Leana Gardela is a New York City based Actor, Fight Director and Intimacy Director.

Most recently she's booked a Co-star on Inside Amy Schumer Season 5, filmed a Pilot as a Series Regular, recorded an Audio Drama as a Recurring Guest Star and starred in two Short Films.

Over the years, she's performed in spaces such as The Park Avenue Armory, La MaMa, Access Theater, Medicine Show Theatre, and The New Ohio, as well as touring the East Coast and receiving a NYTimes Critics Pick
 
She's had the opportunity to Fight and Intimacy Direct in venues such as The Nederlander in Chicago, Irish Repertory Theater, and HERE Arts as well as companies like Classical Theatre of Harlem and Soho Shakespeare.

As both an actor and director, her craft is informed by her physical training. She actively trains in multiple movement styles to round out her physical vocabulary. This includes Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Martial Arts, Muay Thai, Freestyle Staff Spinning, Action for Film, and holding certifications with the Society of American Fight Directors in all weapons offered and Theatrical Firearms Safety. 
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As a Fight and Intimacy Director working in both live and digital mediums, her philosophy while choreographing is to tell interesting stories while making the actors feel supported in the workspace and confident in the choreography!