Meet Jeff Leach from London who moved to New York three years ago and Los Angeles a year ago to pursue his acting and stand-up comedy.
Was there a particular reason you chose LA?
As any self-respecting, self-deprecating Brit in America knows, it is of the utmost importance to move to a city with the highest volume of unnervingly attractive people living in it, to really make oneself feel wholly inadequate. Aside from the inevitable love-handle shame, this was also always intended to be the final destination for my acting career. After two years living and performing stand-up comedy multiple times every night at the world famous Comedy Cellar venue in Greenwich Village alongside my heroes, I finally tired of seeing audience members’ brows furrow furiously with lack of recognition as my name was announced in line ups between Dave Chappelle and Dave Attell. I knew it was time to head towards the sunshine and land a few major credits this side of the pond myself.
What do you miss most from home?
Well the usual British staples of course such as penny-farthings, chimney sweeps and an ever-increasing threat of scurvy. Aside from these however I do yearn for the rich cultural history readily available back home. Architecture spanning thousands of years, museums, theatres and galleries celebrating art and literature from every corner of the world. This daily dose of culture is simply not as readily available in a city that is relatively infantile in its existence. If you doubt the validity of my judgement, you only have to gaze in wonder at the plethora of adult-children blissfully bounding along through life in Los Angeles… myself included.
What was your first impression of LA and has it changed since?
Prior to moving out here to live, I had visited Los Angeles about eight times for work and play. I’d always found it incredibly shallow and rather formulaic in its design and those who live here. However, good people with immense depth do exist here, you simply need to reveal a little vulnerability to have them do the same. I now love being here. The sunshine feeds my soul and staves off my depression, I am surrounded by decent and genuine people and I’ve since discovered wonderfully weird pockets of cultural identity in the various ‘Little [Insert Country Here]’ locales across the city.
What do you find the biggest difference is living here versus London?
Apart from the fact that homeless people in Los Angeles all have better tans and bicep definition than me? Well London always had a propensity for violence after a few ales… constant challenges are presented with drunken glares and glances on the London Underground during my commute home after a show of a Friday night when I was still there. Instead in Los Angeles, no-one confronts each other in this way. I’m not saying they are any better than the Brits, simply that instead they release frustrations through braggadocious behavior and back-stab gossip. It’s both tiring and also reassuring to appreciate that most humans, no matter their location, are just as insecure and vulnerable as each other. There’s something quite comforting to know that we are all as flawed as each other.
Do you have a hidden gem in LA that you want to share with us?
Well I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Westside Comedy Theatre in Santa Monica, hidden in an alley between 2nd and 3rd Street in the promenade shopping area. This is by far one of the best comedy venues in the city, run and operated by comedians and filled with love for the craft. However weekend visitors should swing by Hollywood Highgrade and get their buzz on, before heading down to Venice’s Hinano Cafe for one of LA’s best burgers, cooked on a grill infused with grease flavours from 1973 washed down with a frozen beer mug filled with Ex-Patriate Ale and then round off the night with some dancing at The Mint and a suitable face-stuffing of street tacos at the Mexican truck on the corner of Sunset Blvd and Weston.
What would you suggest to others who are thinking about making the move here?
Allow yourself to be vulnerable and accept your insecurities. So few are able to do so out here and the desperation is palpable, however if you show people some genuine care and empathy you’ll be surprised by how many people flock to be near to you. Oh, and once you’re out here be sure to give smoking weed a go, not only is it legal but it also takes the edge off watching a fully grown man take a poop on the side of the 101 freeway at 9am without any cover.
Lots of our members join our group Brits in LA seeking out words of wisdom – what is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Buy yourself a car! I spent almost a year taking Uber and Lyft and absolutely drained my funds. So buy a decent motor and save yourself some serious moolah. Plus if your budding acting career doesn’t pan out the way you’d hoped you then have somewhere to live and you can even drive for the aforementioned taxi firms to keep your drug habit afloat! Best of luck.
Lastly, how can we find out more about you? Are you working on anything at the moment?
All of my live stand up comedy shows are listed on jeffreyleach.com and I will be doing shows from October 10th-14th at the Comedy Cellar at the Rio Casino in Las Vegas. I also deliver a twice-weekly comedy and discussion podcast called the ‘Savage Snowflake Podcast with Jeff Leach’ available on iTunes, Soundcloud and all good podcasting apps. You can also find me on Instagram and Twitter @jeffleach.
