Take One Press

For many young actors, graduation marks the end of one chapter.

For Abby Smook, it marked the beginning of a dream she’d been carrying since childhood.

Fresh off graduating from Wagner College and signing with Eris Talent Agency, Smook is stepping into the entertainment industry at a time that feels equal parts exciting and uncertain. Rather than pretending to have all the answers, she embraces the unknown with a refreshing honesty.

“Graduating with an acting degree is especially daunting,” she said. “There is no single path to success, and your journey is uniquely your own.” 

That perspective shapes nearly every part of her approach to acting.

Unlike many performers who discover the craft later in life, Smook can’t remember a time when acting wasn’t the goal. She recalls seeing Wicked on Broadway at eleven years old and experiencing what she describes as an instant certainty that this was the life she wanted to pursue.

“I remember an inner ‘knowing’ that this was my path washing over me,” she said. 

That conviction recently led her to her first professional screen credit in Meet Me at the End, a project whose themes resonated with her on a deeply personal level.

Drawn to the story of a young queer woman navigating identity and belonging, Smook felt an immediate connection to the material. While stepping onto her first professional film set naturally brought nerves, she says she also felt welcomed and supported from the moment production began.

Since then, she’s continued investing heavily in on-camera training, determined to approach future projects with even greater confidence and technical understanding.

One of the biggest surprises, she says, has been adapting to today’s audition process.

With self-tapes becoming the industry standard, actors are now responsible for much more than simply delivering a performance.

“You essentially have to become your own director,” Smook explained, noting that actors now also manage lighting, sound and editing before a casting director ever watches the audition. While intimidating at first, she now appreciates the creative freedom that comes with controlling that first impression.

When discussing what she naturally brings to a role, Smook points to vulnerability.

She believes her performances are grounded by emotional honesty and a willingness to let audiences see genuine feeling, whether she’s performing comedy or drama.

“I have an ability to be vulnerable in front of an audience or camera,” she said. “I also have a strong sense of humor that has never wavered.” 

That balance between humor and emotional depth reflects the kinds of stories she hopes to tell in the future.

While she loves comedy, she’s equally passionate about projects exploring subjects like mental illness and chronic illness, stories she feels personally connected to through her own life experiences.

“My ultimate goal is always to use that pain and empathy to help others through my art.”

Perhaps the most memorable answer of the conversation came when discussing confidence.

Asked how she stays motivated while building a career in such a competitive industry, Smook answered with complete honesty.

“If I’m being totally honest, right now I’m relying a lot on delusion.”

She quickly clarified that what she means isn’t wishful thinking, but an unwavering belief that the career she’s working toward is possible.

“Even when things get tough, I have this quiet unwavering faith that it will work out.” 

It’s a mindset supported by the artistic community she’s found in New York.

Although she’s only officially lived there for a short time, Smook says the city’s creative energy and the friendships she’s built have become an essential part of both her growth as an artist and as a person.

“I can’t wait to continue to create art with these people.” 

Looking ahead, Smook hopes that if this conversation happens again five years from now, it won’t simply be about landing bigger roles.

She hopes it’s about proving to herself that the faith she has today was justified.

“I hope we’re talking about how that ‘delusion’ paid off,” she said. “I want to look back on this moment and laugh at how scared I was because I have made my dreams a reality.” 

For an actress just beginning her professional journey, it’s an outlook that’s equal parts vulnerable, hopeful, and determined.

If those qualities continue to shape both her career and her performances, this likely won’t be the last time audiences hear Abby Smook’s name.