Hi friends!
Thank you for visiting the “About Me” section of my site. If you’ve ever had to write a personal statement for a college or job application, you know how difficult this can be, but I shall do my best.
I’m originally from Syracuse, New York…consistently one of the snowiest places in the country. I have fond memories of going trick or treating in a full snowsuit and skiing from October to May! I began acting when I was six. Both of my parents love music and theater, so my Mom had my Sister and I audition for a local production of The King and I. We both got the job, which was very exciting! I made my theatrical debut as the Royal Prince who looks up Mrs. Anna’s skirt to see if her legs are shaped like her hoop skirt. The bit got a laugh every night, and I was hooked! My Sister (even at the ripe old age of eight) was much more pragmatic and pursued a career in math and science. After the King and I, I was cast as the understudy to Oliver in Oliver. The weekend I got to go on was thrilling, and everyone agreed I was the far superior Oliver. At this point, my parents decided to take my love of acting seriously, and enrolled me in voice and dance lessons. I especially loved tap class, much to my parents chagrin, since I was a hyperactive kid with ADD, which led to incessant tapping.
Along with theater, my parents love movies, and introduced me to wonderful old films like Bringing Up Baby, Singing In The Rain, Harvey, Arsenic and Old Lace, and Blazing Saddles. I especially loved the old screwball comedies, and yearned to be like Cary Grant, Mel Brooks, and Gene Kelly. I also was introduced to wonderful BBC sitcoms like Are You Being Served, Keeping Up Appearances, and Waiting For God. We danced in the kitchen to Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, The Beach Boys, and Ella Fitzgerald. My Mom brought me to see The Magic Flute, and to this day I still love opera and classical music.
After continuing to perform in various regional theaters in Upstate NY, I eventually went to Boston University, where I majored in Theatre Arts. Honestly, the best part of college was my year abroad, when I did a marketing internship in Dublin, and then a Shakespeare Intensive at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. I loved living in Ireland and the UK, and I travelled as much as I could over the course of the year. I discovered the joy that is Ryan Air when I flew from Dublin to Venice for $14. From sleeping under a table in a McDonalds in Amsterdam (Because we couldn’t find a hostel) to eating gelato in Tuscany, I developed a passion for travel and adventure.
After graduation I went out to Los Angeles to do an internship with CBS to the learn more about the “business” side of the industry. I ended up in the casting office of CSI: Miami with Nan Dutton. I learned just how much work it is to cast a TV show, but how much fun it can be if you’re with the right people.
Since then I’ve worked as a professional actor and casting assistant in both NYC and LA. I had the pleasure of touring the country as Patsy in the National Tour of Monty Python’s Spamalot, which I booked from a open call! I grew up a huge Monty Python fan, and nearly had a stroke when Eric Idle told me I was “hilarious” after one of our performances in LA.
Eventually I decided I needed more training. I applied to various MFA programs, and ended up going back to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Graduate school was an absolute dream! I grew so much as an actor, but more importantly, as a person. Being an artist, it’s rare to have an opportunity to fully immerse yourself in your craft, and that was exactly what I had the luxury of doing. I focused exclusively on classical text, and deepened my love of Shakespeare and Restoration Comedy (I also can do a pretty impressive British dialect now, and my historical dance skills are truly enviable!) I explored more of Europe, made lifelong friends, and discovered how much I love meat pies!
After receiving my MA, I moved to LA to work with the brilliant Casting Director Melissa DeLizia (Who was the assistant on CSI when I was the intern, and we’ve stayed close friends!). Even though I loved working with Melissa, and our projects were a lot of fun, I missed auditioning and being on stage, so now I’m back in New York, living the proverbial dream. I’ve had the pleasure of working in theaters around the country, and recently completed my first feature film, Milkwater, opposite Molly Bernard and Robin De Jesus.
When I’m not preparing for an audition, I’m probably finding new coffee shops to read in, knitting and watching a BBC show, taking an improv comedy class, or I’m booking a last minute trip someplace. I’ve been to all seven continents, and am always on the lookout for another adventure…that being said, I do highly recommend Antarctica!
Thank you for reading about me. If you’d like to know more, shoot me a message, and we’ll grab a coffee. I love meeting new people, and as anyone who has ever received a voicemail from me knows, I can talk forever!
Have a beautiful day!