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

Recent Acting Credits include a Co-star on Inside Amy Schumer Season 5, a Series Regular on a pilot titled Mott & Spy, a Recurring Guest Star on a soon-to-be-released audio drama Hearthbound and Lead Roles in Sinner's All and The Bargain (Big Apple Film Festival).

Over the years, she's performed in spaces such as The Park Avenue Armory, La MaMa, HERE Arts Center, 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 BAM, 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, Freestyle Staff Spinning, Fighting for Film, Theatrical Weaponry, and holds 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 investigate the story with movement while making the actors feel supported in the workspace and confident in the choreography!