I spent 18 years as a successful actor in the film industry — in projects that ranged from Hollywood blockbusters to cheesy TV movies that were only popular in Denmark. And yet, I battled depression and anxiety. I left Hollywood and decided to redefine success and find a meaningful path for myself. Eventually, I found my purpose in helping others cultivate mental wellness and a deeper sense of peace.

I’m the author of two books:

• My memoir, You Look Like That Girl: A Child Actor Stops Pretending and Finally Grows Up, is the story of growing up in the film industry and making the decision to leave in search of some peace.

• My second book, Not Just Me: Anxiety, Depression, and Learning to Embrace Your Weird, is part memoir, part journalistic exploration—this book reminds all of us that we are not alone.

I’m currently writing on Substack, which is kind of a blog-type thing, and you can sign up for free:

• lisajakub.substack.com

And also:

• I do speaking events for universities, corporations, and organizations. (Google, the University of Virginia, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.)

• I founded the mental wellness site BlueMala.com — an online community offering mindful practices for daily mental wellness.

• I spent a decade working with military Veterans, founding a nonprofit that offered mindfulness retreats to those living with post-traumatic stress.

I’ve appeared on the Today Show, HuffPost Live, MSNBC, CNN, BBC, and CBC. My writing has appeared in Newsweek, Today.com, Huffington Post, Yoga Magazine, US Magazine, and more.

I live in British Columbia, Canada, with my husband Jeremy and our anxious rescue dog, Olive.