Actress Ana Sertic: From Child Prodigy to International Stage Sensation

How did your journey in the world of performing arts begin?I started performing at a very young age. I was only three years old. My parents signed me up for a kid singing group. My parents said that it was so clear from the moment I stepped on stage she knew I am going to do this. And they were right. Every time we would have guests and their kids, I would force kids to join me in the show I was making. I created, directed, casted the whole entire show ha ha. Not sure the kids were so happy, but I loved it. Can you tell us more about your experience as an ensemble member at Theatre Komedija in Zagreb?Komedija is one of the most respectable theatres in the whole Balkan region. When I found out I got a part in my first show, I screamed. I literally screamed to the person on the phone and then hung up because I could believe it is happening to me. The whole experience was perfect. It is one of the contracts I am most proud off. Every single day I kept pinching myself that I get to this for a living. What were some of the musicals you performed in during your time at Theatre Komedija?Well… the most popular is the one that we all know… Mamma Mia. I will forever love that musical. Second one is called Yalta Yalta, a comedy about the Yalta conference in 1945, where U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin made important decisions regarding the future progress of the war and the postwar world.How did it feel to tour the world and share the stage with renowned artists like 2 Cellos, José Carreras, and Stefan Milenkovic?Uh a dream come true. All of them are such a humble and loving people who truly live their purpose. Witnessing firsthand, a people who live for the music is a great lesson and proof that anything is possible if you follow your purpose.

Could you share some memorable moments from performing at New York’s Lincoln Center?It was another pinch me moment. Realizing that you are in the greatest city in the world is very humbling. I was 18 years old at the time, and already performing and getting ready for my business school but what I wanted in the back of my mind is to move to NYC and study here. I looked outside the window and said, “It would be so nice to study here one day”. And that one day was 8 years later when I came to AMDA. What motivated you to pursue further training at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London?My career really went not the usual route. I first performed and worked professionally, then went to school. Mountview happened while I was in Mamma Mia where I realized I really want to dive deep into musical theater. How has your experience at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC shaped your career?AMDA had a huge impact on my career. It was my first experience with American musical theater which is slightly different than European. It thought me all about technique and really build my style as a performer. My dream was to bring American musical Theater to Europe in the form of workshops for other hungry students just like I was. In 2019 I founded an organization called Broadway Campus International that brings the best musical theatre teachers, (some of them are Grammy nominated) to educate European students who can’t or don’t want to travel to US to gain this knowledge. Now my plan is to bring more of US film productions to shoot in my beautiful country of Croatia. As a director of over 10 musical productions, what do you enjoy most about leading and creating theatrical experiences?I love looking at the big picture and then breaking it down into smaller pieces. It is like a puzzle to me. I also love working with other actors and help them discover their characters and bring them to life. How do you balance your time between New York City and Zagreb?Uh good question. I keep remining myself of my why and how much I wouldn’t do anything else. And trust me I tried ha ha. I also think I am very blessed to be able to have Zagreb as my Europe base and NYC as my US base. I am able to take the best of both worlds and bring it with me. I Think it made me more rounded as a both performer, director and a business person. What advice do you have for aspiring performers who want to pursue a career in the arts?Go for it! You were given the gift for a reason, use it. You are at your best when you’re aligned when you live your purpose. It is how you best serve others. I’ve seen this in many great musicians and actors I had a pleasure working with.

Can you tell us about any upcoming projects or performances you’re excited about?

Uh I don’t want to jinx it, but I can tell you that there is a lot of new music coming up. I surrounded myself with really the best people both in US and the Balkan to work on this project. It is something new for me and I am very excited. What is your favorite aspect of being a singer, actor, and dancer? I get to do what I love and inspire others to do the same. How do you approach preparing for a role or a performance? I make sure I have enough time to prepare for it when I can ha ha. For both is similar, in general I love to over prepare so I can really let go when the time comes and enjoy the moment both in singing and acting. You have to learn how to let things go, and no moment will ever be the same. What has been the most challenging role or performance you’ve taken on so far, and how did you overcome the challenges?I don’t think I had those challenging roles or performances yet, and I don’t think I’ll ever will. As a former athlete I love a good challenge, I built that kind of mentality that nothing is hard. And even if it is, is not ha ha. I love learning new skills, loosing, or gaining weight for the part, performing every day. I Love that. To me the hardest part is the business itself. But I am learning and getting better at it every day! How do you feel your cultural background has influenced your work in the performing arts?A lot. And I’m so glad it did. I grew up in a completely different country from United States. I think it shaped in so many ways from the way I perform, I act, I sing, I look, I think, I speak…I took me a while to realize that, but I think it is my strength and what makes me more unique. I like that a lot. Like I mentioned I am blessed take the best of both worlds.