We recently connected with Diane Kelber and have shared our conversation below.
Diane, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
When I was about 6 years old, I wanted to *be* Hayley Mills, after being enthralled with her performances in Disney movies. And a few years later, my mom started taking us to all the shows at the Music Center in L.A. and I secretly wanted to be one of those dancers on stage. I just didn’t know that meant I wanted to actually become an actor/dancer/singer! I finally started studying dance at age 16 and got my first professional job at 21 and kept dancing in contemporary repertory dance companies from L.A. to Halifax, Nova Scotia. It took another 10 years to realize I could also sing, so I booked a musical and then realized I’d better start voice lessons! When I found out I was a lyric coloratura soprano I was heartbroken, thinking: “All the dance roles are for belters!” It worked out ok, leading to around 25 musicals. At age 40, I started acting class because my beloved voice teacher told me that was my missing piece, so I was able to start morphing into TV (commercials to begin with) and film. Lesson: it’s never too late to pursue your path – and it can change!
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 had a wise teacher who once told me, “Baby, you’re a triangle, and they’re casting squares.” Like many actors and people in the arts, I have never been one to really fit in. I’m happiest when I’m creating and performing because I absolutely love to help people feel – anything! – and to inhabit a character and tell a story about them that may enlighten. I fell into my career path, as discussed earlier–first dance, then singing, then acting; there was a natural flow. Now, I am cast as an actor in commercials, TV, short films and sometimes features, and I’m still asked to dance. I just booked an amazing, edgy short musical film as a kind of quirky mom where I get to sing (@modelminoritymusical)! Recently I played a recurring role as the Orthodox Jewish mother-in-law on Fox/Hulu’s “The Patient” starring Steve Carell, and am lucky to have a lovely role as an adoptive mom of a Korean child in the beautiful, poignant (and funny) film @goahmovie that is now being submitted to festivals. And one of my all-time faves was starring in the short, multi award-winning film “Florence.” I have gone through the “boxes” of leading lady, mom, character lady. And more. And while it’s true that there are far fewer roles for women in my age group (that are not stars) I have enjoyed living through each box! I do voice over now as well, which is a blast. I also have a side job helming a production company where we create short promo videos for businesses and nonprofits. I direct, write and produce, and love also being behind the camera to put the interview subjects at ease. (BingsWingsProductions.com) Our motto is Heart, Humor, Humanity and that goes for my performing self as well!
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I’m so grateful to have found a family of sorts and an abundance of resources through the SAG-Aftra Foundation! They have a fantastic Voice Over lab (in person and online) and lots of classes where you can learn everything from equipment to performance to production. From beginners to pros. The foundation also has a wonderful On Camera Lab (OCL) where you can go in person or online, and use them for your self-tape scene partner for auditions! In fact I’ve booked two jobs from OCL auditions and I’m endlessly grateful. Also the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund) has myriad resources including classes and even experts who can help you with your budget, and financial support when you are stretched thin between jobs. I’m big fans of both and try to contribute when I book work myself.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Helping frozen people melt! It’s my raison d’être.
Contact Info:
- Website: DianeKelber.com
- Instagram: @dianekelber
- Youtube: youtube.com/@dianekelber11
- Other: imdb.me/dianekelber goahmovie.com
Image Credits
#1 (white blouse) Image by Jonny Marlow #2 with Alan Blumenthal in The Patient #3 with Gwen Hollander Schrader in Marriage Material #5 Image by Jon Schweigart with Ron Guillory in Go Ah #6 with Ian Branch in A Christmas Memory #7 Go Ah poster by MiYu #8 image by Kylie Shaffer