Breeda Wool

Breeda Wool was born in Urbana, Illinois to two college professors and ignited her passion for acting through years of playing make-believe as a child. Her initial taste in the real world of make believe was her first role as Tinkerbell and after studying psychology at Wagner College, she moved to New York City where she began doing theater. Wool played in vast array of productions from Shakespeare to a world tour of dancers. Wool then moved to Los Angeles and played Victoria Ryzick on Amazon’s web- series Betas. She will next be seen as Faith in UnReal., and also as Rayna, in the award-winning short turned feature film AWOL. Her other credits include guest roles on Law and Order, Criminal intent, and in feature films such as Automatic at Sea and Erasing Eden. Wool’s uniqueness stands out in each of her projects and she continues to lay the path for a continued rise to the top.RAINE: Can you talk about your show UnReal airing on Lifetime?WOOL: UnReal is an A&E Studio original series on Lifetime. It’s a scripted show that follows the producers of a reality dating show. The creator, Sarah Shapiro graduated from AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women. The show is based on her thesis film “Sequin Raze.” Sarah’s vision is a beautifully dark and twisted world that has our main character Rachel, played by Shiri Appleby, dancing back and forth over the morality line in order to make “good TV.” I am a contestant on the show named Faith. I’m a barrel racer in the Mississippi rodeo, I read the Bible every day, and let’s just say I’m very inexperienced in the world of dating. I think this show will knock your socks off; I’m very excited about it.RAINE: How does your character Faith DeLuth differ from some of the more intense characters that you have played on television?WOOL: Well, I think all of my roles have been very different from one another. I’m not usually put into the “girl next door” role. So I have experienced a very wide swinging range of worlds to play in. I think in the story of UnReal it was the first time I’ve had a role that had such religious influences. I learned some extraordinary things about what it means to be a Christian in the United States. I did not personally grow up religious so this role gave me a new understanding of that world. I learned a lot about what it means to believe and to have faith, pun intended.RAINE: The short film AWOL was recognized at the Sundance Women in Film with three awards. How did it feel to be recognized by other women in your industry for your work?WOOL: I remember at that award ceremony Gertrude Stein was there. I very shyly went to say hello to her. I began talking to her about an issue I was having at the time where almost every single role I was auditioning for had the words attached, “some nudity required.” I told Stein, “I think I should probably have it engraved on my tombstone,” to which she replied, “well there’s your movie, go out and make that movie.”RAINE: The objectification of women in the industry has been widely talked about. What are your thoughts and how do actresses avoid these pitfalls? WOOL: Many of the projects I’ve done have been directed, created, or written by women. Much of my artistic and commercial success is because a woman decided to hire me or bring me in to be seen. Many projects start with a casting director and large populations of casting directors are women (“Casting By” is an amazing movie about women as casting directors). Women and girls are awesome TV and movie watchers. We’re basically an enormous untapped natural resource for the industry. So whenever you see a film made or directed by women, go see it, buy it and support it! As an actress I seek out and support the women filmmaking community. If you take a big interest in women filmmakers you’ll probably find each other. Your eyes will be open to them. There is a beautiful new frontier for women to make TV and film, and for the feminine gaze to be explored. I think we are just seeing it begin and if we can get the money to follow with our big consumer power, we will have a new wave of rock star lady filmmakers. It’ll be a lady revolution of film and TV.RAINE: What character have you played to date that most resembles you as a person?WOOL: Caliban in Shakespeare’s, The Tempest. I became a wild animal in captivity in this role, which is how I feel most of the time.RAINE: What is the biggest mistake that you see young creative entrepreneurs in your industry make?WOOL: The biggest mistake I see is people blaming and focusing on the grind of the industry. You cannot control the structure of the industry, being hired for a job, or having things not work out. The only thing as an actor you are responsible for is the quality of your work and developing yourself as an artist. I believe if you focus on the beauty of your work and remember it is a gift, to be able to creatively play, then you will excel.RAINE: What has been the most rewarding part of your career to date? WOOL: Well, besides showing my parents my work, yes I’m still in second grade, it would be the drive to set. Whether someone picks me up, or I drive myself, I get these sensations like I’m a boxer in a silk robe walking toward the ring. I always get this overwhelming feeling boil over in my heart, even if it’s for just a second, that screams “this is awesome!” I know that it is a glorious freedom to have that feeling about one’s work and many people in the world may never get to. I try not to take it for granted for one minute.