Today we’d like to introduce you to Elisha Moore.
Hi Elisha, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My journey as an actress/artist started when I was a child. My mum is a kindergarten teacher, so I was fortunate to have always been encouraged to be creative. In kindergarten I spent hours putting on different costumes and playing out different imaginary characters and circumstances. I was a child who could never sit still and I rarely did what I was told. At an early age my mum was informed by doctors that I had a learning disorder. Finally at the end of my schooling I was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia. Early in my school life a teacher suggested to my mum to enroll me into dance or gymnastics classes and it was from there that my passion for the arts developed.
I’m grateful that my mum was able to pay for me to attend dance class and gymnastics a couple of nights a week after school, even though it was tough financially, as she was a single parent who worked only part time. During my dance classes I got more involved with the acting aspects of performance, even doing some improvisation classes as well. I auditioned for local theatre companies doing musicals like Annie and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, for which I loved being cast as Veruca Salt! My mum was a big supporter helping guide me with my dyslexia. Over time I’ve found new ways to navigate the challenges associated with dyslexia as they impact on so many aspects of my life and my craft. For example when I do the first table read of a script, along with the director and all the other members of the cast, I struggle to read the text at the correct pace with the other voices. Luckily I’ve reached a point in my life where I now embrace my dyslexia and I no longer feel embarrassed by it.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My journey in the performing arts has certainly not been a smooth one as there have been many challenges and struggles. One significant struggle has been financing the acting training that I have done. During my formal schooling I embraced every opportunity to engage in subjects involving all forms of the arts and I then completed a two year Diploma of Theatre Arts. While studying it has always been a challenge to find enough time to study and enough time to work in order to earn money to just survive. It took several years of working a number of different jobs to earn sufficient money for my acting training in Australia and my two years of acting training in Los Angeles at Stella Adler Academy of Acting. While an important means to an end, working and earning money to fund my training, did often involve me having to spend time away from my craft.
Many other significant struggles have stemmed from my dyslexia and ADHD. As mentioned earlier I find table reads alongside other cast members and the Director quite challenging and I am totally out of my depth when doing auditions that involve a ‘cold read’ of a script. On more than one occasion I have had to convince a director of my ability to learn a script and complete the necessary work in order to develop a character in the available time frame. The upside of this however has been the way I work incredibly hard to learn my lines, develop the character and in doing this I have learnt to trust myself as a performer and my process as an actor.
Over a number of years I have sought out reputable journals and texts, psychologists and other professionals, to learn ways to mitigate the impacts of my dyslexia as much as possible. I have put this knowledge into practice by doing the required ‘work on myself’ before doing anything else. It has paid dividends, as it has led to an increase in my self awareness and personal development.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a trained actress for both film and stage. I also have experience in performing dance and circus skills. I specialize in being a lead actor in narrative drama films and theatre. I have been cast in several short films including some that have earned me awards. Some of my most successful films have been Wild Rumpus, Chocodos, Earworm, Sitcom, I am Natalie and Live a Little, Die a Lot.
I’m very proud of how much I have grown as an actor. I believe one of my most significant achievements was when I performed the lead role of Nora in A Doll’s House Part 2, last year. I was on stage for the entire ninety minute performance and delivered a large part of the dialogue. I dedicated myself fully to this role and worked everyday on learning my lines and developed the character fully by creating past memories and the backstory.
I feel that I am a bit unique in the industry in that I have trained at so many different institutions and learned a variety of different acting techniques.
I am an incredibly positive never give up kind of person. I am truly grateful to be in a position where I am able to tell stories and move people deeply. I love the work that I do.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Life is full of uncertainty and this is especially true for actors. Each time I submit an audition I attempt to make bold and interesting choices, so this involves an element of risk. It is making a choice to try to stand out, by not playing it safe. I firmly believe that in order to grow you need to constantly be challenging yourself to go outside your comfort zone. Anytime you do this there are risks involved, but you stand to learn big lessons, including learning lessons about yourself and your capabilities.
I have certainly learnt so much from a risky decision I made to move halfway across the world from Melbourne Australia to Los Angeles USA, to take up a part scholarship to Stella Adler Academy of Acting. I had to first save for five years to have sufficient money behind me as I was required to travel to the US on a student visa, which did not allow me work while undertaking the course. So I had to effectively put my performing arts career on hold while I worked to fund my relocation to a new country.
However, on the flip side, once in LA, I did enjoy the opportunity to focus solely on my acting studies in order to get the absolute maximum out of the course.
I strongly believe that the risk that I took to relocate halfway across the world, will in time pay me back in spades!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @elishajademoore
- Facebook: Elisha Moore
Image Credits
yiana pandelis – photographer – headshot
