Rising Stars: Meet Yelizaveta Sorkin of North Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yelizaveta Sorkin.

Hi Yelizaveta, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
When I was a little kid, I was a runner. Not in a cool, sporty sense, no, I would rip my hand out of my parents’ and book it through neighborhoods, theme parks, and especially department stores where I could hide in the middle of circular clothing racks. My poor parents would turn white, trying to navigate a new country, not able to speak a lick of English as we had just emigrated from Ukraine. For whatever reason, at the ripe age of four, I decided to dabble in emotional terrorism. I was rebellious and fearless, and as my mother says, I never looked back.

I can’t explain what on earth was going through my head then, but it’s exactly that spirit that made me run to Los Angeles, when all I ever heard was every reason not to.

My journey here set off at 18 years old, when I got to fully immerse myself in an acting program, and received my BFA in Performing Arts. After graduating, I started a production company with some dear friends and learned to find my voice in many roles beyond acting. I wrote scripts and started producing and found so much joy in the land of pre-production. There’s nothing like building a project from the ground up. Every department I discovered just made me fall more in love with movies, with TV, and with all the talented people that loved it just as much.

It wasn’t until 2020, the locked in months, that I found something that carved into my heart as much as acting. My boyfriend had a project at the time that he couldn’t quite crack in the editing room, so I thought I’d teach myself to edit. You guys, I was so hooked. I couldn’t have thrown myself in to the wonderfully wild world of post-production faster. I was the dumbest person in all the rooms, learned on every job, imposter syndrome through the roof, and I loved every minute.

After many, many years, I feel like I’m somewhat settling into my creative space. I am an actor and I am an editor. And I’m full time, baby!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think we all know the life of a creative is never a smooth road. But I guess we were never in it for that anyway.

I would say being on my own for the first time, navigating a new city, and Hollywood itself, was quite an endeavor as a young woman. I constantly opposed my family’s doubts, as well as my own. I also found out that everyone has an opinion on my appearance, and I had the joy of consistently hearing all the criticisms, from teachers to casting to a friendly commentator, who of course nobody asked, on the corner of Sunset and Vine! I already had a tendency to go to war with my own mind, and Hollywood certainly did not make that any easier. Shocking, I know, but I have learned to rebuild my self-confidence more than a few times. Each of those times has only aligned me further with my body and who I am. For that, I am always grateful, as the war rages on.

There’s no doubt I dealt with my fair share over the years, ranging from painfully embarrassing auditions, laying in the figurative financial ditch, and unfortunately coming across some real-life villains. Sadly, none of these are unique experiences, but that has only inspired me to build a better corner of the industry. One where young women, and creatives in general, feel safe to grow in their artistry.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am proud to be building a production company alongside my now fiancé (yes, the same guy!) to bring many new stories to life. We’ve both been a sort of Jack of all trades in our careers and we’re excited to continue to build our team.

My acting skills span from film to theater, from combat and weapons training to voice-over work. Most recently, you can see me play a pilot on Season 2 of The Rehearsal on HBO, or hear me voice the character Windsong in video game Reverse: 1999. Within the next year, you’ll be able to see Murder, He Joked, a project I co-wrote and acted in. Auditioning has been a roller-coaster ride for some time now, but I am grateful for the opportunities that continue to come in. To many more in the final months of 2026!

As an editor, I have experience in many mediums including commercials, podcasts, corporate videos, documentaries and narrative. I have been fortunate to work with brands like Prada Beauty, Nike, and Amazon Music and I hope to continue to expand the list. I’m happy to say several films I have edited will be releasing within the next year. I’m incredibly proud of the work and the wonderful filmmakers and friends behind them. So, stay so tuned!

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
A couple of my favorite podcasts include Scriptnotes with John August and Craig Mazin and Good Hang with Amy Poehler. They give me a feeling of being connected to the inner works of the industry while also getting so much joy from listening to their banter with all the guests. It aligns me with the joy of the work we do, and sometimes, I really need the reminder.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yelsorkin.com
• Instagram: @yelsorkin

Image Credits
Mike Monaghan
Kylie Shaffer
Kenneth Billington