Studying Acting in Los Angeles at Lee Strasberg
Updated: Oct 18
My first time in the United States was as a sixteen-year-old exchange student in Northern California. When I returned to Denmark, I kept thinking about going back—this time to study acting in Los Angeles. I applied to the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute and, after I was accepted, began sorting out the visa and everything else the move required. When I finally arrived, I didn’t know anyone in the city.
First Steps in Los Angeles
Landing at LAX, I was struck by the scale of the city: the long roads, unfamiliar neighborhoods, and constant movement.
My first two nights in Los Angeles were at a hotel near the airport in Inglewood. The hostel where I planned to stay didn’t have a room for me yet, so I called the hotel from a pay phone at the airport. Two days later, I moved to the Orbit Hostel in West Hollywood, which became my base while I studied acting.
Hostel life meant sharing space with people from all over the world—actors, musicians, and travelers, each with their own reason for being in Los Angeles. It could be noisy and unpredictable, but I was rarely short of conversation or advice about the city.
Studying at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute
Each morning, I made my way to the Institute for scene work, on-camera acting, and improvisation. The training was intense and disciplined. Much of the work came down to concentration, preparation, and making specific choices in a scene. Working on camera called for a different kind of attention. Small shifts in thought or expression could change what the camera registered. I’ve carried that awareness into my work in film and television, including auditions and self-tapes.
Living in Los Angeles
Studying was only part of the experience. I was also learning how to find my way around a sprawling city and make a life there without an established network.
Living with people from different backgrounds called for flexibility. Plans changed, sleep schedules varied, and conversations happened at all hours. I also worked steadily on my American accent, through both classes and daily life in Los Angeles. It later became part of my professional range alongside Danish and British English.
What I Took With Me
I didn’t stay in the United States permanently. I continued working as an actor in Europe and Canada, but my time in Los Angeles remains an important part of my training.
It gave me experience working in English, a stronger understanding of camera work, and a clearer sense of what it takes to build a career across countries. I still draw on those lessons in my work today.
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