Biography: An American who was raised in Asia, Europe and the States, Cassandra had the good fortune of a multicultural upbringing making her a true citizen of the world. While in America, she worked on her first film at age 11, Stephen King's The Stand. Upon graduating high school at 14, Cassandra decided to follow her passion and pursue a career in the performing arts. Despite her parent's protestation, sh ... show all An American who was raised in Asia, Europe and the States, Cassandra had the good fortune of a multicultural upbringing making her a true citizen of the world. While in America, she worked on her first film at age 11, Stephen King's The Stand. Upon graduating high school at 14, Cassandra decided to follow her passion and pursue a career in the performing arts. Despite her parent's protestation, she decided to strike out alone. Passion and determination made her take the brave step of moving to New York on her own. While in New York, Cassandra attended a number of acting courses beginning at Sande Shurin Studios. There she learned the basics as well as the method approach to acting. Subsequent to that, she attended the acclaimed School for Film and Television where she studied the Meisner Technique. After finishing the program, she was offered a small part in the daytime soap "As The World Turns" playing the role of Monica. She recollects this as being fortunate and a great experience. After a short stint in the soap world, she felt that she needed to expand her craft. Cassandra decided to move on again and gain more knowledge and experience in other significant roles. By appearing in Off-Broadway shows, guest spots on MTV and New York Undercover, jeans and swimwear advertisements, and doing various modeling jobs, she was able to save sufficient money and continue her education in France. It was here that she manifested her appreciation for the finer things in life, such as culture, languages, couture and interior design. Once again, modeling served as a starting point. She mostly did showroom work for designers such as Sonia Rykiel.
Coming from a strict family background, life has been a struggle. It has made her more appreciative. Whereas before she took life for granted, she is now able to step back and look at the big picture. Her friends and family have been a big influence throughout her life, teaching her that "success lies in the journey, not the destination." In 1999, Cassandra spent time in London, where she studied at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. There she became versed in Classical and Shakespearean acting, which took her a step closer to the serious side of performing that she aspires to reach. The wealth of training gained through schooling coupled with the breadth of her real world experience gave her an unusually profound understanding of the craft of acting. Cassandra has achieved a great many things in a relatively short amount of time. She has worked alongside some of the great cultural icons of our day. Performing arts are a form of escapism that provides her with a liberating sense of freedom. She sums up her limited and exciting time in the arts by saying, "It isn't easy, but it isn't difficult...it is an experience. And I love every minute of it." hide |
