A Romanian actress, director, vegan activist, and scuba diving enthusiast, Anca Vaida has compiled an impressive repertoire of skills and interests. She's involved in a variety of ethical projects, including films and plays written to create awareness on issues like mental health, climate change, and more!

We recently had the pleasure of speaking with this rising star about her recent success, what motivated her to go vegan, and what plans await her in the near future. Keep reading to get to know this lovely and inspiring actress!

OV: You've won quite a few acting and directing awards over the past few years, including Best Actress Award at the Miami Web Fest and Best Director at the World Independent Cinema Awards. Congrats on these amazing achievements! How long have you been acting, and what inspired you to pursue the performing arts?

AV: Thank you so much! I’ve always wanted to be an actor, ever since I was a child, but I’d never had the opportunity to pursue it until much later in life. It all started when I moved from Romania to London. I enrolled onto the course "Introduction to Acting" at Morley College, taught by Tim Taylor, in 2012- at that point it felt like it was now or never. I loved that course and I wanted to do more and more, which led to me attend East 15 Acting School where I trained professionally.

OV: We understand you wrote and produced a new show called "Psyched!", drawing from your knowledge and experience as a Consultant Psychiatrist for the NHS in London. The protagonist is a psychiatrist herself, but she seems to be dealing with mental health struggles of her own. Do you believe this is a reality for many health practitioners today?

AV: I think there is a lot of pressure experienced by many health professionals working in the NHS today, linked to lack of resources, lack of staff, burnout and high risk jobs. It is very important that we are all aware of that and everyone gets the support and care that they need. I hope Psyched! can be a window into that side of the profession too.

OV: We noticed you performed in a show called "This Play Will Solve Climate Change". Tell us a bit about this experience and what motivated you to participate in this project.

AV: Yes, we at Reusable Theatre are very proud of this play. It is a devised piece that I and 3 other actresses created under the guidance of our director and writer Laura Baggaley and support from stage manager Alice Catanzaro.

We are all passionate about tackling climate change and the play shows different ways that regular people can contribute to such a monumental task. One of them being by going vegan, of course. We were interviewed on television about it- my mum was very proud!

OV: What exactly inspired you to make the switch to a vegan lifestyle?

AV: The documentary "Cowspiracy" was a total eye opener for me, it was an immediate decision. After many years, and many other documentaries about animal agriculture and cruelty to animals, my belief in veganism has only gotten stronger.

OV: You seem incredibly busy with plenty of activities, sports, and projects. You must have a lot of energy! How has a plant-based diet supported your incredibly active lifestyle?

AV: I do! I have always enjoyed being active and keeping busy. I have plenty of energy (and protein, yes) on a plant-based diet to carry me through.

OV: Has it ever been a struggle sticking to plant foods on your busy schedule, or when visiting the different locations you've travelled to for work?

AV: It hasn’t been a struggle in the sense of wavering, but yes, sometimes it’s not easy finding vegan options in some of the countries I have been to. Luckily I love fruit and salad and there’s always chips, which are a vegan option the world over!

OV: Regarding the sports you practice, you seem to be especially invested in scuba diving. Would you consider your close observation of marine life a motivator for your vegan lifestyle?

AV: Interestingly enough, I think it might be the other way round, going vegan is what increased my interest in all life forms on earth, a deeper appreciation of our animal friends.

OV: We understand you're originally from Romania. How's the vegan scene in your home country? Are there any traditionally vegan Romanian dishes you like to prepare?

AV: To be honest, the vegan scene is not great. Romanian diet is still heavily based on meat and dairy, but hopefully we will see a shift in the years to come. I am not the best cook, but my mother makes a delicious vegan aubergine salad that I wholeheartedly recommend!

OV: If you can share, we'd love to know what kind of acting roles are you currently aspiring to, or what exciting plans await you this year!

AV: I’ve had some exciting auditions recently, fingers crossed! One project that I am very enthusiastic about is "The Veteran", a reality TV series created by Mark Busby and Film Volt Group and produced by Oscar winning producer Julie Foy, that I have been invited to direct. The series will be raising awareness about the struggles of veterans experiencing PTSD, disability and homelessness.

I will also be a judge at the Believe Psychology Film Festival, a festival that focusses on psychology and mental health. That will be held in California this June and I can’t wait!

We can't wait to see what the future holds for this versatile actress, and we wish her the absolute best in her career. Thanks for reading, and if you want to be notified of future news and interviews with rising vegan celebrities and brands, make sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter!