Netflix’s Amy Bettina Talks TV, Skating, And Producing

“A big wall of colorful, jagged mosaic tiles, each with its own mini-lifetime!” Is this an excerpt from a review of the MoMa? A description of the newly-renovated house on  14th street? Or what about the life of a successful actress who uses a tile metaphor to describe  her journey thus far, but makes it clear that although she has so many tiles already, she has far  more to add. 

I am talking about Amy Bettina, a critically-acclaimed actress who has worked on such shows as  The Detour (Season 2), Bonding (Season 1 and 2) and Billions. She also does voice acting and  has helped produce a myriad of comedic and independent shorts.  

When I asked Bettina how she became interested in the the entertainment industry, she told me it  started not with acting classes or a favorite TV show, but rather, the fine sport of figure skating.  “I loved the competitions and the glitzy dresses and the exhilarating showmanship of the sport.” In this way, bruises and broken bones allowed Bettina to learn the value of hard work and  perseverance, in addition to the rewards of a rigorous work ethic. She told me how her time on  the ice helped her garner the strength and veracity she uses daily when navigating the  entertainment industry. “I became quite accustomed to falling down. A LOT. And even more  accustomed to getting back up.” 

But figure skating was not the only significant factor in her development as a performer. After  the sport, she told me about her experiences living and attending school in New York, as well as  how much her parents helped her along the way. She told me, “I would travel back and forth  between Massachusetts and NYC, doing my homework in the passenger seat of the car, while my  incredibly supportive parents took turns driving me into the city for classes, auditions,  interviews, photoshoots, seminars, you name it. That’s where the real learning began.” 2021 marks Bettina’s sixteenth year as a working actor, something that she attributes to the  support system around her, as well as a hard-learned lesson on the importance of patience.  Specifically, she told me how she met her current agent when she was about fifteen years old,  and said that they didn’t start working together until maybe ten years after meeting. To this,  Bettina said, “Trust that the building blocks will take shape and there is no one-size-fits-all  formula. The biggest blessing for me and my journey has been the support system of my  amazing parents and my brothers. They never once – no matter my age – dismissed my dreams or  ambitions and for that, I am forever thankful.”

  

But the one thing that stuck with me about Bettina was her authenticity. Never once did she  romanticize her journey to where she is now, or make it seem easier than it was. She was always  open and honest with me, something that is valuable because it shows that you have to work for  what you want – and work hard. For instance, she told me about her time in college and how she  had to commute from Harlem to Long Island four days a week. But that’s not all.  “By then, I was juggling a waitressing job in midtown, a bartending job uptown, a part-time job  at a networking company for actors, and trying to get as many auditions as possible. Needless to  say, it was one of the most challenging, chaotic two years of my life. Bettina then told me, “This  may be “TMI,” but I even developed a psoriasis rash on my scalp at one point from all the  stress!”

What I garnered from this was that if you work hard, eventually you will start to see results. And  Bettina made sure to emphasize that not everything is as brutal as it seems. She told me, “Despite  the darker days, my empty checking account, and my scratched-up weekly planner that looked  like something out of the MoMa, I felt proud. I soon graduated after 5 years of schooling, got a  new day job, and booked my first TV co-star role.” In this way, Bettina owns the good and the  bad of her journey, something that is commendable in the entertainment industry. And in addition to her personal journey into film and television, I was also curious about  Bettina’s philosophy around acting. I wanted to know how she approached different roles and  how she integrated herself into every character she played. When asked about the difference  between approaching voice acting and screen acting, Bettina told me, “Sure, there are technical  differences that set them apart – for example, you don’t need to worry about where the camera is  and no one is there to give you blocking or adjust your lighting… but both are forms of  storytelling and stem from an authentic connection to the material.” 

There it is again, that word — authentic.  

Authenticity is staying true to oneself, but to what extent? How does this work for actors, who  are playing someone else while simultaneously staying true to themselves? Bettina’s advice, in  this regard, is that, “Some of the best work you will do is when you can leave yourself alone and  get out of your own way.” She made a point to emphasize that while character notes are  important, “it’s also important to make the material unique to you – what you can bring to it that  no one else can. That’s where the strong choices are found and how you’ll (hopefully) stand out  from the hundreds of other talented … actors auditioning for the project.” 

