Meet Ell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ell.

Ell, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
When I was a little kid, I wanted to be an actor, but I didn’t think that was realistic, so I decided to be a musician (I’m not sure why I thought that would be any easier). I started doing more theatre in junior high and high school, and at a certain point I thought “Well, why can’t I do this?” And I didn’t want to be 60 and wondering what would have happened if I had tried.

After getting a BA in Theatre Arts and Music from Lawrence University, I moved to LA. One of the first things I did was get a modeling agent. I didn’t know anyone in LA, so I set my camera on a timer and took a few photos of myself that I sent to agencies. I had never modeled before, but I figured it would be a good way to get my foot in the door in the industry in general. My first agency got me off to a good start, and these days I’m able to get more acting than modeling work. Although it’s not my main focus, music is still a great passion of mine. I’m a classically trained singer and last year I released my first original song: “La Pucelle d’Orléans.” This year I’m releasing another as of yet untitled original song (in Mandarin!) that I wrote with Curt Barlage of Respectful Lust Records.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I don’t know that the road of a creative is ever a smooth one. One struggle that is probably common to most artists has been figuring out who I am and what I want and how to stay true to that. It’s easy to come to LA as a young, impressionable person with endless possibilities and get lost in it. When I was just starting out, I think I was too concerned with how other people saw me and what they wanted for me and I got a little sidetracked from what I wanted for myself. I feel like it’s only within the last year or two that I’ve gotten clear about what I want… though who knows, perhaps a few years down the road I’ll remember myself now and think that I still didn’t have a clear vision. Balance is also hard on a number of levels. Balancing work and relationships, balancing the time spent paying the bills and pursuing creative endeavors that might not pay anything, balancing “the hustle” with recreational time and not feeling guilty about it. And honestly, one of my biggest struggles has been being a severe introvert. In a business that centers around building relationships, meeting people, making connections… It’s tough.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m an actor, musician, and model. I moved out here for film and television, but I’ve done a variety of things, Some of the most notable productions I’ve been a part of are the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival, Lifetime’s Glam Masters, YouTube Originals’ Escape the Night, and Jimmy Kimmel Live! What people seem to most remember me for is my singing. I’m trained to sing opera, so most people don’t expect that kind of a voice to come out of a wispy, elfin-looking person. I’m also particularly good at playing robots. Or non-humans in general. Most of my roles in the past few years have been non-humans. I’m also just… really weird. I’m not infrequently described as a robot alien. No wonder I don’t often play humans anymore.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Oh geez, I don’t know. Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi. Some of my earliest memories are of Star Wars and it not-so-secretly-anymore made me want to become an actor in the first place.

Contact Info:

• Website: justell.org
• Instagram: instagram.com/iamelllee

Image Credit:
Alexis Evelyn, John Travis, Joon Song, James III Green, Blu Phiv Photography, Brian Lovelace

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