Los Angeles based actress and writer Amanda Jaros knows how to stay busy. Whether she’s showcasing her talents while starring in ABC’s “Women of the Movement '' or putting pen to paper and crafting screenplays, Amanda has much to offer to the entertainment industry. Amazingly, Amanda was introduced to acting and writing as a mere child, and proves to be a natural at honing in on her creativity. Currently, Amanda is developing three indie features written and starring herself! When not putting her all into the industry, she is nurturing another passion: humanitarian and advocacy work. Amanda serves as a team leader for “After Hours Ministry”, a non profit organization which supports outreach for sex trafficking and exploitation victims on the streets of L.A. If you are interested in Amanda’s story or future endearers, please continue reading below.

Where are you based?
Los Angeles, CA.

How did you know acting was a passion of yours? Did your upbringing contribute to your success now?
I was acting ever since I was little. I’m grateful to have very supportive parents who came to my school plays, and even encouraged me to be a professional actor when they saw how much I loved it.

What was your first ever gig?
I had booked short films here and there, but my first union role on Television was “Criminal Minds” on CBS. It was a game-changer to get into SAG-AFTRA, and I’ve very grateful to the casting directors that took a chance on me back then.

Can you tell us a bit of your background in writing? Are you currently working on a project?
I’ve always been an actor and a writer. I remember winning a children’s book competition at my elementary school; a theatre company adapted the piece into a play for the whole school to see. At such a young age, it was so cool to see the story from my pages come to life. I also wrote a few short one-woman shows in high school which evolved into more sketch comedy and a couple of short-form web series. But it was when I studied screenwriting at UCLA that I grew a passion for more TV and film writing.

Your latest role as "Alina" in 1883, a Paramount series that is currently considered a cinematic masterpiece, is huge! Can you tell us about the series and your role as "Alina"?
Thank you! It is such a beautiful show that so many people worked so hard on. Alina is one of the Eastern European immigrants on the caravan to Oregon for a better future. She’s married to Mikel (played by Jordan Ross), a seamstress, and has some wit and some grit and a few surprising moments on the show.

Do you see yourself in the character of "Alina"? How did you prepare to fill her shoes?
My dad’s side of the family is Czech, so I definitely brought some elements of my heritage into the character. But I studied more Slovakian culture and the history of the Kingdom of Bohemia at that time to know why Alina would venture to America in the first place. I also built my own back story of Alina’s relationship with her husband (who is Romanian), because we were almost always together. And I chose to teach myself cross-stitching, which was a pastime in the 1800’s.

We heard you got to do a lot of your own stunts. Can you tell us a bit about that?
Cowboy Camp honed my horseback riding skills and prepared me to drive a covered wagon. I also got to herd cattle and sharpen some of my rifle skills. It was a blast. During filming, I had to cross a river in a petticoat, run uphill from a simulated tornado, and perform a few more extreme stunts that can be seen in Episode 9. The tornado chase was definitely the hardest day for me, because I had one of the longest runs of any cast member and my corset-like vest restricted my breathing. It was hard for me to catch my breath, so I felt weak between takes.

You also star in ABC's, Women of the Movement," the undeniable contribution black women had during the civil rights movement. Especially during Women's History Month, why are stories of intersectionality so important regarding race and gender? Can you tell us a bit about this series?
Women of the Movement is based on the true story of Emmet Till, his traumatic murder, and the trial of his racist killers. Season One follows the point of view of his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley. A lot of people don’t know that Mamie’s courage to seek justice helped spark the Civil Rights Movement. These stories are so necessary to be told, taught, shared and discussed, because every society should learn from its mistakes. We must grow in compassion and the fight for justice. It was an honor to be a part of that show.

Any more upcoming roles fans should look out for?
I play Kristine Linde in American Pantheon’s experiential rendition of “A Doll’s House” which is Chadwick Harman’s directorial debut. I also have a few more scripts in the works that I’m looking forward to developing and I hope to be in production for one of them in the fall (if the timing works out with other projects).

What has been your favorite role/character so far?
I have too many favorites! Anything in a different time period or accent are always fun to play.

What genre do you gravitate towards? Is there any genre you haven't tried yet, that you would like to?
I love period pieces and fantasy, but I’m more drawn to the type of story that is being told and what theme it’s trying to portray; so I’m happy to work on any genre as like I like the script.

