Actress Valentyna Sichko talks with About Insider

Valentyna Sichko is a Ukrainian and Canadian actress who started her career at a very young age. Because of her big dreams and the passion that she has for her craft she has been nominated and has won for her movies that she’s played in. 

• AWARDS
• Best Actor Award -Best Youth Actress Silver Award Short Film
• Fastidious Film Festival- Best Young Actress Short Film
• Tinff -Best Supporting Actress Short Film
• Young Artist Awards- Young Artist Award-Outstanding Music Single
• Joey Awards-Best Leading Actress In A Student or Youth Made Short Film 15-21 Years 
• Young Artist Awards- Young Artist Award Best Performance in a Short Film – Teen Actress for CODA
• Young Artist Awards-Young Artist Award Best Performance in a Short Film: Teen Actress for The field of dying rabbits.
• Best Young Actor Awards- Best Leading Actress- Silver Award- Short Film
• Festigious Film Festival for Best Young Actress in a Short Film 

HI! THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CHAT WITH US! CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, WHO IS VALENTYNA SICHKO IN YOUR OWN WORDS?  
Hello! Thank you so much for having me in this interview! I really appreciate getting to share my journey with you. My name is Valentyna and I moved to Canada when I was 9 years old. I was born in Ukraine and have always had a passion for acting since I was really young. Not only was I getting into the acting industry but I also found love for singing! Since I was 14 I spoke fluently in English and had the opportunity to start working on my craft. As well, I started to learn many other skills throughout my career. Valentyna in my words is a small girl that has fire in her.

YOU BEGAN YOUR CAREER AT THE AGE OF THREE, HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?
When I was three years old my parents put me into performances at my school. My mom used to love to dress me up as a character and my teacher would always give me lines to learn. Since then I really started to enjoy performing in front of people, playing different characters and having fun. I didn’t stop performing since I was three and acting became in my blood. When I came to Canada and realized that I could do this as my profession and started to learn about acting and the whole industry. I started doing it professionally at the age of fourteen. I love that you get to entraintain people and tell them a story that they get to learn from. 

HOW IMPORTANT IS DEVELOPING A PERSONAL STYLE WHEN IT COMES TO ACTING?
It is very important that you understand what you want to do and how you want to do it. As an actress/actor you have to develop a personal style. Acting comes with many good things and many bad things. As an Actress im still learning how to develop a lifestyle because it takes time. For example you have to always work on your craft but also work on yourself as a person. It’s all about what’s in your mind. So learning how to develop a personal lifestyle is really important.  

TELL ME ABOUT A TIME WHERE YOU HAD DIFFICULTY WITH A CHARACTER. WHAT WAS THE ROLE AND WHY WAS IT CHALLENGING?
Most of my roles that I had was playing a younger girl, sister, friend. But once I had to play a sick girl who has cancer. Now that role was difficult to play because whenever you are playing a character you need to have similar experiences or know of someone who went through it so you understand how and what the character is feeling and doing. I’ve never met anyone who has had cancer or has been sick, so it was really difficult for me to know how the character is feeling at this moment and what their thoughts are. But I did my research the night before the shoot and had to learn about sickness and how it affects people so I can play the character right. I managed to do it even though it was hard for me. 

HOW DOES IT FEEL WHEN YOU EARN SO MANY AWARDS AND HONORS?
It does really feel good. When I received my awards it made me feel like I need to work harder on my craft and get better at it. The reason why I say that it’s because some people think when you get an award you stop on your craft and that’s it, you drop everything, but it’s not like that. For me an award gives you an opportunity to grow not only in your craft but also growth in yourself.. It motivates me to really work harder and get better as an actress. 

WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES?  
Judah Katz is one of my biggest influences throughout my career. Not only has he been the greatest teacher in the  world! But he has been like a second father to me. The way he does his acting is so stunning, I remember when I was in grade six I saw him acting in tv show goosebumps and that was one of my favourite episodes he was in, and i absolutely loved his acting and loved everything he did. And I was so lucky to get to work on my craft with him. I look up to him so much.

WHAT’S SOMETHING WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT MIGHT SURPRISE US?
Since I was twelve I started travelling on my own. Now i don’t know how my parents would let a twelve year old by herself on the plane or on the bus to a different country hahaha, but whenever I say to people that I travelled alone since i was twelve they would get really surprised. Trust me it surprises me sometimes till this day hahaha. So now whenever people say nothing is possible in this world I just tell them some of my journeys when I was flying myself to events, trips etc when I was younger. But I’m so glad that I got to do that because I learned alot.

Also another thing might surprise you is that I’m into cars. I love that you get to build something and drive it. Hopefully soon I get to go to Japan and learn how to drift with one of good professionals there. It honestly feels like Fast and Furious hahaha.

ANY UPCOMING PROJECTS/ROLES YOU CAN TALK ABOUT?
I have recently done a project called The Change. And I’m so excited for it to come out! I played the role of a Cassie who has moved out of the city with her mom, for her work and there something happens that i can’t spoil.. But it was so fun to play Cassie!! I cannot wait for everyone to see it! The short film will be shown in many festivals and many other platforms soon! Check out my IMDB for more information!

WHAT IS ONE MESSAGE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE TO YOUR FANS?
The one message I would give to my fans is to seriously NEVER GIVE UP! When you have a feeling in your heart that you want to do something then go do it!! Because God gave you a reason to have that feeling and the dream, who knows what happens, you can change someone’s life with your passion and dream. I’ve had many times where I wanted to give up and people pushed me down, telling me that I can never do it. Other peoples opinions dont matter! Your opinion is your opinion and it’s your dream so GO DO IT! Don’t fall backwards, fall forwards.

WHERE CAN OUR READERS FIND YOU ONLINE?
You can find me on these social medias:
Instagram: @valentynasichko 
YouTube Val Sichko
Facebook: @ValentynaSichko
Twitter: @Val_Sichko
Tiktok: @florasimmer
IMDB: Valentyna Sichko