We recently connected with Ellen Clifford and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ellen, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

My senior year in college, our capstone performance was a seven-minute one-person play we had to write and perform. I hated the assignment at first because I had that “I’m an actor, I say other people’s words” mindset. And then, well, I got an idea. It was a comical short that began with me dressed like Dolly Parton with these gigantic balloon boobs and…well I’ll leave off there. The rest of the play dealt with body image, which has always been a big thing with me as I was a pretty tragic anorexic for like, the first twenty-one years of my life, and would love for other people not to have to go through all that. The short play was very well-received and I was encouraged to expand on it. I turned it into a one-hour and then moved to Los Angeles. Shortly after that it won an award, and after putting it up on my own in Los Angeles for a weekend, was hired to bring it to a couple of different fundraisers for organizations that provide eating disorder outreach, and later it was produced for a month-long run in a little Santa Monica black box which may not sound like a big deal, but to get to get my message (love yourself love your body blah blah blah except it really is important) out there with backing was thrilling.

Ellen, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

As an actor, comedy is my favorite form. I spent many years in the improv/sketch world…which, interestingly, is SO serious once you’re deep into it! To the point that getting to act in a drama is downright relaxing, like it’s a relief to cry as a character (safe!), whereas a night in which the audience doesn’t laugh could make me cry for real (insecure). Still, I tend to write comedy for myself, and also, my biggest rush comes from hearing a laugh. Laughter is the key to letting your guard down and a great way to transmit ideas to an audience who may not be receptive to them otherwise.

In my alter-ego as a wine/spirits/food writer, I can supply a certain level of…well, I’ve been told to say “expertise,” though I shudder to use that word given how quickly the industry changes. That being said, I’m a certified sommelier (certifiable lmfao) and hold a Diploma in wine and spirits from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust. So I know a few facts. But I also love to keep my tone personal and enjoy fusing humor with information, a tactic I especially like to employ in my podcast, The Wine Situation, and I am not shying away from my new YouTube channel, Taste With Elle, where I aspire to A) entertain B) provide some advice to elevate your interaction with wine and such WOW that sounded pretentious but like, I really do want to bring you helpful information.

At the end of the day, whether I’m acting, storytelling or educating, I love it if I can bring a laugh and a new perspective.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I think laughter opens peoples minds. So if I can open someone up by making them laugh then I’d hope to slide the various messages I think I could give the world as gifts. Granted these gifts range from superficial things people can live vicariously though (watch me blind taste expensive Napa cab v cheap and can I identify it) to the topics of most of my scripts and sketch: pretty much all speak to the what women deal with especially when it comes to dealing with the patriarchy, appearance, diet culture and eating disorders.

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

Justice for women? Between the blatant and inescapable sexism that keeps us out of office, to lack of rights to women who choose to mother, or not, to (especially in LA), the lookist body-shaming miasma that hangs over all, pretty much every script I write delves into at least one part of what women have to deal with.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ellenclifford.com
• Instagram: @ellenclifford
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-clifford/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4ZsM0N5U49ORpa4XWz5ebg