From Both Sides of the Table: Ava Paloma on What It Really Takes to Make It

Ava Paloma has been putting on a show since before she knew what that meant. Long before she was starring opposite James Franco and Paul Ben-Victor in the upcoming thriller The Razor’s Edge, she was a preschooler playing Mrs. Clause in the Christmas pageant, chasing the sound of an audience’s laughter. That thrill followed her through local theater, talent agencies, summer camp stages, and eventually onto film sets across the country. Somewhere along the way, the actor in her found a producing partner: herself. 

From the stage to the other side of the table

“I’ve always loved pulling people together, bringing out their best, and seeing what magic happens when you do.”

That instinct eventually grew into producing, a role that became even more prominent after she met her husband, who works as a film producer. While Ava tends to lean toward acting and her husband toward producing, the two are building something together in Atlanta.

Her experience on both sides of the industry has also changed the way she approaches acting. Having worked in casting, production, photography, content creation and coaching, Ava has learned to see a project from more than one perspective.

“When you understand what a casting director needs, what a producer is juggling, what a director is trying to protect — you stop making it about yourself,” she says. “You show up prepared, collaborative, and easy to work with.”

For Ava, that bigger-picture perspective has become one of the most valuable parts of her career. Knowing what happens on the other side of the table has taught her what helps a production move forward — and what can get in the way.

That understanding of people and collaboration is especially fitting for Ava’s latest role. In The Razor’s Edge, she plays the daughter of Paul Ben-Victor’s character, a relationship shaped by love, obligation and the complicated things families leave unsaid. It is that messiness that makes the role so compelling for her. The love, unmet needs and things families choose to sweep under the rug create the kind of emotional space Ava is drawn to explore. Father-daughter relationships, in particular, are endlessly interesting to her. The film also gives her the chance to work alongside a cast that includes Franco and Tommy Lee Jones, adding another layer of excitement to the project.

Finding strength in messiness

Ava’s attraction to complicated, resilient characters extends beyond this particular role. She gravitates toward women who are forced to dig deeper than they thought possible and discover strength they did not know they had. That philosophy mirrors the way Ava approaches her own ambitions. She describes herself as a dreamer who reaches for things even when she is not sure they are possible, then finds a way to make them happen anyway. She laughs while recalling a phrase she recently encountered: “Delusional Enough to be Successful.”

There is more truth in it than she might have expected. For Ava, pursuing an unfamiliar goal often means relying on imagination and confidence before there is any guarantee of success. That willingness to take the leap is part of what she admires in both real people and the characters she chooses to play.

Why Atlanta feels like home to Ava

Ava’s life has taken her from New York to Atlanta, but the move has not meant leaving New York behind. Her family is still there, giving her a reason to return whenever she needs a dose of the city she grew up with. Atlanta, however, has offered something different — and increasingly, something that feels like home.

But the biggest surprise has been the city’s film community. The opportunities in Georgia have exceeded her expectations, and she and her husband have felt energized by the industry that continues to grow around them. Their son is in a great school, they have built relationships with other families, and Ava describes Atlanta as a city where “something is always happening, always growing.”

For a family building both a life and a career, that energy has been hard to resist. She sees that same momentum throughout Atlanta’s film industry. Diverse locations, world-class studios, an experienced crew base and Georgia’s tax incentive all contribute to the city’s competitiveness. But for Ava, the people are just as important as the infrastructure.

When she is not working, Ava has already found a few Atlanta favorites. One is Delbar in Inman Park, a Middle Eastern restaurant she discovered after seeing it featured in an American Express commercial she worked on. The food, atmosphere and flavors immediately made an impression, and she says the Michelin-recommended restaurant deserves the recognition it has received.

A cause close to home

Away from film sets and Atlanta restaurants, one of Ava’s biggest passions is a little different, but just as close to her heart. Her two rescue dogs, Ruby and Cha Cha made her fall in love with animal rescue. That connection to animal rescue deepened when she volunteered at Tift Animal Rescue while filming in South Georgia. Ava continues to encourage people to support the organization, which she describes as being run by two incredibly dedicated women. Whether that means donating, sharing posts about animals in need or simply helping spread the word, she believes every bit of support matters. You can follow them @tiftanimalrescue or @friendsoftiftanimalshelter.

For Ava, the cause feels personal. Her career may take her across the country and onto increasingly high-profile sets, but her connection to the animals and people she encounters along the way remains grounded in something simple: showing up and helping where she can.

What comes next

There is no shortage of projects keeping Ava busy. The Razor’s Edge is at the top of her list, and she is eager for audiences to see the film. Beyond that, she has an upcoming project with A24 and a Netflix feature she cannot yet discuss in detail. At home, the creative partnership with her husband is continuing to grow as well. He is working on a psychological thriller he wrote and hopes to produce in the coming year, and Ava is excited to support him both creatively and behind the scenes.

For someone who has spent her life creating — from preschool pageants and backyard gymnastics shows to film sets and production meetings — the next chapter seems to be a natural continuation of everything that came before.