We recently connected with Emily Krusche-Bruck and have shared our conversation below.

Emily, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I wouldn’t say I’m a huge risk taker. I’m bad at decisions. I’m an over-thinker. I get in my head about what the “right” decision is pretty much constantly. All of that was thrown out the door when I decided to move out to LA to be an actor. I had been involved in the arts most of my life and always had a deep passion for performing, but in college I double majored in musical theatre and psychology and learned very quickly that I also had a deep passion for psychology. I fell into some lucky situations and classes and jobs in the psych world that led me to the decision that I was going to apply to PHD programs in neuroscience to start right after graduation. However, the same year that was all falling into place (my junior year) I also started helping friends out by acting in their short films and boy oh boy did that throw me for a loop.

Musical theatre was a passion, but not one I had really considered pursuing as a profession after I started college. Once I stepped in front of a camera, something just clicked. All the notes growing up telling me that my acting wasn’t big enough or loud enough or was “perfect for a screen but nowhere near what it should be for a stage” suddenly made sense. But what was I to do? I set myself up for this future in science and this career that also excited me and had a more distinct path and plan. But acting in front of a camera sparked something in me and made me question all of it. Ultimately, I made the decision at the end of that year that after I graduated, I would move to LA and pursue acting with everything I had in me. It came down to two questions – if I were to “make it” in both, which excited me the most? And which scared me the most? And both were acting.

I’d be lying if I said I haven’t second guessed it a million times. Wondered what my life would be like if I had made the other choice. But I don’t regret it. I am both excited and scared about being an actor pretty much every day of the week, so mission accomplished!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am primarily an actor, with a side of writing and directing. I grew up singing and doing musical theatre in Milwaukee, WI and have been in LA acting for the last 5 or so years. Over the last few years I have primarily worked in the commercial world – ‘Young Mom’ is my specialty. When I’m not pretending to be a parent I am usually working on dramatic short films. Dramatic work is definitely my happy place and where my passion lies. I specifically love working on projects that delve into mental health and psychology as both are very important to me and I feel as though I have a unique perspective on them based on my education.

The most important and powerful thing for me in this industry (and in life) is human connection. Connecting with people on set. Connecting with characters. Putting myself in other peoples shoes. Building relationships. Observing people and meeting people in the world whose stories I can keep with me for the rest of my life is the most special thing to me and I think that’s why I care so much about this industry and being an actor. I get to meet so many people every day I go into work. I get to learn new stories and perspectives. And I get to build beautiful human connections.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

It’s comical I’m answering this question because I have a very small following on social media but I do have strong feelings on the matter so I figured I’d share those. Focusing on growing a strong following has never been a priority of mine (probably should be, but alas…) but I care deeply about my social media being a true representation of who I am, what I believe and care about, and what my life looks like. I’ve had many people (both friends and strangers) tell me that who I am on social media is exactly who I am in real life (for better or for worse) and I’m really proud of that. Authenticity is the most important thing for me as an actor and as a person and I want people in all aspects of my life to get the full version of me. I want everyone who follows me from casting, to people I haven’t spoken to in 10 years (or ever), to my best friends to understand that I’m a passionate Wisconsinite who loves cheese, spends a ridiculous amount of time with children for someone who doesn’t have any of her own (nanny and ‘young mom’ roles), has just absolutely ridiculous experiences and interactions in the world, will sit down on a public sidewalk to pet a dog, loves her friends and food and wine and human connections and is also really passionate about her career and the work she does. And in my ~very humble~ opinion I have achieved that and am proud of it.

All of that is to say, you do you. Some people have super aesthetic and beautiful social media profiles and I love every moment I follow them. Other people want to keep their private life and work life separate. I get it. But to me, who I am defines the artist I am and vice versa so separating them doesn’t make sense and it’s incredibly important to me that when people do see my social media and my work and my self, they are getting the same person.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The thing that motivates me on my creative journey is a feeling. It’s a feeling of being seen. Being understood. Feeling completely content because you are not alone. It’s a feeling of peace and community and understanding. There have been a small collection of films and plays in my life that have given me that feeling – one that is clearly difficult for me to eloquently put into words. What drives me is knowing I have it in me to create work that will give other people the opportunity to have that feeling, through both acting and directing other peoples stories and writing about my own.

Contact Info:

• Website: emilykruschebruck.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ekbreezus/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC37UCOcg9q94u_waCsKKaQA

Image Credits
Headshots – Huebner Headshots