Biography
Lana hails from the stunning island of Bermuda, where her passion for acting first took root. As a young girl watching ORCA in a movie theater, she dreamed of seeing herself on the big screen. However, pursuing acting professionally in a small place like Bermuda wasn’t feasible. Instead, she entered the corporate world, finding herself a young woman navigating a male-dominated trading desk at an investment firm. Seeking balance and escape, she turned to the local theater scene, where her love for acting flourished.
At 28, fate stepped in and led her to Boston. There, she landed her first film role, starred in a one-woman show, and performed in an adaptation of Chekhov's "The Lady with the Pet Dog" at the Leland Center, all while maintaining her corporate job. These pivotal experiences set her on the path to a professional acting career. After a transformative event, she embraced the opportunity for a fresh start and committed to acting wholeheartedly.
At 33, Lana moved to London to earn her Master’s in Acting from the Arts Educational School of London. During her studies, she portrayed Phyllis in Bernard Shaw's "The Philanderer," took on the role of Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare’s "Macbeth," played Lona Hessel in an adaptation of Ibsen’s "Pillars of the Community," and performed in "The Graduate" at The New Vic Theatre alongside Charity Wakefield.
She later relocated to Los Angeles, where she joined the Classical Theatre Lab and expanded her skills. The early 2000s were challenging; casting was limited and lacked diversity, and as a mixed-race actress in her 30s, opportunities were scarce. Over five years, she booked her first TV role on Zoey 101, landed a national commercial for Cricket Wireless featuring Jessica Sanchez, and secured a supporting part in the independent film "Beginners" with Christopher Plummer and Ewan McGregor. Despite these successes, the struggle to sustain her passion led her to take a break and reassess her path.
Lana then moved to Charlottesville, VA, where she founded the Hollywood Theatre Lab, an acting school for children and adults focused on teaching life skills through performance. The community warmly embraced her, and the school thrived with strong support. She continued to fuel her passion by working on independent films produced locally, keeping her creative drive alive.
