Today we’d like to introduce you to Elina Golde.
Hi Elina, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born in the former Soviet Union and immigrated with my family to Finland at the age of five. I started my ballet training in Helsinki and trained to be a professional ballerina.
I got my first contract at 19 with the Finnish National Ballet. Two years later I was offered a contract with the world-renowned American Ballet Theatre as the first dancer from Finland.
I danced with ABT for many years, toured the world and worked with well-known choreographers and coaches.
After my career with ABT, I transitioned to acting in film and TV. I’ve worked with many indie filmmakers as well as on some big TV shows.
I’m a full-time actor, dancer and model working in between NYC and LA. I love what I do and I’m super passionate about my craft. On my free time, I love traveling, spending quality time with friends and family and with my lovingly affectionate Yorkie Poo pup.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve had many injuries in my ballet career so I’d say those were definitely challenging at times. I’ve also lived in four different countries, Russia, Finland, The Netherlands and the U.S, so adjusting to new cultures and languages was challenging and I often felt like an outsider. Dance helped me feel like I belonged somewhere. It gave me a sense of discipline and established my daily routine that I still keep up with in my everyday life.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m now focusing full-time on acting in film and TV. I’d say what sets me apart is my special skills, being a professional ballerina as well as being able to speak three languages fluently (English, Finnish, Russian). When it comes to acting I’m mostly drawn to drama and thriller films and I’d say those are the types of genres I mostly get cast in.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I believe perseverance is extremely important. Setbacks are something we learn from and that eventually push us forward. I also think that high work ethic is important as well as unstoppable drive. Those are the characteristics that have definitely helped me become the person that I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.elinagolde.com
- Instagram: @elina.golde
Image Credits
Christian Carroll Mark Cuddihee Geoff Badner Yuki Paradiso
