Today we’d like to introduce you to Lily Cadot.
Hi Lily, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born and raised in the South of France in a family of musicians. Almost every weekend, they would be playing jazz and New Orleans music for people. In my stroller, with my grandma by my side, we would follow them everywhere.
At 4 years old, I played my first role in my school show and I started dance classes. A few years later, while I was watching *Chicago*, *Moulin Rouge* and *Cabaret*, I just knew I wanted to be on stage!
As I grew up, I studied piano and drums at the music conservatory of Antibes (French Riviera), and by the time I was 10, I had joined my family band. At the same time, my parents really nurtured my passion for the arts—plays, shows, movies, painting, dance… everything!
But becoming an adult meant less and less time for art, and at some point, I thought it just wasn’t an option for me anymore.
In high school, I focused on science because I wanted to help people and become a doctor. I even started medical school, but after spending several months visiting my grandma in the hospital, I realized I was way too sensitive for that field.
So I enrolled in business school instead to keep my options open. I earned a Master’s in Marketing and Event Management. At 22, just after graduating, I was offered the position of director at an event agency in Paris. It was an amazing experience that taught me a lot about what I was capable of. After two intense years filled with long hours, a fantastic team, but very little appreciation from the general director, I decided to take a leap and become an entrepreneur.
In 2016, I took my first big risk and used my marketing and business developer skills to co-found a tech startup focused on Augmented Reality. With my business partner, we attended conventions, met incredible people—some who had even worked side by side with Steve Jobs. It was surreal. One of the highlights was being selected to pitch our tech to Disneyland Paris for the new Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel. Honestly, that day remains one of my favorite moments. It’s funny how life takes you where you’re meant to go.
But eventually, we were approached by shady investors who wanted to misuse client data. It made me realize, that I was drifting away from my beliefs and also, it wasn’t my dream—it was someone else’s. So I decided to walk away.
Around that same time, my first love, John Hudic, came back into my life. He had become an incredibly talented tattoo artist and painter. I was really inspired by his drive and the passion he poured into his art. He wanted to travel and tattoo across Europe, and since I had the flexibility, I became his tour manager—booking clients, organizing collaborations with renowned other tattoo artists, and more.
Being so close to that world made me realize how much I wanted the same for myself—to be able to express myself artistically. And after everything I’d experienced, I finally felt confident enough to pour all my energy into making that dream real.
Then COVID happened…
Back in France, I used that time to reflect deeply on what I wanted from life—what really mattered. That’s when I began making music and took singing classes with the talented tenor Pierre Capelle, and dance classes at MADSCHOOL in Nice.
Once I felt ready and with Pierre’s help, I produced a jazz and cabaret show called *It Takes Two*, in collaboration with my friend Ricky-Lee Greene. It was so much fun and an amazing experience.
After that, I was invited to play Marilyn in *Marilyn Monroe, Le Spectacle*, produced by Franck Viano and Diane Fremaux in Nice (French Riviera). Unfortunately, the production team couldn’t see eye-to-eye, so it was canceled after a few months. But Franck and I still wanted to create something meaningful. In just a few months, I wrote a jukebox musical called *All the Way to Broadway*, which followed the journey of young adults, trying to pursue their artistic dreams.
With a cast of 15 artists, we performed it live for an audience of 400 people. It was such a powerful and rewarding experience, and it gave us all a chance to grow as artists.
Then life opened another door—my talented husband John was offered a position at the famous tattoo studio *The Raven and The Wolves* by Carlos Torres. So, we moved to Los Angeles.
That was a whole new world. Suddenly, there were auditions every day, incredible musicals and shows everywhere—it was, and still is, deeply inspiring.
In 2023, not long after we moved, I discovered community theaters, which is something we don’t really have in France. Living in Long Beach without a car, I started looking nearby and decided to audition for Act Out Theater Company. They welcomed me so warmly—even with my French accent, haha! It was so exciting to see organizations like this, giving both kids and adults the chance to perform and grow their skills. I did several productions with them and it truly helped me feel part of a community—something that’s so important when you just left all your life behind.
Once we got a car, I enrolled at Fullerton College for a semester in their Musical Theater Program. I learned a lot—audition techniques, musical theater history, principle of acting, etc. But after three months, I realized I needed to move faster. I was already 30, while most of the students were 18. I knew I had to work harder and get private coaching to keep up.
So after some research, I found the amazing Steve Kronauer to be my singing coach. He has taught: Billie Eilish (*No Time to Die*), Finneas, Grammy-winning jazz singers, and opera singers across all genres. And I also met the magical, award-winning actress Morgan Eliza Hill, who’s now my acting mentor. She’s helping me grow so much, and I’m incredibly grateful.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I was lucky enough to be born into a family that truly believed in me and was always loving and supportive—so I’d say that was a pretty great start in life.
Becoming an adult, though, is always a tricky transition. It’s hard to figure out where you stand, what you allow yourself to become, what people expect from you—or even harder—what *you* expect from yourself. Personally, I’ve often been my own worst enemy, and I think that’s one of the reasons it took me so long to allow myself to pursue this career.
Also, living in LA can be both a gift and an obstacle. Here, it feels like *everyone* is an actor, so making real connections is essential if you want to be seen.
As a French native speaker, I can tell you—it’s a lot of work every day to be considered for roles in LA. Not everyone pictures their characters with a French accent, haha. Right now, one of my main goals is to work on reducing my accent and learning more English dialects.
But at the end of the day, I truly believe that if you show up, work hard, and prove to people that they can count on you—you *will* be seen, remembered, and called back. That’s what I’m striving for.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Since moving here in 2023, I’ve been cast in eight musicals and play productions. I booked my first lead role in the original musical *Howdy Gay Times*, written by the talented Saer Black and produced by Just To Be Theatrical Productions.
In 2024, I wanted to explore the film industry, and I’ve since been cast in several short films, series, and feature films. And since February 2025, I’m so happy to say that I’ve become a company member of Theatre West.
After all the twists and turns in my life—especially career-wise—I’m really proud to say that I’m finally walking the path I always dreamed of: being a storyteller, whether in musicals, plays, or film, and working closely with other artists to bring their visions to life. It feels so good to finally allow myself to live this dream, to work hard for it, and to see real results and new doors opening.
All my life, I’ve wanted to help people—and I’ve finally found *my* way to do it: by opening minds, giving voice to people, bringing joy, and hopefully inspiring or even helping people heal through beautiful and meaningful stories.
I think my “frenchie-ness” is something that sets me apart. There’s something about the way I carry myself that feels a little different from the American energy—and a lot of people have told me they “love my vibe,” so I hope that’s a good sign, haha. I’m also known for being both sassy and caring on set and during rehearsals, which brings a fun, positive energy to the room.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I’m always looking to connect with other passionate artists and fellow people-lovers to collaborate on new and exciting projects. So feel free to DM me (you’ll find my Instagram info at the end of the interview) if you’re interested in creating something together!
Also, if this article is published before that—come see *Carrie: The Musical*! We’re opening on May 23rd at The Other Space, supported by Actors Company LA and we run for 2 weeks. It’s going to be an unforgettable show!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lily_cadot/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGIOWGnxq_E0kRS48RESAwQ
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm16656708/
Image Credits
Pics by John Hudic / Ilan Dehe / Manongvia Photographe
