The Work of a Celebrity Impersonator

October 27, 2011 at 3:20 am

I have been a professional celebrity impersonator for over 10 years now and I feel so fortunate to do what I love  – perform – and make a living at it. I have had some of the most amazing opportunities because of this work. But it’s not always easy and it definitely takes a different kind of commitment than being yourself! In many ways it’s harder…..

The following is an exchange between a fellow performer who clearly didn’t understand what it means to be in our world. This is Part 1 of the exchange.

Part 2 to follow soon…..

Performer: Hi Tatiana! You’re a LOVELY looking lady! I just do not get this thing people have with look-a-likes… There is NO “talent” involved when you just happen to look or sound like someone famous.

Tatiana: Hmmmm…..not quite sure how to respond to this note. I’m a look-alike/impersonator myself and have been in the industry for over 10 years now. I can tell you first hand, some of the most TALENTED people I have worked with are in it. I have a degree in Acting and have been a performer all of my life (as actor, dancer, singer…..) and therefore have worked with many talented performers. It takes a lot of work for us to prep…. studying our characters, and DARE to go in front of hundreds, sometimes thousands, and on TV or film in front of millions to portray a famous person. So we better be good!
Having been on both sides, I actually think it’s a lot harder to try to impersonate someone – get their look, their sound, their mannerisms, their walk, their movement, their everything – than it is to just go on stage and be yourself.

It’s an industry that has been around for a long time, and it’s one that won’t ever go away…..because people are always intrigued and fascinated to see how someone “will do” portraying someone they know very well. Our critics are tougher than anyone else’s as they (the audiences) are constantly comparing us to our celebrity. We have tough eyes on us.

There is so much to say about this topic. I could go on and on. But I think to put it plainly, I would never go so far as to say people in our industry have “NO talent”. In fact shame on you for making such a broad statement when you yourself seem to be a performer. I think that’s very ignorant and close minded. TALENT is after all in the eye of the beholder….and what someone enjoys watching or listening to may be different from what you enjoy. You, yourself may very well be a singer who some think is brilliant and then I may hear you and think otherwise.

Hope that sheds some light for ya!