Agent Hunting 101 With ‘Supernatural’ Actress Emily Swallow

In this interview, we hear from actress Emily Swallow, recognized for her diverse roles across television, film and theater. She gained widespread recognition for portraying the powerful and mysterious Amara on Supernatural and as The Armorer in The Mandalorian, where her performance behind the iconic helmet captivated fans of the Star Wars universe.

Beyond her acting endeavors, she actively engages in charitable activities, championing significant causes for her, such as Voices Against Cancer.

Swallow shares her personal experiences with agents and how the right representation has influenced her career. She is represented by Buchwald and Arise Artists Agency.

Insights: Acting Advice from Emily Swallow

• Swallow emphasizes the importance of agents who understand your passions and career aspirations. Building a good rapport and trusting your instincts when choosing an agent can be pivotal in managing your career.
• When faced with changes in representation or management, it’s crucial to maintain trust in your existing agency’s ability to handle transitions.
• Actors should keep their agents informed about personal connections that might influence pitches, and maintain open communication regarding feedback and job submissions. This level of involvement can help agents tailor their approach to your career.
• Don’t hesitate to be represented by different agencies for different aspects of the industry (e.g., film, TV, commercials, voiceover), especially if a single agency doesn’t offer representation across all areas.
• Recognize that the definition of a “great” agent varies for each actor and changes throughout your career. It’s essential to have agents who are adaptable and understand your evolving needs as an actor.

What initially drew you to acting, and what were some pivotal moments early in your career that helped shape your path?

I loved music while I was growing up. My parents were both musically inclined, and they took me to see concerts, musicals and other performances. I sang in the choir at church, and I still remember the thrill/terror of singing my first solos! I was shy as a kid, but I found that when I was protected by the structure of a song or playing a character, it made it easier to express myself. I continued to perform in musicals and plays in middle and high school and college, but I was on a path to go into the foreign service.

I majored in Middle Eastern studies at the University of Virginia and split my time between my major and the drama department, which was very welcoming to non-majors. I had a handful of acting teachers and directors there who pushed me to consider going into acting professionally because they could see how much I loved it. I realize now that it was a huge blessing to have that encouragement at that time; I wasn’t yet ready to embrace a career in acting as a goal all on my own, and they sort of permitted me to dream until I allowed myself to want it deeply enough to give it a try.

When you were in school at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, your class did a showcase where you met your Buchwald agent-turned-manager, Hannah Roth. How did you know you and Hannah were a perfect match? Once Hannah told you she was going into management, did you have any fears or concerns about obtaining a new agent at Buchwald?

I did not know that Hannah and I were a perfect match, but I knew that we clicked and that she seemed to understand my passions and desires for my career. I went straight to NYU grad from undergrad, so I didn’t yet have a personal grasp on how the industry worked. I knew the basic questions to ask and then I just tried to trust my gut. Hannah told me later that she almost didn’t sign me because she had another actor she’d signed out of Yale the year before who was a very similar type, but I’m so glad she took a chance!

When Hannah decided to go into management, I had a challenging decision to make because I liked my manager at the time. However, I couldn’t imagine navigating the industry without Hannah — we’ve grown so close personally and professionally. My manager at the time understood that. She told me “I’d love to keep working with you but I also completely understand if you want to stay with Hannah.” It was strange to change my point person at Buchwald, but because I’d been with them so long I trusted that the transition would go well.

Photo by Katie Yu/The CW — © 2016 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved

How were you introduced to your current Buchwald agent, Katie Britton? In your opinion, what makes a great agent?

Hannah and Katie had already been working together at Buchwald — Katie was my East Coast point person because I was in New York at the time and Hannah was in L.A. I loved her energy from the moment I met her, and we found as we got to know each other that we have similar tastes and sensibilities.

I think that the definition of a “great” agent varies according to the artist. We all need different things and, as I’ve learned, those things change throughout one’s career. My agents were very patient at the beginning with me constantly checking in about feedback and asking about jobs they’d already submitted me for. It was hard for me to let go of the idea that I had control over who might see me and like my work. My agents kept me in the loop and they do appreciate when I point out people I might know who are working on a project so they can approach pitches from a personal angle.

I also really like to know the person behind the job. I don’t need to be best friends with everyone I work with, but I like to have a sense of how their work fits into their lives as a whole. I think that matters more to me the older I get and the better I find the balance between work and personal life.

Buchwald is your agency for TV, film and theatre work while Arise Artists Agency (morphed from Abrams) is your pick for commercials and voiceover. How come you didn’t choose Buchwald or Abrams across the board?

That answer is simple: neither offered me representation across the board!

What differences do you see in Buchwald vs. Arise Artists Agency regarding their approach to talent representation and career development for actors?

I don’t think I can offer much on that since I’m with them in different departments. In both situations, I believe that the agents make an effort to get to know their clients and they work hard.

I do admire the resilience of the agents at Arise as they’ve gone through the transition from Abrams to A3 to Arise. I don’t know all the inner workings, but I know they’ve had to handle some unexpected challenges, and I’m grateful they’ve kept us clients in the loop and have stayed loyal to us and our work.

Looking for more industry knowledge? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Audition Advice from Casting Directors!

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Ilana Rapp is a media-savvy Generation Xer with instinctive wit, quick humor and a taste for deep human emotions. As a former (child) actress with Broadway, film and television credits, she is adept at, well, lots of things.