Noah Lamanna: Embracing Multifaceted Creativity Demands Rejecting Rigid Industry Expectations

As a part of our series about pop culture’s rising stars, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Noah Lamanna.

Toronto-based actor Noah Lamanna appears in season two of HBO’s hit post-apocalyptic drama “The Last of Us”. They portray Kat, who dated Ellie (Bella Ramsey) before the events of “The Last of Us”, Part II.

Based on the hit video game franchise by Naughty Dog, the series is set 20 years after a fungal pandemic transforms its hosts into zombie-like creatures, collapsing society. The second season, based on the 2020 game “The Last of Us”, Part II, picks up five years after the first season’s events.

Additionally, Noah will appear in season three of Netflix’s “Ginny & Georgia” as Tris, a brainy skateboarder and peer tutor who is a close friend of Marcus (Felix Mallard) and Silver (Katelyn Wells).

In 2023, Noah starred as Eli in John Tiffany’s production of Let the Right One In at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, earning a nomination for Best Principal Performance in a Play from the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle. They can also be seen in A24’s Dream Scenario, “The Umbrella Academy”, and “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds”.

In addition to acting, Noah is a passionate writer and emerging director, currently in pre-production on their first original short film. With a background in musical theatre, puppetry, and drag performance, they bring a unique, multifaceted perspective to their work.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?

A lot of my childhood revolved around performing. I started taking dance classes quite young, and by high school I was keeping a pretty intensive schedule of dance and vocal training, as well as performing in a lot of community theatre. I also took school very seriously- probably too seriously. I’m among the many millennials who grew up with ‘gifted kid syndrome’. When school was over, I had a very hard time situating myself in the real world without that rigid framework of success to evaluate myself against. That desire to be exceptional is probably what leads a lot of us to work in this business.

Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?

One of my first significant performances was as ‘Alice’ in a youth musical production of Alice in Wonderland when I was ten. I remember noting that I didn’t feel nervous when the show was starting. I think performing gave me confidence from an early age, and that feeling of empowerment is what compelled me to stay on the path. That said, the nerves did eventually catch up with me.

Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

I have a casting story that I think is pretty interesting. I worked on a sci-fi show called “Beacon 23” a few years ago. I auditioned for a ‘gay assistant-type’ role (which I love to play but I’m usually not what they’re looking for). Then, I went in to audtion again for this other very out-there AI character, and that’s the role I ended up booking. I was only supposed to have a single episode arc, but they wrote me back in for the rest of the season. It was a blast; I had a lot of fun and I was really grateful to be there. Then one day Lewin Webb, who was the supervising producer and the director on my first episode, casually asked me ‘did I ever tell you the story of how you got cast?’ It turns out, a relative of his had seen me doing drag and shared a video of the show with him. He followed the Instagram thread and found out I was an actor. He thought I could be an interesting fit for the show, so he read me for a couple of roles to figure out where to place me — pretty wild! There’s so much that goes on behind the scenes in casting, you never know who is talking about you or how you end up getting seen for things.

It has been said that mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

There was a time that I accidentally got way too high on a weed cookie before shooting a friend’s student film. We powered through but it was an unhinged process. I never saw the film in the end, which I imagine is for the best. The lesson is to always put at least 48 hours between taking psychoactive substances and being on camera.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?

Working on “The Last of Us” was incredibly exciting. I got to ride a horse in the mountains with real live cowboys. We were blessed to have Danny Virtue on the show, who is such a sweet guy and probably the biggest horse wrangler in the biz. I also spent a few days riding at his ranch. That was a major highlight. Working with the horses really solidified my dream of being in a Western. I could’ve stayed out in the Rockies forever.

Right now I’m working on getting a script of my own produced, which is totally new terrain for me. It’s really exciting and also very intimidating. I’m still in the early stages and learning as I go. I never felt like I knew enough to take the leap into developing my own work, but now I realize that no one really knows what they’re doing when they start, you just have to figure it out along the way. I’m lucky to be in community with so many talented independent creators who I can learn and take inspiration from. I’m excited for the opportunity to step into my power in a new way.

