Alaina Huffman takes me to the beach
Ready for her film with Billy Zane to come out and excited to head back to the green summer’s in her hometown Blaine, Washington, Actor, Director, and Brand Champion Alaina Huffman is blazing through the next chapter of her career.
August 2024, Malibu CA by Summer Kellogg
Alaina Huffman in a custom Zito Hat co., L’IDEE gown
Neither one of us is local to Malibu but it feels like home when Alaina and I arrive. North Malibu is THE JAM. Quiet, less tourists, more artsy locals and there’s a little market Trancas Country Mart, we hit up right off the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway for you non locals) to grab second cups of coffee (cause we’re moms and wake up early) and chunky breakfast burritos before diving into what she’s working on while she’s in LA this month.
We’re meeting for the first time (thanks to her agency LA Models), so I pop open the hatch of my Rav 4 Hybrid and we banter. About being moms, in our 40’s and feeling like we’re on the verge of a creative explosion. Truly she’s magnificent. Alaina is tall, with loads of beautiful wavy hair and her smile is Christy Turlington magnificent. It’s charisma matches her cascading energy towards all the exciting projects headed her way. Making appearances, acting in TV shows and indie films, and now modeling for the second wave of her life (she modeled at the beginning of her career at age 14 but ended up gravitating towards acting) she’s catapulting forward like many women in this era ARE. And she is so fucking excited to create, to live, to explore. I was lucky to grab a moment of her time let alone images of her crushing through the waves.
How does if feel to come back to modeling in your 40’s? You started early right?
I did! I started as a model at 14, traveling around the world and homeschooling my way thru high school! Without the internet! Lol I dragged my books with me everywhere and had to fedex my assignments in. Along with my books I always managed to pack my massive CD collection. I’m a very light packer these days. I think I trained myself young to make room for my creature comforts being on the road and that didn’t include much more than music and my studies.
When I was 19 my family immigrated to the US and at the time I was living in Germany working on my visa to move to New York. However if I moved with my parents I would be awarded a green card (and ultimately citizenship, which I became at 28) during that time I couldn’t work for a period of time so I sat still and studied business at Dallas Community college. Once I could resume working I signed with the local modeling agency Page Parks or in Dallas Page 214. Page called me into her office one day and explained to me that the fashion business was trending differently. She said there are more and more actors on the covers of magazines and less models. They wanted to start a theatrical division and she was asking models if they had any interest in acting. I had done some children’s theatre as a kid and said I’d give it a try.
Dallas has a huge thriving independent arts community and I was immediately welcomed with open arms. I started booking movie after movie and gained the interest and attention of an agent in LA. Eventually I made the move to La and left the modeling world behind. Though as my first career, my go to creative output is photoshoots, I enjoy doing them, I love creative directing them and I love collaborating on them. So along the next 20 years or so I’d play with friends creating photo stories. In late 2019 I arranged a creative shoot with my daughter and I. In early 2020 the team Posted the photos and an agency in Vancouver scouted my daughter asking if they could meet her. So we took a meeting where they signed her into development. During the meeting they asked if I would consider modeling. I was actually kinda shocked. I think I replied “I’m old” and they said they have a lifestyle division and I’d be great on their board. Last summer we moved to New York, the actors union went on strike, I had just finished the final season of Riverdale and wrapped a movie in early July and was basically free. I give the agency a call and said if anything comes up let me know. I started working RIGHT away and I’ve been working pretty solid all year. It’s been a whirlwind. A new beginning of sorts for me. Being a model in my 40s is fun, less precious and I genuinely feel like I know what I’m doing. Honestly just being a woman in my 40’s feels that way! It’s a blessing I wish we could all impart on young people!
We talked about age and how it does come with experience but that experience can lead us to living younger as we get older. We both don’t find into a standard way of life. How has your young mindset set you up for the next projects?
I find so much freedom being a woman in my 40’s. Less my age and more what it’s brought me. I say I’ve earned the lines on my face. Raising 4 kids, going thru a devastating divorce, entering the dating world after being married/committed since I was 18. Loosing myself in my family and finding myself there too it’s all been a journey and it’s uniquely mine but relatable to so many. As an actor I find so much comfort in the roles I read for now. They have value and depth. I’m playing more character roles these days and I know what I’m doing. It just feels good. Often I’m one of the oldest people on a set and I have experience that doesn’t exist anymore. We use to shoot film, we use to wait to call people back and not know what our film or outcome was for weeks or months. I’m grateful for where we are however I remember where we came from and there’s a lot of gravity there.
What are your next projects? Don’t you have a movie coming out with Billy Zane?
I was fortunate to be included in an amazing cast shooting a movie in Tahiti last summer about Marlon Brandon. A role Billy Zane was born to play. Our cast includes Jon Header, myself, Richard Dreyfuss and Camille Razat. Still waiting on a release date but I’ve seen a lot of the film and it looks amazing with Director Bill Fishman at the Helm.
AND aren’t you gearing up to direct your first indie film? Tell us about it? When can book our tickets to see this and where?
