Stasya Knight’s journey from her home of Siberia at the age of seven to LA with her parents to start a new life

By Sarah Curtis
Photography: Terry Check for MODE
Photo Retouch: Alyssa Delaura
Model: Actress Stasya Knight
Fashion Designer: Cheri Wilson Chagollan
Fashion Stylist: Anna Galle
Assistant Fashion Stylist: Dani Russ
Makeup: Ash Mathews
Hair: Monica Escalante
Design: MODE STUDIO

People often imagine that the life of an actor/actress would be all fun and laughter and it can be. But there is also a great deal of work involved to achieve success and that is the story that is not usually heard or remembered except by those in the game. In an exclusive interview and editorial with MODE, Stasya remembers how she left her home of Siberia at the age of seven and moved to LA with her parents to start a new life. From an early age she was mesmerized with acting and the stage and would later develop that passion into a life career.

Style with Stasya Knight – Mode Lifestyle Magazine May/June 2015-Page-66-67

Jacket: Wonderland Corsets
Necklace: Nissa
Bra and Panties: For Love and Lemons

Whenever she was not studying English or attending school, Knight watched American movies with spectacular productions and larger than life actors. While she and her mother attended “The Phantom of the Opera” featuring Sarah Brightman, the youngster was totally mesmerized, realizing only recently, that her passion for acting was born that evening, “living in shared reality, a beautiful, fantastical reality, as everyone (cast members and audience) was transported into another universe,” she said. It was a magical moment never to be forgotten which inspired her to pursue an acting career.

While playing local theater roles in Wonder Women and The King and I, and taking Peter Frisch’s classes for improv and scene study, the now 28 years old actress enrolled in the Ivana Chubbuck Studio. With world-renown teachers like Chris Holder, Knight’s acting skills took root with roles in The Unbelievable, Promise Ring and Tangential Lives. Her acting mentor, Mark Teschner (four time Emmy Award Winner), cast her first television role as Hadley in General Hospital. Teschner taught classes at TVI Acting Studio, currently attended by Stasya. Richard Brander, a notable acting teacher for many actors including Kevin Costner and Milla Jovovich, is working with Stasya to develop her “in the moment” acting skills.

Style with Stasya Knight – Mode Lifestyle Magazine May/June 2015-Page-68-69

Left:
Corset and skirt: Wonderland Corsets
Necklace: Kate Spade

Right:
Corset, fringe skirt and neck piece: Wonderland Corsets
Shoes: Michael Antonio
Bracelets: Deepa Gurnan

Her latest film, Cowboys & Engines, a Steampunk Western, featured Stasya as Symphony Furst based on a comic-book inspired villain. Together with Dr. Clay (played by Malcolm McDowell), Stasya steals the professor’s temporal engine and plots the total destruction of San Francisco. The Steampunk adventure follows the journey of Cade Ballard (Richard Hatch) and Guinivere Wheelwe (Libby Letlow) as they set off to save the Bayside City. Following favorable audience reviews at the film’s release in January 2015, the producers plan on creating a Cowboys & Engines television series.

Style with Stasya Knight – Mode Lifestyle Magazine May/June 2015-Page-70-71

Left:
Corset and skirt: Wonderland Corsets
Necklace: Kate Spade
Shoes: Michael Antonio

Right:
Headpiece, corset, skirt: Wonderland Corsets
Earrings: vintage

Another upcoming project is a short film, Savannah, written and produced by Stasya Knight. The project is currently in pre-production with the screenplay near completion. “I’m very passionate about the screenplay which has been in development for the past year. Savannah is a psychological thriller which I wrote and plan to produce as a short film,” mentioned the actress. “The inspiration comes from my life experiences and is influenced by one of my favorite films (Mulholland Drive) by director, David Lynch. It’s a story about a woman finding herself at the end of a chaotic tunnel of obsessive love. It’s a journey of self-discovery toward identity. The heroine is named Caitlin, but ‘Savannah’ is both a person and a metaphor for the wild, untamed beast inside us all (our animal nature). Through the process of this story, Caitlin (and hopefully the audience) learns to embrace the so-called ‘dark’ side of ourselves to become whole.” Pausing for a moment she continues, “The story is loosely based on and inspired by a very tumultuous relationship I had several years ago. It was something that helped me grow into myself and find my identity as an artist. Like Caitlin, I had to embrace the things in myself that I was afraid of. Our journeys were similar in the sense that we both struggled with needing to always be in control and striving for ‘perfection’. It was only when I started letting go of all the judgment and self- criticism, that my eyes were opened to an exciting new world. Sometimes it’s necessary to pass through a dark tunnel to fully enjoy the sunshine at the other end. The core foundation of this film is unconditional self-love and acceptance, because I think that’s where all love stems from that we share with the world.”

Style with Stasya Knight – Mode Lifestyle Magazine May/June 2015-Page-72-73

Corset, skirt and beaded overlay: Wonderland Corsets
Earrings: Sam Elderman
Shoes: Michael Antonio
Bracelet: Vintage

With her determination and passion for film-making (writing, acting and producing) the short film Savannah is surely destined for the Sundance Film Festival. Whether or not it’s an award winning film is not important to Knight. She is pursuing her dream to be part of the community of actors, filmmakers and entertainers. Her dream is becoming reality as she is “finding her way”

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