Paula Lauzon

She played in Tyna Ezenma’s Dollar Baby Dedication as Darcy.

SKSM: Could you start with telling me a little bit about yourself? Who are you and what do you do?

Paula Lauzon: As a child, I’d always enjoyed appearing in school plays. Even though life had many different twists and turns for me, I was eventually able to get back to my first love, acting, and returned to the stage via Community Theater.

I began my relationship with the Little Theatre of Fall River (LTFR) company, by being part of the ensemble cast of Jesus Christ Superstar and Titanic-The Musical. After some time, I eventually became well known for my role as “Aunt Eller” at the Little Theatre of Fall River’s October 2013, production of R&H’s Oklahoma. Myself, along with the entire cast, received rave reviews by Tony Annicone of Don Gillis’, Little Rhody Theatre.  Joined by my son, my final stint with the LTFR was in the production of Monty Python’s Spamalot. It was during this final production that I began doing “extra” work for a variety films and commercials.

Eventually, I broke into both nationally and internationally known music videos such as, The Portuguese Kids, Thrift Shop Parody, King Lil G’s Cold Christmas, and most recently, Franz Ferdinand’s, Feel the Love.  I can be seen in a variety of national ads from Lyrica (print ad), as well as TV/video ads.  My face has become quite familiar in Ring’s, ‘Secure Mani/Pedi’ Commercial, Jardience, Glucerna, and Chase.

I have had roles in student films and short films, all of which have been submitted and won various awards at Film Festivals around the Country.  I’ve also had roles in Unusual Suspects, Murder Book Mystery, VETTv, Deadline: Crime with Tamron Hall, and can be seen in many more various television shows and movies.

My journey of moving out to Los Angeles is good one: Armed with a dream and a vivacious personality, I’d done something most middle-aged adults would find frightening, even crazy, but had proven that taking chances is not just for 20-somethings.  While still living back East, I’d attended master classes with Steve Blackwood, former Bart Biederbecke, of Days of Our Lives.  After approximately a year’s worth of classes, he told me that there was nothing more he could teach me that I didn’t know and I should head to LA.  With my son’s blessing, I followed his advice. I sold or gave away what I could, packed what little was left over, into my car, and drove myself across the Country.  I arrived in Los Angeles with $40 in my pocket, and with the help of some very close friends, I’ve been able to accomplish my dream of becoming a working actress.

I’d taken classes to hone my acting skills by attending classes with Sara Wallace at Jodie Lynn Panek’s Studio, Acting Up Network, located in Burbank, CA.  Prior to being taught by Sara, I’d had been tutored by the well-regarded Brionne Davis of the same Studio.  I enjoy archery, weaponry, photography, swimming, tennis, volleyball, dancing, singing, floral arranging, and I do have hosting on-camera and teleprompter experience.  My dialects include (but are not limited to) Boston, New York, Rhode Island, Maine, Brit, Aussie, South African, Irish, and Mid Western.

I was born Maria Paula Lauzon, in Fall River, MA.  My mother is the late Maria A. Lauzon, born in Relva, St. Michael, Azorean Islands (Homemaker/Seamstress) and my father is the late Paul M. Lauzon, born in Fall River MA, a former U.S. Postal Worker. With the knowledge and love of old Hollywood stars and musicals, westerns and History, it was my parents, who forged the acting path for me. I am also the proud mother of an adult son, who is the joy of my life

SKSM: When did you know you wanted to become an actress?

Paula Lauzon: Gosh, I was SO young;  elementary school young;  I would dream about it, watching the old movies with my parents, especially my father.

SKSM: How did you become involved in Dedication film?

Paula Lauzon: I became involved in this film, by being approached by Tyna Ezenma, who saw my Profile on the Backstage Platform.

SKSM: What do you think it is about the story that attracts people so much?

Paula Lauzon: “Dedication” is the story of a maid working in a hotel who uses a black magic spell in the hopes of harnessing the talent of one of the hotel’s frequent guests-an eccentric writer-and passing it on to her unborn son.  I’m sure that the use of black magic is something that might attract people to this story as well as the fact that it’s an original book by Stephen King.

