Ingrid Haas is a woman I want to be more like.

We met around this time, two years ago, at an annual Christmas party held by producers. Almost every young actor in the Toronto film industry attends, so not surprisingly, I’ve met a few special people at those parties. Although, my encounters are often hazy from enthusiastic tequila intake.

I recognized Ingrid from around and decided to approach her.

“Hi! I’m Katie, we have mutual friends and it’s nice to meet you.”

She was really friendly and dressed in a flower print dress.

The next day, I got a friendship request on Facebook from Ingrid, with a note that said, “Why not make it official?”

She’s bold and funny. She wears her heart on her sleeve. She’ll be my date to long Shakespeare plays. We’ve spent a lot of time talking about life over Pinkberry and the more I get to know her, the more I ask myself, “What would Ingrid do?” when I’m in a challenging situation. The answer is always, “Be honest.”

This year, she put on a one-woman show called “Angrid.” I saw an early, workshop version, and my face hurt from laughing so much.

I admire honesty and it’s a quality that often escapes me. I wanted to ask Ingrid how she became strong enough to be so candid, in work and in life.

1. Why’d you move to LA?
Ever since I can remember I’ve wanted to live in LA. I fell in love with acting because I grew up watching classic films with my family every Friday night- from Chaplin to John Wayne to one of my faves: Swiss Family Robinson (why doesn’t this movie get more street cred. Hello? They live in a tree and they build waterfalls!) From what I gathered, Hollywood was where it all went down. I later found out that California isn’t the only place where films are made – but somehow that dream never died. And the truth is: The Office, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Curb Your Enthusiasm… that’s all being created out here- so why not be as close as I can to what I love?

2. Was it what you expected? Knowing what you now know, what advice would you have given yourself going in?
Was it what I expected? Yes and no. I expected struggle… I expected it to be an uphill battle- mainly because my father drilled that into my head with all the right intentions (likely trying to dissuade me from going). It’s a new city where I knew virtually no one

LA is made up of dreamers, and of course with that comes a lot of crazies, but at the same time it’s made up of the dreamers who are incredibly talented and driven; creative forces. And how lucky to be around that? Like Toronto, there are pockets and communities here, and it took a while, but when I found mine everything got a lot easier.

3. What did you find most challenging?
Oh, what wasn’t challenging? Everything was challenging at first! New apartment, new friends, new country! I had to buy a car for the first time in my entire life! I ended up buying a LOWRIDING, SUPPED UP, CRAZY EXPENSIVE RIMS type of car that you would only see in Fast and Furious. I literally had no idea I was buying a supped up car. So, now I just like to chalk up my car to my wild sense of humour (and my need for speed). I had to teach myself how to speak like an American… pronounce “process” like “prawcess” and I started to spell words differently

Having lived in Toronto my entire life I’d never experienced not being close to the people I love on a regular basis. That’s the hardest part about this town- and that doesn’t even have anything to do with LA specifically. That’s just part of moving somewhere else. So how bad can this place be? I mean really!

4. What was the moment that you decided to do your one-woman show? What motivated you?
When I was studying theatre at Ryerson University I badly wanted to write a solo show, but the play I wrote ended up being a 4-person cast play. I couldn’t find the story that motivated me enough to do it all by myself. Then I came to LA and I started studying Improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade and started seeing a lot of solo shows and was inspired by them. But I still didn’t think I could do one. I really enjoyed watching solo shows, but I always thought why tell a story as one person when you can cast other people? I sort of thought solo shows were self indulgent, a showcase for the actor…But in the end, I was probably just terrified.

Then my managers here were so encouraging. They really helped me get the confidence to do a solo show….but I still didn’t feel like I had a story that I wanted to tell. That is, until my parents came to town to visit me and shit hit the fan. The story: I told my parents that their marriage was garbage. My mom got up from the table and left the restaurant. My Dad and I went back to the hotel to see a note that said “Maybe Ingrid’s right. By the time you read this I’ll be on a plane to New Zealand.” And that was that. And it was this rollercoaster of emotions for everyone. It affected so many people from the airport security guy who we begged to let us through to stop her to my family in New Zealand and Canada, to my roommates in LA! I just felt like what my mom did was so theatrical. It’s the kind of thing we all want to do but nobody does. I knew I had to write it.

5. What made you decide to do your own show instead of waiting for the phone to ring?
I turn into a crazy person if I sit around too long eating ice cream in my underpants. I love theatre, I love comedy, I didn’t really know anyone in this town, so a SOLO show was the only real way to go!

6. How has this amazing accomplishment changed your perspective of a) yourself? and b) Los Angeles?
Awww shucks. I got signed to an incredible talent agency! Tons of industry people in this town have seen the show. I’ve done Angrid regularly at Upright Citizens Brigade since August. I made a sketch team that performs regularly (now I get to perform with other people!), we’re called The Get Go and I’m pretty proud of the people on my team.

7. What was the ultimate outcome of your amazing show? How did it help your career? What types of people did you meet?
I’ve met with amazing production companies, directors and casting directors since this show! I met (and improved WITH) Cameron Crowe just last week. That was a surreal experience. I guess the timing for this show is pretty great because it’s right before pilot season. I’ve met with all the major network and studio casting directors from Paramount, Universal, Fox to NBC, ABC, CW and the list goes on. So, who knows what will come from it? The most important thing for me is that I’m getting out there and doing what I love to do. Make ’em laugh, make ’em cry… get ’em to buy me a beer!

8. What career advice would you give other women?
I’m in no place to give advice, but I guess I would say just be honest in your work and do what you love- that’s when you get the energy to plough forward when it feels like the end. My Dad sent me a funny quote once: “when you feel like you’re living in hell, keep going”. I love that! It’s true. If you’re doing something that you believe in, you’ll find the strength (and you’ll surprise yourself when you do) to keep on going. I wanted to tell this story, I wanted to entertain people, I wanted to make people laugh. If the objective is there- the obstacles will never win.

9. Is it difficult to be so honest in your art when it comes to your family?
Yes. Absolutely. I don’t want to hurt anyone, especially my family. But I do want to make people laugh! I love my family and there’s no question about that, but I play a lot of my family members in this show and there was always this fight of not wanting to say too much… or be too personal. But at the end of the day, the stuff I didn’t want to reveal was the funniest stuff. And I had to trust that my love for my family would shine through despite the situation that I was writing about.

If you’re in Los Angeles, catch “Angrid” on January 20th 8pm at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and visit Ingrid’s website at http://www.ingridhaas.com/

By Katie Boland