As a rising star, you’ve likely faced challenges along the way. How do you stay motivated and overcome obstacles in your career?

I try not to define myself by my career highs or lows. I have a lot of other pursuits in my life that are deeply rewarding and that fill my days with meaning. I’m so grateful for the times that I am working, but my life doesn’t stop when a project wraps.

We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?

Compelling stories are the greatest empathy-building tools we have. It’s important to keep creating space in the industry for people to authentically tell their own stories because that’s how we connect with each other’s humanity. Plus, so-called ‘diverse’ audiences hold massive consumer power, and the numbers are clear- viewers want to see authentic representation on screen. I think a lot of us, both in Canada and the US, are concerned about how funding to support diversity in the arts will be affected in the coming years. It’s disheartening, but I know a lot of scrappy artists who will band together and find a way to continue creating their work. We’ll figure out how to keep the channels of access open for each other.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why?

1 . Success in this industry is rarely linear.

I’ve had great years followed by really tough years. I quit the industry entirely at one point. My professional life has taken a lot of different directions, and while that has sometimes been challenging, I’ve managed to stay on the path long enough for things to start gaining momentum and I’m excited to see what happens next.

2 . Don’t try to squeeze yourself into a casting bracket that doesn’t fit.

When I first started auditioning, I presented myself the way I thought I was supposed to — polite, feminine and palatable. I think I just got lost on the roster because I wasn’t bringing enough of myself into the room. When I started showing up more authentically, things started shifting.

3 . Everyone else is asking.

There’s a delicate dance you do as an actor of trying to advocate for yourself without being perceived as demanding or difficult. This is especially true for women and femmes. I’ve avoided asking for what I need in the past because I’m afraid of making waves, but as I started advancing in my career I realized that everyone else is asking. Ask your questions, negotiate your rates, request the accommodations you need. It doesn’t have to come from a place of ego. You can be respectful and considerate to the people around you while also making sure your needs are being met.

4 . You do better work when you’re having fun.

I’ve always been very studious and taken the work very seriously, and that has served me in a lot of ways. However, there’s a point at which you just have to relax and enjoy the process. The camera can see when you’re working too hard. I sometimes watch myself in projects I’ve been in and think ‘dude, just chill out!’.

5 . Nobody knows anything.

Even people who seem like they really have it together are just stumbling through life in one way or another. We’re all just figuring it out as we go, that’s what life is. It was really freeing for me when I figured that out.

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?

NAPS! I nap whenever I can and wherever I can. It’s like turning a computer off and on again. There’s no better reset than a nap.

You are a person of influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

I think it would be great if more people had access to garden space near their homes. Growing your own produce can help alleviate food insecurity and rising grocery prices, and you can grow native species of plants and flowers to support your local biodiversity. You’re also deepening your relationship with your food and with the land you live on, and getting your hands in the dirt is so good for your mental health. Dismantling the prison and military industrial complexes would be really good too.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

I had a dance teacher named Peter Stanton who was a wonderful mentor to me as a young person. He was truly a pillar of the community, and he lit up every room he entered. He passed away 15 years ago now, but I still dedicate a lot of my successes to him. Peter loved life more than anyone I’ve ever known, and I’ve tried to carry his sense of wonder and enthusiasm with me into adulthood. I don’t think I would be the person I am now without his love and support.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

A big lesson I’m continually learning is that everything in life is just a process, and all you have to do is find somewhere to start. All the pursuits that are fulfilling me right now are things that I started doing without an end goal. I just said ok, let’s take that class or join that group and see where it goes. And now I can look back and see how far I’ve come, all because I didn’t start out trying to get anywhere in particular.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)

Meshal Aljaser! I loved his film Naga when I saw it at TIFF a couple years ago. That was actually my first thought after I saw it — that I wanted to sit down with him and talk about it because I had so many questions for him. He’s like a wunderkind who’s having this meteoric rise right now, and he seems to have sort of stumbled into success because he just really loves making stuff. I want to get in his head and find out what his deal is.

How can our readers follow you online?

On Instagram @noah.lamanna

This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!