The Double Life Of An Actor

For many actors, the journey is not just about the roles they land but the resilience they build along the way. The ups and downs of the industry shape them, often pushing them to find passion and stability beyond the screen. Rasanthi, Cheryl, Jona, and Wilfred are four such actors who have carved their own paths in and outside of acting, finding meaning in unexpected places.

Rasanthi never set out to be an actor. An agent discovered her through Instagram videos, and soon, she was in front of the camera. But breaking through was tough. "Exposure was the most difficult," she admits.

Rasanthi

View Goodtake Profile

"It was hard to stand apart from the established actors and not be typecasted." Yet, she found another calling—helping people navigate emotions and mental health. What started as sharing quotes on social media turned into a full-fledged endeavor in teaching emotional intelligence. "It took me forever to get comfortable in my own skin," she reflects. "Now, I help others do the same."

Cheryl’s journey was different. She knew from the age of 12 or 13 that performing was her path. By 15, she had landed her first professional gig in Kuala Lumpur, and when she got her first role in Singapore, things took off.

Cheryl

View Goodtake Profile

"I've always wanted to be the teacher I never had," she says. "Helping people, whether it's with singing, acting, money, or life, is a much purer way of being than performing." Still, the dream remains: “I want my relationship with art to be joyful again. And one day, I want to create something that sparks real change."

Jona’s childhood dream was to be a superhero, and acting felt like the closest way to make that dream a reality. He trained, he prepared, and yet, the biggest challenge remained: finding the right opportunity.

Jona

"Sometimes it doesn’t matter how ready you are—you still need a little luck,” he says. While waiting for his breakthrough back then, he turned to another skill: swimming. Having competed since he was young, coaching became a natural extension of his abilities. "Do not doubt yourself," he says. "Even when it’s demoralizing, the right time will come."

Wilfred’s inspiration came from Disney and Nickelodeon. Acting has been a rollercoaster—one moment a lead, the next struggling to get a background role.

View Goodtake Profile

"Trying to get an agent has been the hardest part," he says, laughing. To keep going, he turned to social media, sharing his humor on TikTok, and picked up bartending to make ends meet. "Sometimes, you just have to throw yourself into things and see what sticks,"

All four of them have faced challenges, doubts, and moments of uncertainty. But through it all, they’ve also found new ways to create, inspire, and survive. Their stories are a testament to the fact that being an actor isn’t just about being on set—it’s about navigating the in-between, finding ways to grow, and never losing sight of the dream.