Daily Inspiration: Meet Angela Elliston

Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Elliston.

Angela, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey started after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico. The Island is where I was born and raised, although acting was always a hobby for me, I had my whole life planned out and Hollywood was never in the picture. The Hurricane impacted many lives, but for me the hurricane pushed me to New York City. It was there, in the city of dreams, that I began to consider acting as a realistic career choice. I’ve always been good at performing, growing up people always saw the talent in me; through music and the performing arts. But to actually pursue it was like shooting for the stars; it’s unheard of because of how I grew up.

I studied in NYU for a semester and met people that convinced me to stay for a summer where I trained in a studio in Manhattan. I fell in love with the craft and knew almost immediately this was for me, mostly because of how it found me.

I ran away from the dreams for two years when I moved back to Puerto Rico to finish my degree. Graduating during the pandemic, another life-altering event, I signed with a talent agency from Los Angeles impulsively. Not knowing I would book a film within the first two months, the momentum made me move to Los Angeles.

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?
Growing up in Puerto Rico during my time, there weren’t many opportunities in the film industry. It was a small circle and mostly external. So, I never saw a chance for me to even consider it. So I spent most of my childhood and teenage years as a dreamer.

Moving back to Puerto Rico after New York was difficult, I had to choose between finishing my degree and pursuing my training in acting. With that said, I’ve realized that if it’s meant for you, it will come to you one way or another.

Moving sporadically to Los Angeles and leaving my home behind in itself was a huge challenge. Adapting to the culture and the distance. I now understand why so many people give up halfway when they move to another country to pursue a career, homesickness is a real thing. It can lead to depression, but I am trying hard to make friends, network, focus on my training and auditioning like crazy. For example, sometimes I find myself memorizing my lines for an audition in a laundromat on a Friday night, it can be lonely, but I know I’m not alone and there are many more like me in this city.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m an actress, model and writer.

I booked a short film last summer (2022) produced by Eva Longoria and Bobby Soto. I had never been to LA before that. I remember looking out my hotel window after a day on set and seeing the Hollywood sign for the first time in my life, I looked at it and said “I’m coming back for ya”.

I’m currently training with amazing acting coaches here in the city and working closely with my manager Maria Stuart to continue expanding myself. I’m training in stunt work, martial arts, singing and equestrian. As well as working with amazing acting coaches.

I’m also writing scripts. During my time in NYU, I was actually studying creative writing. I’m always writing, and an actor friend of mine told me to start writing scripts, he said “We need more female writers, and you’re that, being Latina is a bonus”. Stay tuned for what I got coming up…!

I’ve also been training in Muay Thai and boxing for a few years, so when I moved to LA not only did I make sure to continue, but also get myself into stunt training. Of course, I do my own stunts! I definitely want to be the female Latina Tom Cruise, doing my own stunts, telling amazing stories, empowering other women and just inspire!

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I’ve always had the “jump off the cliff” and “pushing down the doors” mentality. And especially, the “just do it and think about it later”. It has worked for me, I am certain some things could have turned out better for me if I was more calculated in the past, but I just try to learn from it and keep moving forward.

I took the risk to move to New York City after Hurricane Maria, was it glamorous at first? Well, if you consider couch surfing and working at juice bars glam then yes. I threw myself to the offices at NYU until someone paid attention to me. Until I got accepted and provided housing. I am forever grateful to NYU for the opportunity during those hard times.

I took the risk to move impulsively to Los Angeles, did I sleep in a motel on the highway with a pocket knife under my pillow the first two nights? Yes. I would eat lunch with my manager at the agency. I didn’t know anybody!

Expect the unexpected when taking a risk. But the journey will be a fun story to tell. I always tell my friends, if you think about it too much you will miss the opportunity. If you feel it in your gut, just believe the Universe has your back, and just jump! Things always have a way of working out.

Image Credits
– Stillbrazy (for the main picture) – The group picture is from Mundo (2022) taken by Victor Alex Barco – The close up of me is a still taken by Swashbucklerstudio – The one with intense eyeliner is a still from a music video