Rising Stars: Meet Eliza Hackathorn of Inland

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eliza Hackathorn.

Hi Eliza, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was shy and anxious as a child, but acting classes gave me peace – both on stage and with the creative people around me. I loved collaborating, experimenting, tossing out ideas, and laughing at the possibilities. In 7th grade, our class play lead dropped out two days before the performance, and I stepped in. It was pure joy from start to finish. Afterwards, my teacher, tears in his eyes, sincerely thanked me. I was officially hooked.
I dove headfirst into theater, drawn to larger-than-life roles: the Wicked Witch, Fairy Godmother, funny sidekick – any role where I could completely disappear into a character. But then I shot up to 5’9”, and suddenly people noticed me more than my characters. My agent suggested modeling, which I tried, but due to anxiety it soon marked the end of my first foray into the entertainment industry.
Adulthood arrived: I became a lawyer, had three kids, and got married. However, the job was too demanding, and I missed my kids. I also realized I was too collaborative to thrive in that environment, so I taught myself coding and became a data science product manager. Just when I thought life might settle into a plan, my children’s unique needs required me to leave full-time work to care for them.
Being a primary caregiver is the hardest job I’ve ever had, and a few years ago I realized I needed a way to recharge. Taking a local acting class again gave me peace and belonging. I had no expectations – just the chance to be fully present and honest in the moment.
My acting teachers encouraged me to pursue acting professionally. I began auditioning and booking roles, and in a full-circle moment, my inability to work full-time led me back to my first passion. Acting has energized me, restoring the peace, belonging, and mental stimulation I need to be the best caregiver for my kids.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been a winding, unpredictable road. My first challenge came as a young actor: being overly sexualized before I was ready. When people wanted me to model, I gave it a try despite intense anxiety. My peace came from living truthfully in acting circumstances, which meant the worry of how I looked didn’t enter my brain.
Modeling involved mastering angles, posture, and countless other considerations, each one amplifying my anxiety. I could not get my body to look how I, or anyone else, wanted. I booked a few jobs – a billboard, a calendar, a catalogue – but my photos never captured how I felt or how others perceived me. At the same time, I was being pushed into sexualized acting roles instead of the character roles I loved, which chipped away at my passion for acting. Then my family faced struggles, and I felt it was on my shoulders to succeed. All of this led me to give up on acting.
The obstacles I faced in my other careers, culminating with my children’s caregiving needs, are what allowed me to return. But it hasn’t been smooth. I still struggle with unpredictability, especially in commercial auditions with tight turnarounds or in-person requirements. Research and preparation remain my anchors, though sometimes family needs prevent me from fully preparing.
I also encounter people who assume my life should look like theirs – that if I truly loved acting, I should prioritize every project. I have focused fully on my career at times: flying back east for a project, doing multi-day shoots in LA, and rushing to in-person auditions during rush hour. But I’ve also turned down auditions, requested hard-outs, and asked for extra notice when possible to arrange childcare. Caring for children with unique needs means, unless someone else is fully in charge of them, schedules are only wish lists. Predictability is a privilege, and if someone does not grasp that, helping them understand is one challenge I do not have time for.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am foremost an actor. My work is about living authentically and following my instincts fully, so my collaborators and the audience share in an honest experience. Drawing on my background as a lawyer and product manager, I start with intense research and preparation. Once I’m on set or on stage, I let it go and respond in the moment.
Something I am known for is thriving on new directions and unexpected challenges, which is why I love callbacks and working under pressure. Notes, suggestions, or limitations excite me – they’re opportunities to explore and discover in the moment what I’m going to do.
I’ve applied this process across projects, including the upcoming series pilot Lonely Boy by Green Dolphin Productions, where my character is a police detective. I went on a ride-along with a female officer and learned the car crash calculations a detective would need for a hit-and-run, all of which helped me respond authentically on set when surprises popped up.
I’ve expanded into writing, directing, and producing because my creativity has returned tenfold. Life experience – as a mother, wife, lawyer, problem solver, student, teacher, and more – lets me adapt quickly and continue building the shared experiences I’m constantly chasing, whether or not I have a booked job.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I wish I had understood earlier what an acting process really is. At first, it felt abstract. I didn’t grasp how to use emotional recall, movement exercises, or other prep routines my childhood teacher taught. After studying with numerous teachers, I understood that an acting process is about discovering how you perform best and finding a way to get yourself into that space.
For me, performing my best means fully convincing myself the scene is actually happening. Other actors might be able to pretend, and knowing what works for you is essential. Once you do, you can choose the techniques that get you there, such as building false memories, using substitution, or recalling strong emotions. Sets are often chaotic, so my methods shift with context, but the goal is always the same: achieving the performance the scene needs.
And for actors starting later in life, don’t be afraid. Your confidence, strong morals, and self-knowledge are all assets. Not only is it never too late, sometimes it’s even better because of the wait.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realelizahackathorn
• Other: https://www.visibilis.org/, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm15020632/

Image Credits
Rob Flate, Andy Rooney