Embark on a captivating journey as we sit down with the versatile and dynamic actor, Steve Shkunda, whose life story unfolds from the picturesque landscapes of Ukraine to the adrenaline-fueled experiences in the United States Marine Corps. From combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan to pursuing a passion for acting in Hollywood, Steve shares his inspiring narrative and the profound impact of his multilingual and athletic prowess on his roles in the entertainment industry.
HI, WELCOME TO ABOUT INSIDER! THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CHAT WITH US! CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, WHO IS STEVE SHKUNDA IN YOUR OWN WORDS?
I was born in Ukraine. In 2006, I made a life-altering decision to move to the United States, seeking new horizons and opportunities.
A few years after arriving in the U.S., I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, completing a four-year journey, stationed in the picturesque landscapes of Hawaii. During my time in the Marines, I completed two combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, which was an interesting and unique experience for me. After the Marine Corps, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting.
YOUR JOURNEY FROM UKRAINE TO THE UNITED STATES IS QUITE REMARKABLE. CAN YOU SHARE THE MOTIVATING FACTORS THAT LED YOU TO PURSUE A CAREER IN ACTING AFTER YOUR SERVICE IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, INCLUDING TWO COMBAT TOURS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN?
Throughout my life, the world of cinema has been a constant source of inspiration for my journey into acting. From an early age, action movies were my favorite, and I found myself enthusiastically rooting for the heroes, imagining that one day, I could be the one in those thrilling roles. What truly excited me about the prospect of becoming an actor was the ability to step into countless different lives and experiences. As an actor, I could be a doctor one day and a police officer the next. I’ve always believed that our lives are defined not by what we possess but by the rich tapestry of experiences we accumulate.
BEING MULTILINGUAL IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, RUSSIAN, POLISH, AND UKRAINIAN IS QUITE IMPRESSIVE. HOW HAS YOUR LINGUISTIC VERSATILITY IMPACTED THE ROLES YOU’VE TAKEN ON IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, AND DO YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE FOR ACTING IN A PARTICULAR LANGUAGE?
I acted in Russian, Ukrainian, German and English. Since, most of the time I act in English, it’s my preferred language when it comes to acting.
YOUR ACTIVE LIFESTYLE, WHICH INCLUDES SPORTS LIKE SOCCER, TENNIS, VOLLEYBALL, AND SKIING, STANDS OUT. HOW DOES YOUR LOVE FOR SPORTS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY COMPLEMENT YOUR ACTING CAREER, AND HAVE YOU FOUND ANY CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE TWO?
Yes, because of my love for sports, I was able to act as a soccer player, biker, cyclist, and boxer.
WHAT’S SOMETHING WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT MIGHT SURPRISE US?
I’ve done extreme sports such as skydiving, scuba diving, bungee jumping, cliff diving, hang gliding, and parkour. I am also a big fan of motorcycle riding.
ANY UPCOMING PROJECTS/ROLES YOU CAN TALK ABOUT?
Not at the moment because the industry is on hold.
WHERE CAN OUR READERS FIND YOU ONLINE?
They can find me on Facebook @Steve Shkunda, Instagram @steveshkunda, IMDb Pro @Steve Shkunda, Linkedin @Steve Shkunda, YouTube @Steve Shkunda and @COOLTHINGSTODOINLA
