Why Choose
RAW Actor Studio?
All Levels, Genuinely Welcome
Beginners start with strong foundations and build real confidence. Working actors sharpen craft, speed, and consistency to stay competitive.
Lineage-Based, Contemporary Teaching
Training draws from respected classical lineages while remaining fully applicable to modern film, television, voice, and performance demands.
A Clear, Repeatable System
Actors don’t guess at the work. RAW provides structured tools for script analysis, preparation, and execution, so you know what you’re doing and why, every time.
Individualized Coaching, Not One-Size-Fits-All
Classes adapt to where each actor is and where they’re trying to go. Beginners build strong foundations, while working actors sharpen precision and consistency.
Training That Meets Industry Reality
RAW bridges craft and profession. Actors learn on-set expectations, audition standards, and how to work efficiently under pressure, because acting is a job, not just an art.
A Serious, Supportive Community
RAW is a focused, respectful space where actors are challenged without being broken down, supported without being coddled, and encouraged to grow alongside other committed artists.
Our Team.
Meet the people who make RAW what it is. Sophie and Grisha bring decades of real industry experience, deep care for actors, and a no-nonsense approach to training. Whether you're just starting or already working, they're here to help you grow with honesty and skill.
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Sophie Ann Rooney
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
Sophie Ann Rooney is an award-winning director and filmmaker with over 20 years across film, television, theatre, video games, and voice direction, including work for Netflix’s Daniel Spellbound and Ubisoft.
She founded RAW in 1997 to mentor actors the way she wished she’d been guided, drawing from her training at The Royal Central School of Speech & Drama, Oxford, EICAR Paris, and from mentors including Amy Werba (Lee Strasberg’s protégé) and Blanche Salant (Stanislavski lineage).
Sophie has mentored artists all over the world in multiple disciplines and continues to have a lasting impact on anyone she works with.
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Grisha Pasternak
COACH & DIRECTOR
Grisha Pasternak is a filmmaker, actor, and mentor with over 17 years of industry experience on both sides of the camera. Trained in film at Toronto Metropolitan University, he has directed shorts, music videos, and commercials while working professionally as an actor.
Grisha specializes in the practical, technical side of the craft, giving actors clear tools for efficient preparation, understanding on-set expectations, and taking ownership of their work with confidence and autonomy.
He helps beginners build strong foundations and supports working actors in sharpening their edge through focused, repeatable practice.
Our Actors Have Booked With
and so many more...
Our Services
Kevin Kenaley
“From the moment I walked through the door, I could feel that I had found a truly unique setting, where personal and/or professional growth was unavoidable."
Alejandra Zapico
"Highly recommend this acting studio. I’ve tried a few around the city, and these classes have given me tools I can actually put into practice."
Simran Manghirmalani
Sophie and Grisha have this beautiful ability of seeing you for the artist that you are and will support you in all the right ways to use your unique qualities in your work. I highly recommend all their classes to anyone ready to unlock a new level in their artistry.