Nicholas Bonanno, born and bred right here in Malta, has always had a passion for acting and is currently in Los Angeles, pursuing his dreams of becoming an actor.

However life in LA is not all red carpets and bright lights. In fact, it takes a lot of hard work, and a bit of luck, to come anywhere close to reaching that stage.

“What I can say is that each time you reach a new level, you’re dealing with new issues or obstacles. Just like anything else in life. Once you’ve done your job as an actor, you feel like your own little star inside, and it does shine bright. If you’re in it for the red carpet and paparazzi, pack up and go home.

“Sharing a bedroom with a friend, sleeping on another friend’s couch for a few nights, so you could keep your costs low till you find some room or so you can afford your next session of head-shots. And that’s just the beginning. Another struggle is to retain your identity. A sign of your kindness can be a major profit for others who need to reach a new level and they will use it to their advantage”.

Born in 1988 and educated at St Edward’s College, Nicholas began showing interest in acting at the age of 12 when he began his weekly training at Stagecoach, and later appearing in productions for the arts school.

He then moved to the UK at the age of 15, pursued Theatre Studies at A level and became a member of the National Youth Theatre, after he moved back to Malta to star in a production directed by Irene Christ, called Tattoo.

Taking a short hiatus from acting, Nicholas then proceeded to read a business degree at Loughborough University. After graduating, he moved to New York where he began his conservatory training at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and later progressed to move to Los Angeles, were he currently resides. He has appeared in staged productions in New York and Los Angeles. 

In terms of stage time, to date, his biggest part was playing the part of Flan in ‘Six Degrees of Separation’ by John Guare (above). “A very shuffled character, in his objective of being part of a higher class by selling his latest acquired piece of art and doing and saying anything in the process to reach a new height”. 

He has also taken part in the positively reviewed play called ‘talking to terrorists’. “It’s a verbatim style piece, in which every word spoken on stage was actually said. It explores three types of people, victims of terrorist attack, people who dealt or were affected by terrorism and terrorists themselves - recounting actual events that happened in the West Bank, the UK, Africa and Eastern Europe.

Asked what drove him to join the entertainment industry, Mr Bonanno says: “I’ve always had that element to entertain in me since I was a young boy. Whether it was a family gathering or in class, I always felt that I had to make people laugh and not worry about making a fool of myself. Eventually I wanted to hone that and turn into artistry.

“So I enrolled at Stagecoach for a weekly class, which made me realize the joys and wonders of acting. When I left for boarding school in the UK, I dropped Chemistry to make Theatre Studies as one of my A-levels. Mum wasn’t too pleased here, but with a bit convincing, it got the green light. My eyes opened, and acting was more than just pretend. It was a privilege”. 

“I moved to the US with the help of a dear family friend in early 2013 to receive training at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York. The training I wanted had to be more hands on, physical, stricter and rigorous. I needed to know if I could take the pressure of the city and the unforgiving industry. I knew the big apple was the only place I could get it all. I got a severe beating. It was worth it”.  

“In the summer of 2014, after graduating from the conservatory, I moved to LA for a thorough on camera workshop. I had no plans of staying, or plans of what to do next. I landed a safe job, which allows me to pursue acting too. This is my second year in Los Angeles. 

Asked what it’s like to be an actor in LA, he said that “Acting here is a job. It’s not a hobby. You need to be ready for whatever is required. There are absolutely no excuses. One unprepared audition, could cost you your representation and the relationship with a casting director. And you must not burn bridges. If so, consider that relationship irreparable. Even so, networking is a big term here. It could quite frankly land you your next role. You are your own business, and you need to market yourself. There is this large misconception regarding competition though. Yes it is tough, and yes sometimes a bit of luck can go a long way. But often than not, the part is just better suited for a different actor. It has nothing to do with your talent, it could quite frankly be that you remind the producer of their ex or high school bully. The decision is theirs, and theirs alone. I like to think of myself as someone that is willing to pass on a part, knowing that the project’s final outcome would be stronger with a different actor”. 

Malta is very limited from an acting perspective, Mr Bonanno observes, “From classes to the necessity of the technique to the infrastructure and of course, opportunities. Actors are viewed differently too. I feel like in Malta they are appreciated and respected more. Here you’re just another actor and success is measured by what you’ve done, who you’ve worked with or your last paycheque.

“In Malta, I feel success is measured by how many people you make laugh or cry.”

Los Angeles is still very much a new city and doesn’t have much history as such, he adds. “That history, I believe, really shapes a country, which amounts to Malta’s culture. LA has a very diverse one. You meet a lot of people from different corners of the world and they bring a little piece of home with them. And you end up experiencing new things. With that experience, your acting pool is fed. And you need to feed it a lot.”

Mr Bonanno is more comfortable on a stage than in front of a camera. “Al Pacino once said that the only difference in his acting between the two is that he projects more on stage, but other than that everything else is the same. To a certain extent it is, but they are still both very different. I’ve always felt like I belonged on the stage, probably due to a longer relationship with it. In Malta and the UK, I didn’t get enough camera experience, which is why I partially prefer the stage. I always envision a play like a train that doesn’t stop until it reaches its only and final destination. It’s exciting. As a camera actor, it’s a different breed of energy and it requires a very different type of skill. I am in LA for camera acting mainly, but the city is gaining such recognition for its theatre”.

Asked where he sees himself in five years, Mr Bonanno said: “I'd like to think that I would still be working in Los Angeles, with a good body of film and TV work.”