Vanessa von Schwarz on Playing Villains and Building a Career in Vertical Dramas

Vanessa von Schwarz’s villain roles have made her stand out in the vertical drama space. But her story also includes early dreams of acting, film school, and a growing interest in telling stories from behind the camera.

For many vertical drama viewers, Vanessa von Schwarz is the face of the character they love to hate. Whether she's playing a scheming rival, a manipulative cheer queen, or an antagonist determined to stand in the way of a happy ending, she has built a reputation for bringing memorable villains to life on screen.

Her performance in "Cheer Queen Returns to Slay" even earned her a nomination for Villain of the Year at the 2025 Vertical Drama Love Fan Awards.

Off screen, however, von Schwarz is quick to point out that she has little in common with the characters that made her famous. The actress describes herself as a storyteller and "chaotic optimist," someone who is just as interested in directing and creating stories as she is in performing them.

A Childhood Dream

Unlike some actors who discover their passion later in life, von Schwarz says she always knew what she wanted to do.

During an interview in July 2025, she recalled feeling drawn to acting from an early age and never seriously questioning whether it was the right path for her:

Born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, von Schwarz is of German, Mexican, and Native American heritage. She later moved with her family to Texas before eventually pursuing her acting career in Los Angeles.

Her interest in performance started early. Alongside acting, she studied piano and ballet and participated in gymnastics and cheerleading, experiences she credits with helping shape her discipline and work ethic.

As her career developed, she expanded her interests beyond acting alone. Von Schwarz studied film production at the New York Film Academy and has said she became increasingly interested in storytelling from behind the camera as well.

Finding Vertical Dramas

Von Schwarz entered the vertical drama world in 2023, though not entirely by design.

She recalled receiving an audition involving an alpha wolf storyline and having little idea what the rapidly growing format actually was.

What began as a single opportunity soon turned into a steady stream of projects and opened a new chapter in her career.

One of her earliest vertical roles was in "Señorita Playing With Fire," which she described as her first lead role in the format. More projects quickly followed, including appearances in titles such as "The Quarterback Next Door," "Your Husband Is Mine," "His Love Was a Lie," and "Cheer Queen Returns to Slay."

Looking back, she credits the format with helping transform her professional life.

She has also witnessed the industry's rapid growth firsthand and believes the format continues to attract stronger talent, bigger productions, and new audiences.

Understanding the Villain

Although von Schwarz has played a variety of characters, audiences often associate her with villains.

Her nomination for Villain of the Year reflects just how frequently viewers remember the characters she portrays. Yet she approaches antagonists differently than many people might expect.

Rather than seeing villains as simply cruel or malicious, she looks for the motivations beneath their behavior.

"They're not acting this way just to be mean. It's coming from a place of hurt or insecurity or not feeling like they're enough," she said.

That perspective allows her to bring empathy to even the most difficult characters. Instead of judging them, she tries to understand them. Even when audiences are rooting against them, von Schwarz searches for the humanity underneath their actions.

At the same time, she laughs at the contrast between her screen persona and her real-life personality. Asked how she became so convincing at playing mean girls, she jokingly credited part of her preparation to growing up with a sister before adding that she also drew inspiration from difficult people she encountered in real life.

Learning Through the Work

Like many actors working in vertical dramas, von Schwarz has had to adapt to the format's demanding pace.

Productions often move quickly, requiring actors to make strong creative choices with limited preparation time. Rather than seeing that as a challenge, she views it as an opportunity to sharpen her instincts.

The experience has reinforced an acting philosophy she often shares with aspiring performers: don't wait for permission to practice your craft.

One piece of advice that stayed with her came from an acting teacher who encouraged students to "make yourself feel like an actress." For von Schwarz, that means continuing to learn lines, study scenes, and develop skills even when she is not actively working on a project.

She also credits acting with helping her overcome self-doubt and gain confidence over the years.

Reflecting on advice she would give her younger self, she said:

She believes many of the negative thoughts people carry about themselves are far less true than they seem.

Looking Beyond Acting

While acting remains her primary focus, von Schwarz has broader ambitions as a storyteller.

Having studied film production and directed short-form projects, she hopes to eventually direct both vertical dramas and traditional films.

For now, she continues building her résumé as one of the familiar faces in the vertical drama space, bringing memorable antagonists to life while expanding her skills behind the scenes.

And while audiences may know her best for the characters who cause chaos, von Schwarz remains optimistic about what comes next—for both her own career and the industry she has become part of.

As vertical dramas continue to evolve, she hopes to keep growing alongside them, whether that's as an actress, a storyteller, or eventually a director calling the shots from behind the camera.