You wrote a film named "Disavowed" and filmed it within 48 hours. What was it like accomplishing that? Would you do it again? Can you tell us a bit about the piece?
It was madness, haha. I’m so grateful for that amazing cast and crew that helped make my little passion project come to life. We caravanned out to Palm Springs and miraculously finished the film in 48 hours. I would do it again, but differently. It was my first time directing and producing, which was a lot to learn at the same time. Everyone was very supportive of me and I’m so glad the film saw success on the festival circuit.

It is terrific and nostalgic that you wrote for the likes of "The Tom and Jerry Show" did you ever see your writing abilities being utilized in Animation? Is it different from writing for live people?
When the opportunity presented itself, I wasn’t working on other projects at the time so I thought “why not?” I never thought I’d write animation, but it was fun. The show had a different format with its own distinguished structure compared to other scripts, but I adapted and had a great time.

Currently, you are a team leader for the non-profit anti-sex trafficking organization After Hours Ministry. Can you tell us a bit about this organization?
After Hours Ministry is a one of the organizations that is part of the South Los Angeles Ant-Trafficking Coalition. We focus on street outreach to victims of sexual exploitation who are being prostituted on the streets of South LA. I’ve learned so much about Americans misperceptions of what trafficking is, how it happens in our hometown (even to US citizens), and how victims can be coerced and manipulated into trafficking situations without even realizing it’s happening to them (hence, the term “tricked out”).

What is your role as a team leader?
First and foremost, my role is to protect the team members assigned to my group. I evaluate the safety of each situation for my team and for each woman being sexually exploited on the street. If it safe, my team and I make introduction and try to build trusting relationships with each victim. Ultimately, we assess if they are ready to leave “the game,” and offer emotional support and/or assistance to find a shelter or rehabilitation program. We also offer them our hotline number, which they can call or text any time.

When and what prompted you to dedicate your time to anti-sex trafficking work?
I read a book that compelled me to serve my community more, but wanted to volunteer in the evenings. Lo and behold, I heard about After Hours Ministry and attended one of their trainings, even though I knew nothing about human trafficking in America. Needless to say, the training was enlightening. I knew I wanted to volunteer.

Sex trafficking is a much bigger issue than people realize. What would you like the world to know more about it? How can women stay safe?
Sex trafficking is when anyone has to perform a paid sex act “by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age…”* Threats against a victim or her family is a sign of someone who is being forced to perform sex acts. Pimps pressure victims by saying “we have to pay the bills,” which can be coercion (as other government funding is available to help those in need instead of performing sex acts). Women who are promised acting jobs in entertainment, but are tricked into doing pornography instead can be considered victims of trafficking, because of the bait and switch. And just because a prostituted woman or girl is flirting or smiling, doesn’t mean they are not trafficked; they are trained to entice sex-buyers because they don’t want to have any negative consequences from their pimps. They are trying to make money, so they smile and seem happy or claim to like what they’re doing. Women and children in poverty or from unstable family environments are specifically vulnerable to traffickers who will exploit their need for financial and emotional stability. Many victims even claim to love their traffickers, because they feel supported with a roof over their head. But obviously, those victims are put into very dangerous situations. Not only is their physical health threatened with the potential STD’s or unwanted pregnancies, but their traffickers and/or sex buyers can be abusive and some victims are even murdered.

How have you been staying positive during the pandemic? Are you back to normal?
I’ve really relied of my family, friends and faith during the pandemic. Physical health was just as important to me as mental, emotional and spiritual health. It was important for me to follow guidelines put out by scientific experts while not remaining completely isolated. During the height of the pandemic, I hung out with friends, but stayed six feet apart or wore a mask. Some of closet friends have pre-existing conditions so I had thorough conversations with them about creating a safe bubble. But I still had to opportunity to go on a lot of adventures in nature. And 2021 was a very busy time with work, so I’ve been filming with some great people while getting regularly tested and wearing a KN-95 mask. Things do feel like they’re getting back to normal, but my schedule and travels are still constantly in flux. I still like to take precautions and make wise choices.

What is your motto in life?
Unconditional love.

Stay up to date with all things Amanda!
Instagram: @amandajaros
Twitter: @amandajaros
https://www.justice.gov/humantrafficking

Photography by Amanda Marsh.

Doing It All With Amanda Jaros