Mrs. Weinstock, a Holocaust Survivor, inspired young actors

COSTA BRAVA, Baja California, Mexico — I am originally from San Diego but lived in Los Angeles to fulfill my need to be an actor when I could find the work. I have been on many film sets and have had the opportunity to talk to many interesting people. As you probably already know, there is a lot of down time during filming which translates to a lot of sitting around and talking. Over the years I have been asked 100’s of times what made me want to be an actor , and always, I answer without hesitation; Mrs. Weinstock.

You see, she was a drama teacher I had in high school. I will never forget her the rest of my life. She was this little energetic, Jewish woman originally from Germany who always had this big smile on her face and never a bad word to say about anybody or anything. She taught me more about acting and about life than any book or class could have ever taught me. You see, Mrs. Weinstock had a real interesting life story that allowed her to dig deep within her soul and convey those inner feelings that we actors try to draw on when practicing our craft.

Those feelings seemed to flow so easily from this small woman. She made you feel her heart. She could make you laugh and, conversely, could make you cry right along with her. To say she was truly gifted would be an understatement. She was something very special.

I knew I felt something with Mrs. Weinstock from the first moment we met. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it at the time but as I grew older, I began to understand what it was about this woman. I somehow felt this strange connection to her. I mean it wasn’t like I was attracted to her looks or anything although she was attractive. No, it was something more. Like she had some secret story to tell but never would. I could never understand what it was until one day something quite unexpected happened. One afternoon in May during a rehearsal for the musical, Oklahoma, of all things, I noticed something on her right arm. Now this was unusual because she always, and I mean always, kept her arms covered in long sleeves. But on this warm Spring day she rolled them up. To this day I will never forget what I saw; the numbers 92412 tattooed in ink. I was a young kid in high school but knew enough about history to know what those numbers meant.

I asked her about them and all she had to say was, “It’s a long sad story that happened long ago.” That is all she said. Never another word about it. Here was this woman who spoke so much about love and sharing your heart and inner feelings on stage with an audience and yet only spoke a few words about an entire
lifetime…Ummm?

I have such vivid memories of her. I remember her teaching us how important the audition process was. She used to say, “You have only two minutes to show the world your soul.” And the advice she gave me when I told her years later that she was the one that inspired me to pursue a career in acting. She held my
hand and looked directly into my eyes and said, “Act naturally and age gracefully and you will never be out of work.” Act naturally and age gracefully ……As I remember those words I only wish she were still here to speak them to me now. She didn’t have the opportunity to age gracefully, someone stole that opportunity
from her. Someone who knew nothing about the human spirit or the happiness that can be found when sharing your heart with an audience. Stolen by someone who didn’t even know Mrs. Weinstock. You see, she was robbed and beaten to death by some angry young man who had no idea who she was or how much happiness she had shared with me: a young Catholic boy in a high school drama class here in unoccupied America.

I now realize just what she did mean to me and to so many others. But I can say this: I will never forget this small woman with the huge smile who shared a piece of her heart with me at a very important time in my life. Thank you Mrs. Weinstock, you are the reason I call myself an actor.

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Brennan is an actor and freelance writer, now living in Mexico.