Hometown: I was born and raised in Vancouver on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Education: I spent my first year of university studying acting in Montreal, but quickly realized the style of education wasn’t as rigorous as I wanted, so I auditioned for Studio 58 and was accepted that year. As of this December, I’ve completed my education at Studio, and will be officially graduating in June.
What influenced you to pursue a career in theatre?
My experience with performance art began in dance and singing when I was very small, and I started musical theatre classes when I was nine. I realized early into high school that I wanted to act professionally, and went into my Grade Nine Drama class declaring that. My Drama teacher, who was one of my closest mentors and supporters in high school, said nothing at the time.
Halfway through the year, however, she pulled me aside and told me, “I usually tell my students never to pursue acting, because I don’t want them to be disappointed if things don’t work out, but I’m telling you now to pursue this because I know you can do it.”
It was this, alongside my mother’s continual cheerleading, that helped me realize acting was an actual possibility for me, not a dream. I’m still working on redefining success for myself as creative fulfilment, not financial success, but my support system is consistent in reminding me that I am on the right path.
What do you love about theatre?
I love the community aspect and intimacy of it all. I’ve met most of my closest friends through theatre. As a number of my teachers have said, it’s a temporary art form—after the show’s done, the art disappears, and there’s something very precious about that. This applies pressure to ensure that every night I’m representing my character in the way they need to be represented, but it’s a nice sort of pressure: it feels like an opportunity to honour the character every night.
Typically, I learn so much about my own characters by letting them develop and trying not to control their trajectory before I understand it on my own. This means that often my own characters will surprise me; it feels less like creating a character over the span of a rehearsal process, and more like being on a continual journey to understanding them better and better. If every performance is a conversation between myself and my role, then I can leave feeling creatively fulfilled and like I’ve done my job.
Which plays and musicals were you in, and what were your roles?
Most recently, I performed in my graduating solo show, M.O.S.A.I.C., which I wrote about a character called The Rerunner jumping through fragments of their memory on a journey to reconnect with their inner child. I had the first budding idea for the concept in my first term of Studio, which meant I spent the next three years shaping it and writing snippets and trying to hold off self-doubt. I think I wrote about a dozen different versions of the same concept and maybe five-ten drafts of the final show before finally settling on the writing. I also designed the set, lighting, sound, costumes, and numerous projections of childhood memories, a collection of design elements that made the show one of the most time-consuming, daunting, and gratifying projects I’ve done.
I’ve spent my last three years in acting school, so you may notice a bit of a trend in my other recent roles.
- Lady Capulet in and choreographer of Romeo and Juliet (Studio 58)
- The Politician in The Time Machine (Studio 58)
- Ensemble in We Are Boy Band (Studio 58)
- Young Republican/Swing/Dance Captain in Heathers: The Musical (Studio 58)
- Doctor/Man 1/Priest in and co-choreographer of Linck & Mülhahn (Studio 58)
If you hadn’t become a performer, what might you have pursued professionally?
Creative Writing. I spend much of my free time writing novels, poetry, and plays, and I intend to incorporate writing into my career as much as possible. I think writing and acting check off the same boxes for me: they’re both storytelling mediums that allow me to incorporate my creativity into my work while simultaneously exploring the complexity of human behaviour and representing interesting and unique relationships.
Career goal(s)?
Well, my wildest actor dream is to act in a film adaptation of one of my own novels. I might have to think about trying to publish the novel first, however, which is daunting enough on its own.
My other career goals include:
- Acting in interactive theatre, especially interactive murder mysteries.
- Performing in my own plays.
- Touring in a show across Canada with a cast I adore.
- Continuing to improve my other skills relevant to acting: notably, singing, dancing, choreographing, voice acting, and I’d love to learn more about stunt acting, as well.
- Taking M.O.S.A.I.C. to the Vancouver Fringe.
- Inspiring a little girl to become a performer.
Theatre 604 
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