Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellen Gerstein
Hi Ellen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I will start when I was a social worker in New York. I had done that for 6 years and liked it. One day when I was in my therapy session I said to my therapist that I had always wanted to be an actress. My therapist, Dr. James Spingarn said to me, well why aren’t you pursuing it. I said I was afraid I wouldn’t succeed. He said doing what you really want to do is success. That changed my life. I went over and auditioned for Lee Strasberg’s acting class and studied with him for 5 years. He was brilliant. I became a member of the actors studio where I continue to work at my craft.. I am passionate about acting!
I was never one to sit on a couch and wait for the phone to ring so I did a lot of theatre here and NY. I also began to write . I wrote two short films that I produced, directed and brought the bagels! One I played a wonderful part in. I realized another passion I had was directing and writing. I still act in TV and films and at the moment I am nip and tucking a solo show that I did many years ago and won many awards for. I plan to put it up soon. I also teach and coach actors and am highly respected for working with actors for script analysis and auditioning among other things. I am excellent working with actors so they become very confident. Quite a while ago I did go to graduate school for psychology at Antioch but was still acting. In my past I was a therapist and had an antique store, did stand up comedy, BUT was still acting. NOW, I act, write, make films and plays and teach and coach. ONWARD!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I thought I had started late, I was 27 and studied for two years before I started to audition… which brought me to 30 which I thought was really late but I just kept going. It was a real challenge finding an agent and manager who really believed in me and that I was connected with and that I love. I would like to produce and direct more of my projects remove the end of this sentence. I do have a wonderful, very special screenplay, Big Al, Hip Hop and Her that is close to my heart and I’m enthusiastic about getting it made.
ONWARD!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I work in all fields, acting, writing, directing, producing and teaching and coaching. I absolutely love filmmaking and acting in films.
I just did a TV show, Lincoln Lawyer, a pilot Erin Foster’s Untitled pilot, and a few films; Rhythm is a Dancer, Life After, Aloha Means I Love You. It’s been a busy time and I am nip and tucking a feature script.
What makes you happy?
Doing what you are passionate about! I am so happy and very blessed to be an actress, writer, director and teacher and coach. I love all of it.
Happiness is also:
My little dog, Frankie the Tooth
Helping people
working on my craft at the Actors Studio
A car that runs
My own little house across from my best friend
Having wonderful friends
Adopting elephants
SUSHI
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ellengerstein.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellengerstein/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/egerstein
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@egerstein/featured
