Adia Smith-Eriksson plays the role of Ranger West in the Netflix film Atlas alongside Jennifer Lopez and Sterling K. Brown. Smith-Eriksson — originally from Sweden — was about to give up on her dreams until she auditioned for the role and was booked. She spoke with rolling out about her acting journey and how she didn’t give up, her role in Atlas, actors that she admires and tips for aspiring actors.
How did you hear about the role?
I auditioned for it. I was about to leave Sweden [when]I got an email on the day of my flight to come back to Los Angeles. … It was, like, “You’re booked.” I was, like, “Oh my God,” because as an actor, you throw out all these audition tapes [and]you never really know what’s going to stick. Sometimes, you have to find the motivation to keep going, keep moving forward and keep putting yourself out there. It was amazing. Then I showed up, and my first day was with Jennifer Lopez on. … I was, like “Okay, this is happening.”
For actors, how can they avoid having imposter syndrome?
It really is kind of just reminding yourself that you earned the right to be there. I auditioned; I was chosen — and they wanted me there for a reason. Just making peace with that; being comfortable; finding your groove. Not feeling like that awkward person where you’re stepping into someone else’s house, but it’s, like “Wait, I share this house, too. I have one of the rooms in the back.”
Tell us about your role.
My character is kind of a bada–. I would say she’s kind of, for lack of a better word, a b—-. I’m not super-nice to Atlas going in. She comes in to give her the spiel, and I’m, like, “You don’t deserve to be here with us” and kind of questioning her authority. I do feel like I have a nice redemption arc though, so you may be like me toward the end of time on screen.
What inspired you to start acting?
It was chosen for me at first. My mom put me in a lot of performing arts stuff at a young age. I was doing a musical program on the weekends when I was four and played piano since I was five. It was all I knew, but then I made a conscious decision to stick with it. I decided to try something else, so I studied Japanese, and then I was in a teaching program for a while. Then, I ended up helping out with the school production anyway, and I said [to myself], This is really what I enjoy doing. I just came in and decided to try my hand at acting abroad, and it’s been going pretty well so far.
What is some advice that you would give to aspiring actors?
Don’t give up. I was on the fence just before I booked Atlas. The pandemic took me out, and I’m sure a lot of people were feeling like that [post-pandemic]. I was, like, “Should I go back home to Sweden permanently? What am I doing?” I booked Atlas, and I was, like, “Wait, what was I thinking?” It gave me that boost again. You just have to keep finding that motivation and keep pushing forward. Honestly, just don’t give up because you never know. You never know what’s going to come your way.
