‘Outer Banks’ actor Arapoglou inspires ECU students with industry advice
East Carolina University students felt encouraged to hear that actor Caroline Arapoglou, of “Outer Banks” and “Stranger Things” fame, really is just like them, still wanting to learn, and still working through industry challenges.
“Outer Banks” actor Caroline Arapoglou, right, laughs during a talk and conversation with ECU students. Assitant Professor Rebecca Simon, left, moderated the event on Feb. 28.
Arapoglou was this year’s School of Theatre and Dance guest artist on Feb. 28. Assistant Professor Rebecca Simon has made it an annual tradition since joining ECU in 2022 to invite a career artist to engage with students. The East Carolina Theatre Association student organization collaborates on each visit.
Simon, Associate Professor Trent Blanton, and Arapoglou have been friends since they appeared together in a 2012 production of “Sweet Charity” in Atlanta. Arapoglou’s home base of Atlanta, not New York or Los Angeles, was a key talking point for a room of aspiring performers.
“I always thought I would go to New York or LA,” Arapoglou said. “Everyone lives everywhere now; I have agents in Atlanta, LA, and New York. There’s a lot of work in Atlanta.”
To that point, an actor meeting with someone “in the room” almost always means they will meet on Zoom, and actors often self-tape for auditions.
“There are things to miss, but a lot to be happy with,” Arapoglou said about a virtual audition world. “Especially if you’re just starting out, you can be anywhere.”
Arapoglou said she was impressed with ECU’s self-tape room, one of several times she half-jokingly expressed interest in enrolling and joining students for classes. She is already taking a screenwriting class, a result of her drive to keep learning her craft and bettering herself, telling students they need to learn how to keep their “artistic self” happy.
That was surreal for musical theater junior Sydney Caudle to hear.
“It’s interesting to hear that she’s still learning and still taking classes,” Caudle said. “If that was us, we would feel like we’d made it.”
The ability to work from anywhere also means that Arapoglou can re-record lines from anywhere, and she gave students tips about acting on tape, like not getting lost in the weeds of stage direction. She also recommended items for actors’ car kits: a ring light, and a backdrop gray bedsheet, either ironed or steamed over a hot hotel shower.
“I did ADR in Greece,” she said of the automated dialogue replacement that has an actor re-record audio to match their video. “You’re never on vacation.”
Despite that, Arapoglou encouraged students to take breaks when their work doesn’t inspire joy, learn how to recover from hearing “no,” and always ask for clarity if they don’t understand notes they receive about their performance.
“You have to decide what makes you feel happy and healthy outside of the ‘yes,’” she said. “And the reality is nothing is permanent; if it’s not bringing you joy, take a break. I could be on ‘Outer Banks,’ but if I’m not happy, who cares?”
As Arapoglou answered questions from the crowd, many about her acting process, she gave thoughts and tips while also acknowledging that everything can be difficult, like a feeling of desperation to land a role, or that an actor isn’t good enough.
“You have to let that go,” she said. “It’s really hard; it’s a personal business. You have to try to get out of your own way; that’s truly the thing that’s going to get you the job, or not.”
Kristen Cox, a junior in professional acting and communication, said it’s affirming to know that someone can work their way up in the acting profession, and that Arapoglou had the same struggles students are working through now.
“It’s a big moment to talk to someone who does TV and film,” she said. “It’s nice to feel seen and appreciated.”
Arapoglou learned the ECU “ARRRGH” and hook as she opened university swag for her family. Acting senior and ECTA President Brandy Faith also gifted the “Swiftie” with friendship bracelets, which Arapoglou immediately added to her wrists.
Simon said she felt proud of the students’ prepared and thoughtful questions, and said all of Arapoglou’s information was crucial for them to hear.
“Students at this age are so afraid to take risks and be embarrassing,” Simon said. “I love that [Arapoglou] emphasized that you can take risks now; you can fall on your face and it’s OK.”