Despina Mirou
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Make a note of her name. Despina Mirou is Greek, an American citizen that is conquering Hollywood with her talent, hard work and utter dedication.
Despina, you are the best Stand-up Comedy Actresses for 2019 in America. What is it like to win this recognition in Hollywood?
For years I’ve been living something unique, doing Stand-Up, and recognition is a result of my hard work and passion for comedy. I make at least 200 live shows a year, and the days I don’t it’s because I am shooting for movies or series. I have always believed that glory and money is a reward for work. I love that Americans believe in my talent and support me! I have a big following of fans that come to my shows. It’s much harder to get recognition there, because it’s a huge continent.
You have acted in series on HBO and NBC. Tell us about NETFLIX where you continue now? What is your next goal?
I have the pleasure of joining Netflix’s comic series “On my block”! The series received the Teens Choice Award “the favorite comic series of teens”, and was awarded by the public. I have made a number of transfers, having managed to play on the major American channels over the last 4 years. My first appearance on American TV was on HBO, in the drama series “Show me a Hero”, with the great director Paul Haggis. Haggis has directed “Crash”, “In the Valley of Elah”, and wrote the story of Eastwood’s “Million Dollar Baby”, and it was the best way for me to start. Then, I performed on NBC’s drama series “Days of Our Lives”. After that, I starred in a dramatic television show, “Mothers sacrifice” that aired on Sony Pictures channel. Then on Amazon, in the Vamp Bikes series, I played Queen Fellini, a psychedelic queen who tortures the hero, and is currently playing on Netflix! At the same time, I continue Stand-Up appearances at major Hollywood comedy clubs such as the Comedy Store and Laugh Factory. I have a total of 7 films coming out this year including “Tango Shalom”, “The Proposal”, “A Happy Place”, “Japanese Botch”, “The American Connection”, “The Nurses Do It Better”, “The Light Touch”, and the other four to start soon, a western in Texas and a season drama in China. with the great actress Bai Ling!
You had the opportunity to be mentored by Al Pacino. How Is he to work with?
Pacino is an example of great talent and great personality. From Pacino I learned the virtue of generosity and modesty. He a great teacher that is passionate, hardworking, a perfectionist, with a clever humor. We worked using “Method Acting” of Actors Studio. Contagious and charismatic, he taught us great techniques for drama in both theater and cinema. The most important virtue that I learned and saw in practice from Pacino himself is: “The bigger, the more modest”.
Talk to me about your collaboration with Pink Floyd.
Since April I have been experiencing something amazing in my life. I had the good fortune and honor after doing a stand-up comedy show in the Viper room, Johnny Depp’s club, to be seen onstage by members of the legendary Pink Floyd, who made me an offer to work with them. They asked me to introduce them on stage and open their “Beyond the Wall” concerts, by performing stand up! I was laughing with happiness and crying with emotion at the same time. I came home in ecstasy and wrote texts by 6 in the morning! I put this collaboration at the top of my career and my life highlights. I am living something magical, to be on stage with these mythical musicians, telling them jokes, enjoying their music, getting to know and introducing guests who come to play with them, from Led Zeppelin to Peter Gabriel, Jane’s addiction etc. I’m having a great time flying with them already in many countries, and that they are my friends now. We have a two-year contract and at all their concerts, I will be with them!
I know you have great faith in God, yet you live and work in Hollywood, which is notorious for glamorizing materialism and consumption. How do you experience spirituality and how has it helped you?
Spiritual work is my base. “Your faith saved you”! Faith is a great virtue. My own spiritual gym. I dedicate hours of prayer and meditation. And in Greece, I still have monasteries to go to and the Mother Superior knows my cell. Spirituality keeps us in balance, so the scale does not tilt toward materialism alone.In my stand-up shows, I decided to communicated messages to the audience. You train a lot, “but which one of you is training your brain and your heart muscles or your soul?” I asked one night and the audience was crying.
Talk to us about your movie with Faye Dunaway? And the comedy with Lainie Kazan and Renée Taylor?
In the action drama “The American connection” I was honored to work with the one and only Faye Dunaway. A living legend. I assume the character of spy that transforms into a nun! The gorgeous Daryl Hannah and Michael Madsen also play. Even when I was not acting, I carefully followed their performances. With Lainie Kazan and Rene Taylor I had a great time shooting in New York for the movie “Tango Shalom”. Here I portray Susan Sullman, a Hasidic Jew, who watches the hero with her girlfriend and gossip. I am truly thankful to the director for giving me the role. I had a great time and learned new things about comedy watching great performers like Rene Taylor (The Nanny), Joseph Bologna and Lainie Kazan (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) play their roles so masterfully! Especially Rene, which I’ve seen 3 times on Broadway in the play “My life on diet”, is a true lesson in acting for young comedians!”
