part of my MO as an actor is commitment to doing the character justice. I feel that Dustin does that with awesome power and admirable diligence.
What’s your latest project?
I am currently in rehearsals for Pride & Prejudice directed by Susan Kerner, which has been an amazing adventure in the land of British dialect and high-society characters. I also just finished a season acting with the Virginia Shakespeare Festival and I am currently working on a few film projects that I am very excited about.
