Experiences shape you as a person, while material things shape your image

Introduce yourself in a few words..

My name is Boyana Avdjieva – actress and storyteller. I recently started working on my own project as a writer and producer. I graduated from NATFIZ, and then from the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in Los Angeles. I work between Bulgaria, London, and Los Angeles. My dream is to participate in the global film world, as a bridge from Bulgaria to it for actors from Southeast Europe, and to create stories that are both deeply personal and culturally universal.

What does traveling the world mean to you?

Traveling for me is a form of inner transformation and an inseparable part of my profession.

How many different countries have you seen so far? Share an interesting story or highlights from your travels?

I have been to eight countries so far – Russia, Austria, Italy, Czech Republic, England, Denmark, USA, and Greece. I want to travel as much of this world as possible!

My favorite moment was in Moscow, where my class from NATFIZ presented our graduation performance “People with Suitcases” at an international theater festival. We decided to stay a few more days to celebrate Easter together there, and we set off to move to another hotel, which turned out not to exist. We wandered half of Moscow looking for it, and then in search of one that would accept 25 people at the last minute. We literally became people with suitcases, desperately wandering around Moscow. If we hadn't found a hotel, we joked that we would set up camp on an abandoned playground. We didn't care at all; when we were together, it felt like we were home to each other. Such things don't happen with anyone else but your class from NATFIZ, and those people are my dearest from that period.

Do you like to revisit destinations? Give examples and motivation “for” or “against”?

Yes, if a place has resonated with my soul. But in general, I love big cities. I have only grown up in Sofia and although I love the sea and nature, I can't stay still there for long. But, no matter how cliché it sounds, Sofia is my home and it is my favorite city. After Sofia, I adore New York and London. Los Angeles has permanently secured a place in my heart, but I wouldn't settle there for long. It is not

a city for starting a family and putting down roots. So far, I haven't been to places that I wouldn't want to visit again, so I can't provide arguments for “against”.

What was your first trip that truly changed you as a professional and can be said to have changed your thinking?

My stay in Los Angeles. I lived there for a year and I miss it a lot right now. There I felt for the first time that I could be myself 100%, not only professionally and creatively, but also as a person. I am a very emotional and untamed person, life there flows at my speed – very fast and intense, it makes me feel that I am on the crest of the wave, I have control over my destiny. I just have that character, I couldn't stay in one place, I have tried, it doesn't make me feel good. This inevitably influenced my professional development: naturally, if you are an actor – Los Angeles is the place for you. It helped me channel my skills and creative energy into a business structure, which permanently changed my perception of the acting profession and the method by which you can develop it qualitatively.

What do you learn about yourself and your professional skills when you are in a new cultural environment?

That authenticity is a universal language, vulnerability is not a weakness, but a strength. Adaptation does not mean losing yourself, but finding a way to connect with others.

Have you met people or ideas during your travels that have influenced your career path?

Yes – my teachers in LA, who told me that I have great talent in writing and storytelling on screen. This unlocked a whole new creative flow in me, which I am just beginning to cultivate and it is very exciting.

Do you think that your travels help you expand your professional network? How?

In my profession, it is almost mandatory to travel – not only does the profession require it (right now all the auditions I get are for shoots in some different part of the world), but also as a person who mainly uses their emotional world as the main tool in their craft, travels represent the richest resource for its development. The professionals I connect with through our collaborative work, wherever we are, are a natural and essential part of my career.

What skills do you develop the most when you travel, and how do they reflect on your work?

Adaptation - it's about feeling even the most foreign place as your own, unfamiliar people – as family, old friends, or the love of your life – every actor does this non-stop on stage or in front of the camera. And, of course, cultural enrichment - there's nothing more valuable than developing your worldview, especially if you come from a small country.

Is there a city or country that has inspired you to start a new business or project?

Yes – Bulgaria. Returning from Los Angeles, I realized how valuable and necessary our stories are, not only as cultural heritage but as a contemporary perspective and voice. We have lived for too long with the untruth that we are an isolated place from the world, that we live “back in time”. This strongly motivated me to create my own project, with which I want to cultivate a contemporary Bulgarian voice – not only as a creator but also as a person from my young generation. A voice that is not afraid to be painfully honest, vulnerable, funny, ugly, or beautiful. And I believe that when we articulate it with truth, it begins to sound in a way that can be understood everywhere – not just here. I strongly hope to finish it so I can share more.

When you are in a foreign country, do you feel more motivated or more distracted? Why?

I am motivated. The discomfort of the unknown makes you more awake, more observant. It is a kind of freedom.

Are there destinations that act as a “restart” for your creativity and ambition?

Yes, I will say again – Bulgaria. Home is the most pleasant, the most peaceful, and the most comfortable place to recharge and arrange the plan for the next big “trip” in a literal, and sometimes in a metaphorical sense.

How do you manage the balance between work and pleasure when you travel?

I make sure that pleasure is part of the work. In my profession, inspiration often comes with the journey itself.

How did travels change the way you perceive the value of money?

Money becomes a means for growth and investment, not a fund for ensuring a more peaceful death.

Do you travel with the aim of finding new ways to earn money?

In my profession - yes, this is part of every commitment.

What lessons about financial independence have you learned from different economies and cultures?

America sparked in me an interest in gaining financial literacy in general – I am extremely lucky, born into a family where I never had to personally worry about money, mainly thanks to my incredible mother, who made sure that this did not change, even in our most difficult losses; so I was shamefully illiterate in this regard until I left to live there. In America, you can make a business out of thin air and there I was surprised to find that I actually have the beginnings of an entrepreneurial mind. It inspired me to think in that direction, about the possibilities to monetize my skills, knowledge, talent, authenticity, culture, and history, and to do it independently and autonomously. This way of thinking is definitely not for everyone, but if you are used to being more of a lone wolf, it is the perfect place for you. I like that there the ability to create value – no matter where you are – is more important than a secure salary.

Do you think it is better to spend on experiences rather than material possessions?

Yes, because experiences shape you as a person, while material things only shape your image.

How do you see the future of digital nomadic life?

As an opportunity to not live within boundaries. But also as a risk of losing roots. It requires inner balance so you don't scatter in this new world.

Are there specific countries that are more favorable for work and investments?

Yes – the USA and United Kingdom offer huge opportunities if you have something to offer. But Bulgaria also has potential, as long as there is vision and sustainability. However, I can only talk about the countries where I have been and worked.

If you could choose one place in the world to develop your next big idea, where would it be and why?

Bulgaria. I start from home. Then – Los Angeles.

What are the destinations you would definitely recommend visiting and why?

It depends a lot on what kind of person you are – for people like me – fans of a more intense, independent, adventurous lifestyle, but also with big ambitions in their professional field, the places are London, New York, and Los Angeles, with New York being my favorite.

Los Angeles is great for the film industry, but if you are not part of it, I don't see what you can do there. If it’s about vacation and tourism – Italy, amore mio. If you are more calm in nature, I recommend Denmark – some of my relatives are Danish and I have stayed with them – it is very cozy and organized. As I travel more around the world, I will provide a new list of recommendations!

What is the career advice you would give based on what you have seen around the world?

Don't wait for someone to give you permission to start. Start, take the first step – the world will respond to sincere effort.