Ukrainian actress Assia Giller, who moved to the United States in 2024, is rapidly gaining recognition in Hollywood. She has secured a prominent role in the horror film «The Him» alongside Ryan Phillippe and joined the thriller «Captivated» featuring Al Pacino and Katie Holmes. In a candid interview, she discussed the realities of living in Los Angeles, the financial costs of acting training, and the specifics of auditioning overseas.

The Journey from Kyiv to Hollywood via London

Assia's childhood in Kyiv was filled with creativity and sports: ballet, piano, horseback riding, and fencing shaped her discipline. Later, she pursued higher education in London, studying sociology for her bachelor's degree and global governance for her master's. The pandemic forced her to return to Ukraine, where she temporarily worked at the major holding company Askania Group. However, her inner drive for creativity and the search for new opportunities led her to make a radical life change and move to the United States.

Financial Reality and Behind-the-Scenes Castings


According to the actress, living in Los Angeles requires serious financial investment. In addition to expensive housing rent and work visa processing, actors must regularly invest in professional development. A separate major expense for international artists is dialect and accent reduction classes, which cost around 200 dollars per hour. Most aspiring actors combine castings with service industry jobs as baristas, hostesses, or bartenders.

The Specifics of Hollywood Auditions


Landing a role in «The Him» required passing multiple selection stages. As Assia notes, during the final stages of auditions, technical skills take a back seat, giving way to personal compatibility with the director and producers. When professionals of an equally high level reach the finale, the decisive factor becomes comfort in teamwork and matching the overall creative vibe of the project.

Contradictory Data

Opinions differ regarding the perception of Ukrainian artists in Hollywood. On one hand, officials and creative teams state their openness to international talent and support for on-screen diversity. On the other hand, immigrant actors point out fierce competition, the absence of any nationality-based privileges, and the necessity to prove their professionalism on equal terms while overcoming language barriers and casting directors' biases toward accents.