Breanna Yde is an actress and musician navigating a significant creative inflection point. After stepping back from film and television work in 2019, she returned to acting in 2023 – a return catalyzed by grief and the need to process loss through performance. Simultaneously, she has been developing her music practice, releasing the "8" EP, an exploration of vulnerability and emotional honesty.
In this conversation with WeDirectory, YDE reflects on what drew her back to acting, how her parallel work in music and film inform each other, and why authenticity has become central to her artistic practice.
What has been inspiring you lately - in people, in music, in life?
Lately I’ve been drawing the most inspiration from nature. I’ve always found it ironic that some of the most celebrated art in the world is, in some way, an attempt to recreate something that already exists naturally. We paint the night sky, we photograph landscapes, we make films trying to capture a moment that was already alive before we put a camera in front of it. In the past, I have fallen into the trap of believing I need to create new ideas, rather than discover the beauty that is already around me and let that inspire me. A consistent inspiration point for years has been the ocean. Even taking the way the ocean exists. Regardless of what time it is, the water is never still, and that gives me relief knowing that we are all constantly evolving, ebbing and flowing beings. Stagnation is not natural. The ocean inspires me to be, to grow, to change, to try new things.
Breanna Yde. Via (@breannayde | Instagram)
You told me that you’re constantly searching for truth in art. What is it that feels most meaningful or urgent to you in art at this stage of your life?
At this point in my life, what feels most meaningful to me is capturing the imperfect rawness of truth. I think real courage is required to be vulnerable, both as an artist and as a person. It’s awesome to make something I consider to be cool or beautiful, but I’m much more interested in making something honest. I think technique can be learned. Most people can pick up an instrument or a paintbrush and learn what to do, but art that I’ve always admired is art that is unafraid to be exactly what it is. Art that doesn’t hide. And that scares me, but it is deeply rewarding.
In addition to music and acting, you also paint. Could you tell us more about that—what do you usually paint, what materials do you work with, and what other forms of self-expression would you like to explore in the future?
Props to you for doing research! Painting is something I keep pretty private to maintain the childlike freedom that I feel with it. Truthfully, I have no idea what the fuck I'm doing or what is technically considered "correct" or "incorrect" which is the very thing I love about it. It is such a pure outlet. When people use the metaphor "throw shit against a wall and see what sticks", that literally sums up my approach with painting.
Which films have shaped you, and what would you recommend our readers absolutely watch?
There are a handful of films that were deeply impactful each for such different reasons, but the first that come to mind are The Matrix, Raging Bull, Black Swan, Whiplash, and The Dark Knight. I've always had an affinity to films that challenge my perception of reality, obsession, identity, and how far we'll go in pursuit of something meaningful to us. And Batman!
You've been building your identity both as an actress and as a musician. Where do those two sides of you overlap most, and where do they remain separate?
As I develop as both an actress and a musician, I'm learning that the separation between the two isn't terribly large. Both art forms come back to being willing to explore the depths of yourself and express them. And the further you go in that exploration, the more open you are to each outlet. I like to think of myself as the canvas for whatever creative impulse is working through me. Sometimes that expresses itself through lyrics and melodies, and sometimes it's a character in front of a camera.
You mentioned that you rediscovered your love for acting, and that it was largely brought on by grief. Would you be open to talking a little more about that?
