Today we’d like to introduce you to Eliza Gerontakis.
Hi Eliza, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece and have always been involved in theater, music, singing and art in general. My father is a conductor and composer and my mother was an architect and classically-trained flutist. My Greek-American high school and some amazing teachers I’ve had have definitely shaped my career and influenced my life choices. I’d always been involved with my school’s extracurricular activities (Drama Club, Duet Acting, Chorale, Oral Interpretation of Literature). I got my masters in Architectural engineering before inevitably switching paths and studying acting at the National Theater of Greece, the country’s most renowned drama school in Athens. Upon graduating, I worked in theater and TV in Athens for three years before moving to Los Angeles in 2016 to pursue acting on screen.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been a bumpy road for sure! Choosing to pursue a career as an actor was a defining moment in my life, losing my mother in my early 20s was another one, and deciding to move to the US all by myself was a huge challenge as well. While in Los Angeles, I quickly got a taste of the biggest Hollywood sets as in less than a year, I got cast to be featured in James Grey’s “Ad Astra” as The Singing Face, a hologram in a club on planet Mars. I got to shoot a scene with Brad Pitt, where he walks right up to me singing and anticipated to see this in a movie theater for almost two long years. Realizing that my scene was cut from the final edit was a huge disappointment at the time, but I learned to cope with this – a trait every working actor needs to develop.
However, in every bad there’s good, as I got Taft-Harley’d into SAG-AFTRA – which is a shortcut into joining the screen actor’s union. There have been many obstacles along the way, but also enough milestones to keep me motivated and, ultimately, enjoy the ride. Having a supportive family, really good friends, an incredible agent and manager and, above all, the best husband ever have been some of my secret weapons all along. The most recent challenge I’ve faced was giving birth. Nothing is as hard as being a new parent – so overwhelmingly beautiful and unpredictable!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I work as an actor, singer and voiceover artist. I recently created the short film “Pebble”, currently in the festival circuit. It’s a very personal story about the journey of loss and grief which I wrote, produced and star in. I am most proud of this short film, as I consider it a small miracle that I was able to shoot it during the pandemic and put it out in the world. It feels great to have garnered such attention and to have gotten so many eyes on it. My most recent TV credit was in the show “The Company You Keep” on ABC, where I was co-starring as a soprano that spontaneously sings at a bougie NY rooftop party.
I also shot a music video for Club Zothique’s “Call to Arms”, where I had to sing and dance the first half of the song twice as fast as the original version and the second half backward. This resulted in two cool one-take shots (slow motion and reverse). You could say I specialize in singing, as my casting credits would indicate, but I do not consider myself a musician with the strict sense. I am an avid impersonator, which is how I’ve been entertaining my friends and family since I was a child; that’s my true superpower. I work regularly as a singer and voice actor, recording from my home studio in Woodland Hills and working with clients from all over the world. Being able to speak English, Greek and some French has helped me expand my work to multiple markets around the world.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was always creative as a kid, always painting, singing, and reenacting scenes I’d watch on tv. I’ve always loved my friends, family, traveling and ice cream (still do). We’d spend every summer by the sea, so I grew up swimming, riding my bike and playing outside in the Greek countryside, unsupervised and carefree! Being rather shy while growing up, observing everything and everyone and staying creative was my own way of expressing myself, understanding the world and connecting with people around me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://elizagerontakis.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eliza.gerontakis/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eliza.gerontaki
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9yqX2_kb4HS4qQc80xfvtA
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcOdqr24MYI
Image Credits
1. Brian Love 2. Lorenzo Sisti 3. Karina Logothetis 4. Dorothy Papapostolou 5. Apostolos Papapostolou
