“Matt is one of the best coaches out there. He taught me to completely let go of my insecurities and just truly be in the moment.”
As featured in….
Stalk Me
BIO
Matt with the lead actors in the cast of Ava Duvernay’s “When They See Us”
Matt Newton is an acclaimed New York City based acting, career and business coach, author, and award winning filmmaker, whose work been mentioned on NPR, Forbes, WTF with Marc Maron, That One Audition with Alysia Ochse, and Backstage. Matt has coached such actors as Oscar winner Ariana Debose (“Westside Story”), Emmy winner Aziz Ansari (“Master of None”), Emmy nominee Asante Blackk (“When They See us”), Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy (“American Horror Story”) and Chris Diamantopoulos (“Silicon Valley”), and has been a go to coach on “Blue Bloods,” “Orange is the New Black,” “Jessica Jones,” “Genius”, “The Affair,” and Ava Duvernay’s “When They See us." Throughout his 12 years of being a coach, Matt’s clients have booked guest starring, recurring, and series regular roles on hundreds of TV shows, films as well as on Broadway. Matt’s approach combines practicality with authenticity, giving actors and entrepreneurs the tools they need to succeed in their presentations, media, auditions and on set.
Matt is the founder and head acting coach of the acclaimed MN Acting Studio in New York, and is the author of the books “No B.S. Guide to the Acting Biz” (chosen by Forbes’ as a “Must Read”), “10 Steps to Breaking into Acting,” as well as a regular contributing expert to Backstage.
Matt is also an award winning filmmaker, and his latest project, an indie pilot called “Dissocia” (starring Maria Dizzia) is currently being shopped to networks and streaming.
Matt began his professional career as a successful as a working tv and film actor, booking guest starring roles on such shows as Judging Amy, Criminal Minds, Gilmore Girls, Royal Pains, the Americans, Ugly Betty, Dragnet, JAG, Family Law, Judging Amy, Miracles, As the World Turns, as well as the films “Van Wilder” (starring Ryan Reynolds) “Poster Boy” (starring Karen Allen), “Men Who Stare at Goats” (starring Jeff Bridges) and “Dahmer” (starring Jeremy Renner). In 2011, Matt turned to coaching actors, eventually creating MN Acting Studio, one of the most popular on-camera acting studios on the East Coast. In 2020, Matt began offering his services to companies and
Matt is also currently an adjunct professor at Western Connecticut State University, Vassar College, and the National Theatre Institute in Waterford, CT. In 2022, Matt helped create the Thimble Islands Film Festival in Stony Creek, CT.
For a full list of his credits, visit his Matt Newton's imdb page.
To contact Matt, email him here.
“Matt Newton is a wonderful presence and works well with actors, especially young performers. He is a consummate professional, coaching well, yet staying in keeping with the directors wishes.
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“Acting for camera is so much about letting go of your habits, your bullshit, and the “play pretend” -isms that get in the way of us being real humans on camera. Matt’s technique really helped me break down a lot of my old habits to start being truthful in my auditions and on set. He doesn’t take any shit, and holds you accountable to do your best. That’s what you need from an on-camera coach.
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“I have been taking class with Matt Newton and it has been a game changer. I have done many classes and one thing that stands out for me is that Matt creates a space where you feel safe to play, to create & to fail.”
“ Top Five Must Read Books for Today’s Uncertain Market”
“The No B.S. Guide to the Acting Biz covers a lot of ground in a short amount of time, making it an invaluable asset for actors of all stripes, in this theater professional and reviewer’s opinion.”
