A Local Talent With National Connections
Ever wonder what it would be like to appear in a movie with Jake Gyllenhaal, Rob Lowe or Joe Pesci? One Lakewood woman has had the pleasure of those experiences. Her name is Jean Zarzour, actor of film, stage, television and radio.
An actor for over 25 years, Jean has been featured in “Love and Other Drugs” with Jake Gyllenhaal, “Proximity” with Rob Lowe and James Coburn, “The Public Eye” with Joe Pesci, and many other movies.
This multi-talented lady can also sing. Most recently, Jean appeared in the role of Belle Carroca in “My Favorite Year” at the Beck Center and was a national understudy in the roles of Earth Mother and Power Woman in “Menopause The Musical” at several theaters nationwide, and at the 14th St. Theater in downtown Cleveland.
How does someone from Lakewood, Ohio wind up in several Hollywood and other national productions, and what was it like? Jean says, “It isn’t easy. It takes a lot of hard work, perseverance, and ongoing instruction. You also have to love the journey because, no matter how talented you are, so much of it is filled with rejection. Like any job, it's first a matter of establishing solid relationships and then it's a numbers game - the more you audition and market yourself, the more work you'll get. What is it like? Like winning the Lottery! Not quite as much money, but so thrilling!”
Bringing her craft to the small screen, Jean was a featured actor in “Detroit 187” with Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos) and has appeared in television ads for such organizations as the Cleveland Cavaliers, JC Penney and The Ohio Lottery, just to name a few. According to Jean, whether landing local jobs or Hollywood movie roles, hard work, perseverance, and ongoing instruction are paramount to success. Jean has been sharing this formula with students for over 15 years at other Arts Organizations from Cleveland to England, and for five years in Lakewood through Find Your Voice - a Voice Acting Institute. Classes run for eight weeks, and are forming now. Here’s the link: http://findyourvoice-voiceactinginstitute.blogspot.com, or give her a call at 216.521.3831 .
An actor for over 25 years, Jean has been featured in “Love and Other Drugs” with Jake Gyllenhaal, “Proximity” with Rob Lowe and James Coburn, “The Public Eye” with Joe Pesci, and many other movies.
This multi-talented lady can also sing. Most recently, Jean appeared in the role of Belle Carroca in “My Favorite Year” at the Beck Center and was a national understudy in the roles of Earth Mother and Power Woman in “Menopause The Musical” at several theaters nationwide, and at the 14th St. Theater in downtown Cleveland.
How does someone from Lakewood, Ohio wind up in several Hollywood and other national productions, and what was it like? Jean says, “It isn’t easy. It takes a lot of hard work, perseverance, and ongoing instruction. You also have to love the journey because, no matter how talented you are, so much of it is filled with rejection. Like any job, it's first a matter of establishing solid relationships and then it's a numbers game - the more you audition and market yourself, the more work you'll get. What is it like? Like winning the Lottery! Not quite as much money, but so thrilling!”
Bringing her craft to the small screen, Jean was a featured actor in “Detroit 187” with Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos) and has appeared in television ads for such organizations as the Cleveland Cavaliers, JC Penney and The Ohio Lottery, just to name a few. According to Jean, whether landing local jobs or Hollywood movie roles, hard work, perseverance, and ongoing instruction are paramount to success. Jean has been sharing this formula with students for over 15 years at other Arts Organizations from Cleveland to England, and for five years in Lakewood through Find Your Voice - a Voice Acting Institute. Classes run for eight weeks, and are forming now. Here’s the link: http://findyourvoice-voiceactinginstitute.blogspot.com, or give her a call at 216.521.3831 .
