We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Elizabeth Anderson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Elizabeth, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
My mission is deeply personal—it was born from survival, struggle, and purpose. I’m not just telling stories to be heard; I’m telling stories that need to be felt. I grew up as a military brat, traveling the world and being exposed to a wide range of people, cultures, and perspectives. That shaped how I see the world, and more importantly, how I connect with it.
What many people don’t know is that I’ve also lived what I call a “double life”—one that includes an extensive medical journey. I’m a lupus and cancer, stroke survivor, currently on dialysis, and navigating the wait for a kidney transplant. These experiences have taught me that silence doesn’t help us heal. Sharing real, raw, and often uncomfortable stories—mine and others’—is how we connect, relate, and begin to change the narrative.
This mission is meaningful because I’ve lived both the light and the dark, and I know how powerful it is when someone says, “That’s my story too.” I want to create space for those moments.
Elizabeth, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Elizabeth Ashley Anderson, and I’m an actress, producer, motivational speaker, and survivor. But more than any title, I’m a storyteller—someone who’s lived through enough to know that stories can heal, connect, and change the world.
I was born in Germany and raised as a military brat, which meant constant relocation and exposure to a rich variety of people, cultures, and dialects. That upbringing gave me a deep appreciation for human behavior and a love for performance. Even at a young age, I was drawn to television, especially comedic icons like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, In Living Color, Martin, MadTV, and the brilliant Tracey Ullman. I’d sneak late at night just to watch her show, completely captivated. I knew then that performing was in me—it wasn’t just something I wanted to do, it was something I was made to do.
I got my first real glimpse of the industry thanks to Aggie Gold from Fresh Faces in New Jersey, who introduced me to the business. But with my mom still serving in the military, consistency was difficult. Still, I never gave up. Even after being diagnosed with lupus, suffering a stroke, and undergoing chemotherapy, my dream never wavered. That’s why, when I was granted a Make-A-Wish experience, I chose to be on the sitcom One on One with Flex Alexander and Kyla Pratt. That moment solidified my purpose. No matter what, I was going to return to Los Angeles and chase this full-time.
And I did. I moved back to LA, studied my craft, booked co-star roles and commercials, and took the stage doing stand-up comedy at iconic venues like the Laugh Factory, The Comedy Union, and The Improv. When auditions slowed, I didn’t wait around—I dove into production. I learned SAG-AFTRA guidelines, contracts, and worked behind the scenes producing shows for comedians and talents like Wayne Powers from The Italian Job and internet personality Reggie Couz. I learned that I love storytelling in all its forms—whether I’m in front of the camera or behind it.
What sets me apart is that I don’t create just to create. I walk and work in purpose. Every project I touch must have heart, intention, and impact. I gravitate toward stories that are real—ones that are often overlooked or hard to talk about. Whether I’m acting, producing, or speaking, my work is about giving voice to truth, healing through humor, and creating space for people to feel seen.
I live what I call a “double life”—one as a creative and one as a long-term patient. I’m currently on dialysis and waiting for a kidney transplant after surviving both cancer and lupus. That experience doesn’t hold me back—it fuels me. It gives me empathy, grit, and a sense of urgency. I don’t take this life for granted.
What I’m most proud of is how far I’ve come, and how honest I’ve stayed. I’ve built a brand rooted in authenticity, resilience, and creative excellence. My audience knows that if my name is attached to something, it has purpose. It has meaning. It’s real.
At the end of the day, I want people—especially women, survivors, creatives, and those living with chronic illness—to know that you don’t have to fit one mold. You can live boldly, break barriers, and still protect your peace. My journey is about showing people what’s possible when you refuse to give up on yourself.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the freedom to bring visions to life with no limits. I’ve never fit into just one box—and that’s the beauty of it. Whether I’m on stage, on screen, behind the scenes, or in the shop building a custom bike with my partner for our business Rackcitylowbikes, I get to create something from nothing. That’s magic.
There’s a special kind of joy in knowing that your imagination can become someone’s inspiration. That your words, your art, your ideas—can move people, heal them, or even help them see themselves in a new light. That’s what keeps me going.
From performing stand-up to co-producing shows, from writing an animated children’s book about chronic illness to building bikes for legends like Ice Cube and Shaq—every project I take on feeds my soul. But what really makes it all worth it is doing it with and for others. Community matters to me. Collaboration fuels me. And purpose grounds me.
Being a creative has allowed me to turn pain into purpose, dreams into reality, and ideas into impact. There’s nothing more rewarding than that.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
There are so many moments in my journey that reflect my resilience, but one that stands out the most happened during a time when I was battling an intense lupus flare, undergoing chemotherapy, and barely holding it together physically. In the midst of that storm, I booked a role on a variety show.
Most people would’ve canceled. I showed up.
As soon as I hit set, something shifted. The pain disappeared. The exhaustion? Gone. It was like my purpose took over—completely. I had a fire in me that pushed through 12 to 14 hours of shooting like it was nothing. I performed with every ounce of joy and energy I had in me. I killed it. But as soon as we wrapped, I went straight to the ER.
That’s the life I live. A double life in many ways—creative on the outside, a warrior on the inside. People often see the end product—the work, the performance, the smile—but they don’t know the battle it took to show up that day. And I never complained. I never made excuses. I just knew this was my calling, and that purpose was bigger than the pain.
That experience reminded me that resilience isn’t about pretending things are easy—it’s about choosing to show up anyway. And that’s exactly what I’ve done my entire life.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @TheyCallmeElizabeth
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itzmewhou
- Other: https://www.imdb.me/ElizabethAnderson
Image Credits
Kelly Dolan
Natalia “Nat” Strawn
Donna Victorya
Hana Liu
Tyler Zack
MC Lyte
Tahir Jahi
Jeanette Samantha
Parvesh Cheena
Tommy O’Rourke