I am so deep into the process of producing my first feature. I totally know why everyone cries at the Oscar’s. It’s really hard. It’s truly a Labor of love. I will be directing this movie that my dear friend brought to me years ago. It’s called “The Apartment” and I just keep plugging away. The goal is to shoot early spring 2025 when all the stars align and I am given this amazing opportunity to tell this story. I will keep everyone posted. Until then I just sit with the story daily and learn it in new ways.
In the meantime how do you keep feeding yourself creatively? Give us some insight into your madness or monthly routine for keeping busy and feeding yourself creatively.
I’m a big believer in staying creative and playful. I started doing “The artist’s Way” about 20 years ago. I do it in some capacity every year and use a lot of the practices daily, like morning pages and artist’s dates. My goal is to learn something new seasonally (well really two seasons, I like to do something new in winter thru spring and start again in the fall) I like my summers to be open, lazy and playful.
Thankfully my real full time job is looking for a job. I don’t think people realize how much goes into getting a gig. The average is 62 auditions to get one job. That is a staggering number that can be devastating if you don’t have the right mindset. I use every audition as an artist date. A way to explore my craft and grow as an artist. If I get the job bonus, if not it’s still a win for me.
I very much feel you on this lol. Most of my job is prospecting for clients.
What sort of projects are you saying yes to these days and what kind projects are not fitting into your lifestyle at present? I know we talked about how important it is to work but also make room for meaningful work and also just WORK lol. Trying new things outside our yes zone is also important right?
Man I’m open to whatever comes my way, but in saying that I have a great team that curates my experience for me. It’s so important to be on the same page. I can really delv into my auditions because they are great jobs, when I get one it’s a good one, I don’t read for shows or movies that won’t pay my bills or bring me closer to my career goals. I’m thankful to be in that position and sometimes it just takes knowing what your boundaries are. Even in negotiations. Saying yes to what you are truly willing to do and saying no to what you’re not.
When you're picking a role do you think about the impact that particular character might have on culture or social structure or what they might represent politically? I realize as I get older I say no to some jobs because they aren't aligning with my values and I've found that gives more strength to my developing style.
Yes and No.
Here’s a Michael Cain quote that I feel most working artists live by even if they don’t admit it:
“First of all, I choose the great [roles], and if none of these come, I choose the mediocre ones, and if they don't come, I choose the ones that pay the rent.”
In reality there’s not much I’m in a position to turn down. I am a single mom who makes her living as an artist. I feel incredibly blessed to have lived my life this way for nearly 30 years. That being said I was just asked the other day if there is a role I absolutely would NOT do and I really had to think about it. I don’t really do nudity, mostly because I have small kids. But also in my experience roles that require nudity are usually lower budget and need the nudity to get distributed. However it never seems to translates to my paycheck. My stance is if the tittys make you money, pay the tittys!
HERE HERE!!! lol
I would also find it really difficult to portray a racist. Though I feel to tell stories authentically we NEED those characters. Especially if they are historically accurate. So I’m not opposed to the characters themselves or their place in story. I just don’t feel that I’d ever be authentic in portraying that type of character. As a human but also as a woman who has biracial children and a whole black family. I think it would be incredibly uncomfortable.
Circling back to modeling real quick. Personalities are sometimes more important than just a face these days for competitive brands or brands that ACTUALLY want to connect with their audience or have something amazing to say. I feel like you'd have MORE power now representing a brand because of what you represent. Like heads of marketing and producers and creative directors are looking for powerhouse, someone with personality or stance or values or talents beyond good skin.
It’s amazing to me understanding what I actually bring with my years of experience, unique perspective and individual artistry. Not that I wasn’t then. Just now I’m aware of my value. The creative brand process is nothing without a team and everyone has their role. I am grateful for this understanding and feel very comfortable in these spaces now.
For example in television it’s beautiful to develop a character over time. Shonda Rhymes describes it as a thrupple, where the writer, character and actor are in a relationship that evolves over time. It gets better the more time we get to spend with it. The writer inspires the character who inspires the actor and back to the writer and it’s almost like a jam session. Truly a blessing to be a part of. In fashion or lifestyle I find it empowering to aid designers or brands with my own creativity, acting and/or experience. It’s not sales for sales sake. When everyone brings their own unique abilities it elevates the whole process.
ALL THAT BEING SAID good skin, a healthy body, silky hair… that is part of my tool kit so on a professional level honing my skills include taking care of my vessel. I believe in living this way and staying ready because things happen quick in my business. They call and a deal is made and you are in another country in two days bringing a character to life or shooting for a brand. So it’s living your life in a way that aids that process.
I feel that. Everything happens on a dime sometimes but I LOVE that about this business. THANK YOU, Alaina for frolicking in the waves with me today. We really gave those tourist at the beach the best day ever.
Honestly so fun! I’m so happy to connect with you. It’s always such a joy to create. For me creating it’s truly a spiritual experience! I’m always grateful for what has been put in my path!
to book Alaina for model bookings here is her agent