SKSM: Did you have to audition for the part or was it written directly for you?

Paula Lauzon: Neither;  my work, my resume’, and headshots are on various Social Media Platforms, and Tyna, doing her research, came across my work on the Backstage Platform and was impressed with what she saw.

SKSM: You worked with Tyna Ezenma on this film, how was that?

Paula Lauzon: I found Tyna to be an extremely Seasoned Professional, even though she’s new to this field.  She’s an award-winning photographer and film maker who has won 3 International Photography awards and is passionate about the Creative Arts.  She’d reached out to Stephen King directly to ask about his book and I find that she is a go-getter in a field that has been dominated by men for many, many years.  She’s extremely patient and articulate in what she’s looking for, when directing a scene and I really liked working with her.

SKSM: Was there any funny or special moment when they made the movie that you would like to tell me about?

Paula Lauzon: Well, we had some good laughs on-set and those would be what I would determine as ‘location or you had to be there jokes’.  Special moments for me, would be when we were doing less than 3 takes to get a shot.  As an actor, from my point of view, I understand what my Director is looking for and work with them, to get both our points across when telling a story.  She was very happy to get the shots in as little takes as posible.

SKSM: Do you still have any contact with the crew/cast from that time? If so with who? 

Paula Lauzon: Only Tyna, from time to time, especially when she’s letting us know where the film is being seen at a Festival and any awards or nominations for the same may be given.

SKSM: What are you working on nowadays?

Paula Lauzon: I’ve actually got my plate just a bit full, which is not a bad thing;  I’ve recently returned from a trip to Boston, to attend my son’s graduation from Bridgewater State University where he graduated Summa Cum Laude;  I’m SO proud of his accomplishments in that respect.  I’m also coordinating our move back East, to North Carolina, where I’m signed with another Agency who is representing me from NYC to the SE Corridor, (Atlanta) and has been submitting me and I’ve been auditioning for, via video auditions.  I’m still auditioning here, in LA weekly, and booking work monthly as well.  I’m also a Judge for the Burbank International Film Festival, and have been reviewing short films, student films and screenplays for the Festival.  As well,  I am a Member of the Television Academy and have been attending events through the Academy.  I’ll be returning to LA, on an as-needed basis, to audition and book work and, I’ll be returning in the Fall, to attend the Burbank International Film Festival as well as the Academy Awards Ceremony.

SKSM: Are you a fan of Stephen King’s work?

Paula Lauzon: I am a SUCH a fan of his work.  I began reading his books, at a very young age, probably 11 or 12, when I picked up one of his books at the Public Library; ‘Pet Semetary’.  I don’t know what I was thinking but, I read it in a weekend, because I was so immersed in it and could see his entire story, unfold in my mind.  All I could think to myself was, who is this crazed man, that could write such a thing?  But I just couldn’t put it down!  Needless to say, I was scared the entire time I read that first book, but, I continued on to acquire more of his books from the Library, because I loved how he wrote his stories.  The second one I read from his was, ‘Christine’.  With that book, I was still many years shy of getting my driver’s permit, but, I was sure that any car I got near, after reading that book, was going to come to life!

SKSM: What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

Paula Lauzon: Hmnnnn, this is a good one and you’d probably need to ask people that know me, but, I’ve been told, that, I give ‘Off the Chart Hugs’, I train SuperHeros and I embrace my Heritage, specifically, my Portuguese Heritage.

SKSM: Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Is there anything you want to say to the fans that read this interview?

Paula Lauzon: I would love to thank our entire team for the hard work and effort that was put into making this film, to Stephen King for writing ANOTHER awesome book, Tyna for adapting it into a screenplay and, of course, our fans for supporting our entire team’s visión.

SKSM: Do you like to add anything else?

Paula Lauzon: Keep an eye out for more great work by Tyna Ezenma as well as myself.

We’re both here for the duration and have a lot to offer our fans!