Amanda Crew: Crewsing Into Tech
Photographer and Videographer Steven Lyon @steven_lyon
Writer Katharina Kowalewski @katharinaishere
Wardrobe Stylist Randall Truitner @randian
Assistant Stylist Yvonne Reddy @yvonnereddy
Hair Artist Trace Henningsen @tracehenningsen
Makeup Artist Annie Ing @annieingmakeup
Assistant Denise Valencia
Known as Monica Hall from Silicon Valley or Felicia in Sex Drive, Amanda Crew is the kind of person you want to be friends with. The Canadian actress, photographer and now also tech investor is extremely down to earth, low maintenance and now lives in LA. Living in Silverlake, she has distanced herself from the Hollywood scene. What makes her special is her authenticity, generosity and positive attitude.
I met Amanda Crew for an exclusive interview at the LEFAIR Loft and chatted with her about tech, stepping out of her comfort zone and acting.
Interview with Amanda Crew
KK: You are being photographed today for the magazine, but you are also comfortable behind the lens?
AC: Yes, I like to do it for fun as a hobby for myself. I was dabbling with it a few years ago as I was frustrated as an actress. I wasn’t working that much, so I was trying to find a creative outlet for myself. I was always drawn to photography, so I started picking up the camera.
I used to always define myself as an actress and my whole self-worth was attached to it. And I love acting but I don’t have full control over my career. My career is in the hands of producers and networks. It got to a point where I didn’t feel good about myself because I wasn’t working all the time. So I was trying to find something outside of acting that I was passionate about that excited me, that made me feel creative and as if I was contributing something. That’s where photography came in, but also, that’s when I started investing in companies and exploring the tech world. All of that makes me feel like I am actually doing something and it has created a whole world outside of the acting.
KK: So it was a good thing that you had that frustrating phase?
AC: Yes, you always have to step outside of your comfort zone. If that never happened, I wouldn’t have met all the wonderful women that have shaped the trajectory of my life. It really has boosted my confidence.
KK: You are doing so many things right now and are becoming a role model for other women. Can you tell us more about your adventures in tech?
AC: On Silicon Valley I am one of the few female characters, so there has been a lot of attention about me representing women in tech, but I didn’t know anything about the tech industry. So I started to educate myself and meet some of these women and it has opened up a whole new world for me. I started investing in female run companies. There are so few that find investors, so I’m proud to say that I found two of them. It’s something that I had no idea I would get into, but now I’m very passionate about it.
KK: How do people react when they see you in the tech world? Do they recognize you from the show?
AC: People definitely recognize me from the show and just call me Monica. I feel like I don’t get recognized as much in LA , maybe because there are celebrities everywhere. When I’m up in San Francisco that’s when I get recognized the most just because it’s so tech heavy there.
KK: What are the companies you have invested in?
AC: I have invested in two female owned companies. One is called Network B and it’s a women’s network online, trying to create a one-stop-shop for of all your female-focused media. The other is called Randian and it’s a tech media marketplace, so it’s basically when you are streaming your TV shows you can shop all of the outfits that are on your screen. At the end of the show, you can look at each character and see their whole wardrobe and buy the outfits with whatever device you are streaming it on. I’m a customer. It’s changing the way that we shop online. When I watch The Bachelor that’s all I want to do.
KK: You are not watching The Bachelor!
AC: Did I just admit that? Big fan. Guilty pleasure.
KK: What are your future projects?
AC: In October we are going back with the 5th season and I have a couple projects coming out hopefully this year. And I actually started writing a feature film that I hope I get to direct, as I don’t want to be in it. You can make me accountable for that.
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