'There Are No Limits to Anything': Volodymyr Pielikh on Acting, Art, and Constant Growth (Exclusive)

In an exclusive interview with Vertical Drama Explorer, the actor discusses upcoming projects, dream comedy roles, visual art, life across more than 40 countries, and the mindset that continues to drive his growth on and off screen.

Volodymyr Pielikh has built a growing presence in the vertical drama world, appearing in a steady stream of romance, revenge, and action-driven stories. But when he reflects on his career so far, the Ukrainian actor says he is still focused on one thing above all else: growth.

Whether he's learning new acting techniques, studying stage combat, developing his visual art, or preparing for upcoming productions, Pielikh approaches each opportunity with the belief that there is always more to learn.

That drive for self-improvement has helped shape a career that stretches well beyond acting. The Los Angeles-based performer speaks five languages, holds a master's degree in computer en›gineering, has traveled extensively across the globe, and continues to pursue painting and sculpture alongside his screen work.

As he embarks on a new project in Europe and awaits the release of several previously completed productions, Pielikh says the journey is only beginning.

On New Projects and New Challenges

Pielikh revealed that he is set to begin filming a new vertical drama in Europe in June.

"I'm starting a new project on June 17th in Europe," he told Vertical Drama Explorer. "It will be a vertical, about lawyers. That's all I can tell for now."

The actor, whose recent verticals include “The Summer I Turned My Sexiest,” “Boss, She Said No Again,” "My Obsessive Mafia Husband," and “When Forever Fell Apart,” also said several previously filmed projects are expected to be released soon, including one that stands out among the rest.

"There's one particular with GammaTime I'm excited the most about," he said.

When asked what makes that project special, Pielikh didn't hide his enthusiasm.

"First of all, I love working with GammaTime. They have very good stories, good team, it's always a pleasure," he said. "This story is very, very good. I teared up 3 times when I read the script for the first time."

According to Pielikh, the role pushed him into territory he had never explored before.

"I've never played that kind of character before, but my religious background helped me a lot," he said.

Pielikh, who grew up in a conservative Pentecostal church, added, "As you can guess, the show has something to do with religion. It's a beautiful story. I can't wait to watch how it turned out."

Learning Through Every Role

While new projects continue to arrive, Pielikh says one of the biggest changes over the last few years has been his own development as an actor.

"I definitely improved my acting skills," he said. "Had some challenging scenes I had to adapt and go deeper within myself for those emotions needed for the scene."

The actor credits experience with teaching him not only how to perform, but how to function as part of a larger team.

"I now understand how everything works on set," he explained. "It's one big organism and every single person is a valuable player, no matter if you're a lead actor or you're a grip, camera assistant, or you're in charge of the crafty."

Behind the scenes of "Dumped by a Cheater, Sppiled by a Billiionaire" with Abigail Fawn and the crew | Source: instagram/volodymyrpielikh

That perspective has given him a deeper appreciation for every department involved in production.

Pielikh also says the work has helped him improve his accent while boosting his confidence and self-worth.

His growth doesn't stop when filming wraps. The actor regularly studies performances in films and television shows, analyzing characters and imagining how he might react in similar situations.

"Knowledge is power," he said.

"I Belong Everywhere, but Nowhere"

Long before audiences began recognizing him from vertical dramas, Pielikh spent years traveling and living in different countries around the world.

Much of that travel came through his modeling career, which he says supported him for more than 15 years.

"I'm obsessed with traveling the world, and this career made a lot of my dreams come true," he said. "I've seen rare places, places that are hard to get to, beautiful parts of the world."

Pielikh jokingly added that those experiences made his "adventurous Aquarius soul very happy."

Today, he speaks Ukrainian, Russian, English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and says those experiences fundamentally changed the way he sees people and cultures.

"I feel like I can better understand different cultures, which makes me be patient and compassionate to foreigners and have respect for their lifestyles," he said.

The experience has also left him with a complicated sense of belonging:

The actor explained that he has visited or lived in more than 40 countries, sometimes for extended periods, and has absorbed perspectives from countless people and cultures along the way.

"I can understand and justify their behaviors, based on their cultural backgrounds, religions etc.," he said. "Some of them are close-minded, some are more liberal and open. I see and understand where it's coming from, that's why I try not to judge."

For Pielikh, those experiences helped him become adaptable and comfortable in different environments.

"I can be flexible and find a common ground with anyone, integrate quickly, and even try to love their lifestyle, and it's actually fun," he said.

At the same time, he acknowledges that constantly moving between cultures has left him feeling difficult to place within any one identity.

