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As her son is now in grade-school age and no longer in diapers, soap actress and high stakes poker player Farah Galfond Is ready to return to the poker world?
Galfond, a former daytime drama star Days of Our Lives You can also find out more about the following: One Life to Live Who is married with a poker coach Phil Galfond, with a new focus on tournaments, is on track for more playing than she’s done in years.
Galfond recently appeared in the first episode PokerNews’ New Zealanders are able to purchase new cars. podcast Life Outside PokerThis book is a collection of stories about poker players who have achieved success in their lives and careers outside poker.
Early Acting Career
Galfond, who was born Farah Fadd and named after the famous actress Farrah Fawcett, described growing up in Lexington, Kentucky during her early childhood as “a pretty stereotypical Southern experience” that included beauty pageants and local theater.
She said, “In ninth grade I loved drama so badly (that) I begged my mother to take me to Hollywood as an actress.” “And thankfully, her naivety was enough to think we could do that.”
Galfond’s mom didn’t realize that moving to California would be a “serious thing”. She received her first offer from an agency at the age of 8 when she attended a Hollywood convention. Her mom was with her when she returned to that convention in the summer following her freshman year.
Galfond met an agent the same summer who booked her only audition.
“I got super lucky. The first audition I was sent on was for Days of Our LivesI watched it with my babysitter, my grandmother and I knew all the characters. My babysitter and grandmother watched the show, and I recognized all the characters. I also knew the character that I was auditioning for, Mimi Lockhart, because it was an recast.”
“So I already saw this girl.” It was a great advantage for me because I understood the storyline. In my audition, I showed a lot more enthusiasm. By enthusiasm, I meant I was giddy with excitement because I couldn’t wait to be there. In hindsight, it’s easy to see why that worked because my character was like a blabbermouth.”
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Discovering Poker in New York City
Galfond, who played Mimi Lockhart for eight years on the iconic television drama between 1999-2007, decided to leave to pursue other projects. She said it was “a much easier decision than done.”
“I had booked some movies during my time on the show, but I wasn’t approved for any of them. So I stopped trying to do things on the side, and I thought, well, let’s see what I can accomplish.” On my last day, I went to my car to cry and bawl. I was in my car crying and asking myself “what did I do?”
After three months of auditioning, Galfond landed a role â one written specifically for her â on another soap opera, One Life to LiveIt was this move that led her to New York City. Galfond learned Texas Hold’em here.
“I didn’t know anyone except the cast and crew on One LifeThey would play home games in people’s homes, and different people would host them. I was invited to a home game and I knew how to play five-card draw because my father taught me as a child. But I didn’t know the betting. I had to learn that on the spot. I was a complete walrus. “I didn’t know what i was doing, but i had so much fun.”
Galfond began playing poker more seriously at Atlantic City. One Life to Live The program was cancelled in 2011. She moved to LA and began playing more poker since she was no longer employed.
“I would play the Commerce, as if it were super low stakes cash.” “I followed Phil on twitter and the rest, as they say, is history.”
Life with Phil
Farah first remembers Phil’s poker game on the show “Poker Show”. High Stakes Poker. “I liked him. I liked his dry, understated humor.
Farah and her husband, who married in 2015, had Spencer in 2018. She learned that the positive traits of her husband at the poker table translated into fatherhood.
“He’s what you’d expect him to be as a father.” He’s cool and a great dad, but is also very aware and sensitive to emotions and feelings. He wants Spencer feel safe and secure to express what he feels.
“Phil comes a family of great people, so I was sure he’d be a good father.” It’s a joy to see him with Spencer.”
Farah also credits Phil – a poker trainer whose parents were teachers – with taking her game up a notch.
“Everything I am is because of him.” I think that when we were dating, we spent a lot of time playing cards and eating chips at home. “I have learned so much from him over the years. I am like a spongy sponge.”
“I’m the player I am now a lot because I want it to be.” But it’s mainly because of him.”
After years of playing low and mid stakes, Galfond began playing some of Las Vegas’ biggest cash games.
“I played $5/$10 at first, then $10/$20. Then I went up to $5/$10 again and beat them all. My high-stakes stint began then. It was probably 2017 and I played for two years before Spencer came along. I played as much as $2,000/$4,000 No-limit.”
“And then yeah…once I had my child, it all just kind of stopped.” After he was born, I desperately tried to find my place in poker. I tried many things that didn’t work. “I thought I would continue where I left the high-stakes scene of cash games and that proved extremely stressful.”
Find Calm in Tournaments
Galfond felt guilty leaving her child to play cash games but she didn’t feel the same guilt when playing tournaments.
Cash games gave me anxiety, and I couldn’t figure out why. I had only played them for the past four or five years. When you have a kid and are playing cash games, it’s easy to put pressure on yourself because you can get up at any time.
“I was like, Let me figure out a way to play poker regularly and not feel so anxious. I decided to play in tournaments since you can stay until you lose. The pressure to get up and go home will be relieved because I’m forced to stay until all my chips are gone. It worked out fine. “So, last January, I decided to just play tournaments in this year.”
Galfond, who has successfully shifted her focus to tournaments for 2023, said that she is on track to continue playing poker this year.
“I am putting in as much volume right now as I can, being a mother. I’m curious about how this year will end up. So far we are down a bit, but still early.”
Raising the Next Galfonds Robls and Koons
Galfond’s number one priority is taking care of her son. She is not the only one. Many of her closest friends from the high-stakes world of poker, like Andrew Robl You can also find out more about the following: Jason Koon, is at a Similar life stages.
“It is a very special time in our life. We’re all poker players now and we share this in common. And now, we are raising these kids. The next generation: the baby Robls, the babies Koons, and the baby Galfonds. It’s special. I can’t think of moving now that we are all so close.
Galfond, reflecting on her acting career and Hollywood revelations during the Me Too campaign, says she doesn’t want her child to follow in her footsteps. But what if he grew up and became a poker pro? She doesn’t have a problem with it.
“I’d be more supportive of him if he wanted to become an actor. His parents, especially Daddy, are very knowledgeable about the world. We’ll help Daddy do it right …., but I would support that more than him wanting him to be an actor.”
Head to YouTube Watch the full interview with Farah Gaflund, which was filmed in Todd Brunson’s Roma Deli in Las Vegas.
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