And how do you perfectly align yourself with the character you are about to play (or auditioning  for)? According to Bettina, it’s all in the research. She explains, “Before any audition or shoot, I  make sure to research and grasp the style and tone of the project – the world the character lives  in. I can’t stress the importance of being specific about this, as it informs so much about what is  (or isn’t) needed from you. The more TV shows, films, and plays that you watch on a regular  basis, the better grip you will have on the patterns and differences between genres and even  networks. It is an ever-changing industry, so watching current shows and films is a wise way to  keep your finger on the pulse.” 

For example, on The Detour, Bettina told me that she made sure to study Season 1 before  auditioning for Season 2. “This gave me an idea of the style, humor, and what the other  characters in the show were like. The same was the case for the role I booked on Showtime’s Billions, as it was going on Season 4. The tone was a lot darker and was a totally different genre  from The Detour single-cam comedy world. As for most co-star roles, my character’s purpose  was simply to provide information that moved the plot forward, as opposed to a guest star role or  series regular, where my character would be more directly intertwined with the plot and overall  story arc.” 

However, not all series have previous material to study, like Bonding, which just aired Season 2  on Netflix. For this role, Bettina told me, “Bonding was a brand-new original series that was later  picked up by Netflix, so I had very little reference before my audition for a supporting role, other  than what was provided by casting and what I found online about the writer/director. I was  fortunate that casting sent me the full episode script, so I was able to read the whole thing for  context. When I first read the scenes, I couldn’t stop laughing – the writing was so smart, edgy 

and hilarious. The role felt like a really great fit for me, which is always an exciting, positive  feeling that combats those pre-audition nerves. It also made it easier to memorize my lines and  just follow my instincts.” 

But as mentioned earlier, Bettina does more than just acting. And there is no better way to  convey this passion than through TradeCraft. She told me about the process of how this short  film came to fruition, explaining how it was hatched between her and David Wasson, a personal  friend and colleague of hers.  

TradeCraft, she told me, “takes place mainly within the walls of a New York City apartment and  revolves around two U.S. government spies who find themselves in an intertwined predicament.  TradeCraft is an emotionally rich, dialogue-driven cat-and-mouse game between two jaded souls  and their unraveling history that binds them.” 

She then went on to describe the overall experience, explaining, “I starred in the film alongside  David’s and it was also the first SAG short film I’d ever produced. It was a great experience and  I learned a lot about how to stretch a small budget! We pulled together a few of our fellow  industry pals, who were so generous with their time and resources, and shot it in a matter of two  weekends. Other than filming itself and working with David, the best part was seeing it on the  big screen in various festivals, getting nominated, and even snagging some wins!” In this way, the role has been extremely rewarding for Bettina — in more ways than one! She  even told me that her and Wasson are in pre-production for a spin-off web series, TradeCraft: On  the Run which is inspired by their real-life friends! They plan to start shooting the pilot in Spring. Overall, Bettina is more than an accomplished actor; she is an accomplished person. She  approaches every role she encounters with unrelenting authenticity, simultaneously allowing her  to succumb to the characters she plays while inserting aspects of herself into each role.  When I asked what inspired her to go into this line of work, she told me, plain and simple, the  people. She said: “I have always been fascinated and inspired by the human condition. We are  such beautifully complex prisms. Our thoughts, our relationships, our conflicts, our faith, what  motivates us. The ways we move and speak – with and without words. The art of storytelling,  through any medium, not only explores and imitates life, but honors and celebrates it.”  But what is the glue that, to return to the idea of tiles, holds the mosaic of Amy Bettina together?  Laughter. She told me, “I love to laugh and make others laugh. Laughter is an equalizer, it  brings us together. It’s a powerful and healing escape, regardless of what you believe in, who  you voted for, or how much money you have …or don’t have. It stems from truths, often ugly  truths, that we’ve all seen or felt or have difficulty staring in the face. Laughing about life’s ugly  truths or fears can be very freeing and helps people not to feel alone. So, I hope my performances  can give people that fleeting gift, even if it’s just a smile or a chuckle or a moment they can  relate to. That would be enough for me.” 

In this way, Amy Bettina has accomplished so much — but is also just getting started. We can  stand back and admire the beautiful mosaic tiles she has already produced, but we can also look  ahead to the future and relax knowing that there will be more to marvel in the future.

Written By: Alli Armijo