"I absorbed a lot of different habits, beliefs, points of view, mentalities, and it's hard for me to relate to a particular place or nation," he said. "Because even Ukrainians, my own people, often don't understand the way I think, while I fully understand them."

The Funny Side Audiences Haven't Seen Yet

Despite playing numerous CEOs, romantic leads, and powerful characters, Pielikh believes viewers still haven't seen one of his biggest strengths.

According to the actor, comedy has long been one of the areas where he feels most confident.

"All my teachers in my acting schools I attended said I make a 'great clown' in a good way," he said. "I know it's my strong side and I'm excited to share it with the audience when opportunity arises."

When asked what his dream comedy role would look like, Pielikh immediately imagined a Hollywood satire.

"I see myself playing an actor or a director in the Hollywood satire," he said, citing shows such as "The Studio," "Californication," and "Entourage" as examples.

Rather than relying on exaggerated performances, he says the humor would come from the situations themselves.

"It will be funny just because of how actors react on those situations and decisions they are making within those circumstances," he said. "Showing how messy and dirty this business can be, especially when everything goes wrong."

The Stories He Still Wants to Tell

Pielikh has also become increasingly vocal about wanting to see vertical dramas expand into a wider range of genres.

"If I could create my own vertical, first of all the script should be good and original," he said.

While many vertical dramas continue to focus on familiar romance and revenge formulas, the actor hopes audiences will eventually see more ambitious storytelling.

Among the genres he would most like to explore are spy thrillers, ensemble action stories, emotionally grounded dramas, comedies, and historical epics.

To illustrate the type of projects he enjoys, Pielikh pointed to films such as "Bullet Train," "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," and "Snatch" as examples of the action-comedy energy he would love to bring into the vertical format.

He also cited "Seven Pounds," "Revolutionary Road," and "The Pursuit of Happyness" as examples of emotionally powerful dramas, while naming historical films such as "Braveheart," "Kingdom of Heaven," "Gladiator," and "Saving Private Ryan" among the stories that continue to inspire him.

"All of these genres are currently avoided by the vertical platforms," he said, "but I strongly believe it's just a matter of time when they will start including more and more genres."

Creativity Beyond Acting

Away from the camera, Pielikh continues to devote significant time to visual art.

"I love and appreciate beauty of a human body," he said. "Therefore, I like to sculpt and paint female and male bodies.I think we all are art pieces created by nature."

This figurative sculpture he calls "Muse" is among Pielikh's favorite works, reflecting a recurring theme in his art: the human body as a form of natural beauty and expression.| Source: Volodymyr Pielikh

Among his favorite pieces, which he shared with Vertical Drama Explorer, are figurative paintings and sculptures, a Batman bust created as a gift for a close friend, and an experimental mixed-media piece featuring an Air Jordan sneaker sculpture integrated into a painted landscape.

"Dark Knight," a sculpture of Batman's torso, was created by Pielikh as a birthday gift for his best friend who is a devoted fan of the iconic superhero. | Source: Volodymyr Pielikh

The latter reflects a new creative direction he has recently begun exploring.

"I also started experimenting with mixed pop art recently, integrating my sculptures into paintings," he said.

The process, however, has not been without challenges.

"I ended up making lots of mistakes and had to start over and over until I figured out the right way," he said.

An Air Jordan 1 sculpture is integrated into a painted landscape in one of Pielikh's favorite mixed-media works he named "Illusion" | Source: Volodymyr Pielikh

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For Pielikh, the creative experience is often deeply immersive.

"When I make art — the process takes me somewhere else," he explained.

Pielikh's oil pastel, "Woman of Color," showcases his fascination with the beauty of the human body | Source: Volodymyr Pielikh

This oil pastel, known as "Gold," is also among the pieces Pielikh shared with Vertical Drama Explorer, reflecting his ongoing exploration of the human form. | Source: Volodymyr Pielikh

Looking Toward the Future

While Pielikh remains focused on the opportunities in front of him, he also sees each project as part of a larger journey.

To prepare for future roles, he continues to expand his skill set beyond traditional acting training.

He is currently studying stunt work, stage combat, and sword fighting in Los Angeles, with plans to eventually learn archery and horseback riding as well.

"I'm obtaining new skills that will help me in my career and make me stand out," he said.

Pielikh believes the experience he is gaining today is helping prepare him for what comes next.

"I have a feeling it's prepping me for a big screen," he said. "I'm very excited about my career and my future in general."

Looking ahead, he hopes to work on major television productions and feature films, collaborate with acclaimed directors and actors, and see his artwork displayed in galleries and in high demand.

"Every scene I'm doing, every show or film I wrap — there's always growth in every moment of it," he said.

For Pielikh, that philosophy ultimately comes down to a simple belief: