Join us on Zoom for another installment and live conversation in our 'Journey of the Working Actor' series with Lisa Ann Walter, Liza Colón-Zayas, Selenis Leyva, and Carrie Preston. The panel of actors will share and discuss their experience from past and present roles, whether they see themselves as veteran actors and what that means, and how to work with your representation to market yourself and how it's has changed over the years. Moderated by Lori Hammel.

Have a question for the panelists? Submit it here now or live during the panel.

Bios:

Liza Colón-Zayas

Liza Colón-Zayas stars as Tina Marrero in the Emmy-winning series 'The Bear'. For her role, she has received a SAG Award and Imagen Award. Her additional television credits include 'In Treatment' and 'Law & Order: SVU'. Colón-Zayas is a proud member of the acclaimed LAByrinth Theater Company, and is a Drama Desk, OBIE, Lucille Lortel, Audelco, Outer Critics Circle, HOLA and Kingsley Award winner for her stage work. Released in May, her voice can be heard in John Krasinski’s live action animated fantasy comedy 'If'.

Selenis Leyva

Selenis Leyva currently stars alongside George Lopez in the NBC hit comedy 'Lopez Vs. Lopez' which was just picked up for a third season. Selenis plays George Lopez’s ex-wife Rosie in the half-hour comedy that follows a working-class family, their dysfunction, reconnection and all the pain and joy in between. The series has earned praise for exploring generational trauma within the Latinx community, toxic masculinity, alcoholism, infidelity, financial issues but handling all of that with humor. Prior to this, she is best known for her starring as tough-as-nails/head of the kitchen Gloria Mendoza on all seven seasons of the Netflix critically acclaimed series 'Orange Is the New Black'. She also won a 2021 Gracie Award for her work on the Disney + original series 'Diary of a Future President', which honors standout women in the entertainment and news programming that addressed timely topics and social issues.  In film, Selenis recently starred alongside Michael B. Jordan in the global smash hit 'Creed III', and alongside John Boyega and Connie Britton in the Bleecker Street drama 'Breaking' which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award (Best Indie Film) and won the Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival.  

Carrie Preston

Carrie Preston is reprising her Emmy Award-winning role as the astute but unconventional attorney ‘Elsbeth Tascioni’ in the new hit CBS series, 'Elsbeth'. The beloved character was first introduced in the acclaimed series 'The Good Wife' on the network and appeared in 'The Good Fight' on Paramount+.  'Elsbeth' premiered to rave reviews with New York Times stating Carrie "reigns as the queen of quirk.” Preston is now back on the Emmy radar, as esteemed publications such as Entertainment Weekly, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter recognize her as a contender for the 2024 lead actress category. Carrie received praise for her work opposite Paul Giamatti in Alexander Payne’s Oscar-winning film, “The Holdovers” and is well known for her roles on the hit HBO series 'True Blood' and on the popular TNT series, 'Claws'. Carrie is also a sought-after director, including, but not limited to, directing episodes of 'The Good Fight', 'Your Honor', and 'Claws'. She supports LGBTQIA+ rights and GLAAD, is an honorary board member for the new play development organization, The New Harmony Project, and is a supporter of Parkinson's Research.

Lisa Ann Walter

Lisa Ann Walter is known as Melissa Schemmenti on ABC’s #1 comedy, Emmy-nominated, Golden Globe & SAG winning 'Abbott Elementary', and fan-favorite, Chessy, from 'The Parent Trap'.

Her career spans stage & screen starring in films, 'Bruce Almighty,' 'Shall we Dance,' 'War of the Worlds,' 'Killers' and appearing on shows, 'The Odd Couple', 'The Exes', 'NIP/TUCK', 'Curb Your Enthusiasm', 'Grey's Anantomy', '9-1-1', and 'Glow'.

Lisa Ann headlined comedy clubs nation-wide for 10+ years. Her memoire, 'The Best Thing About My Ass Is That It's Behind Me' is a NYT & Amazon Bestseller. 

She is on the board of numerous organizations, including SAG/AFTRA National & Local, The Entertainment Community Fund (for whom she won $1 million as Celebrity Jeopardy champion), and the ERA Coalition as a long-dedicated Women’s Rights Activist.

A proud working mom of four with “one foot on the Red Carpet… the other at Costco” she’s happy her stomach is still reasonably flat having been the clown car they came out of.

Run Time: 60 minutes