We recently connected with Katelin Dirr and have shared our conversation below.
Katelin , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your creative career?
I was once an environmental educator, traveling to schools and libraries on behalf of a small zoo, teaching about adaptations and behavior with the help animal ambassadors. The summer was a masterclass in storytelling, simplifying complex ideas, and crowd control- all while holding a snake! Or owl, rabbit, cockroach, turtle, armadillo- seriously, I had the coolest co-workers. I learned to rephrase ideas for a wide range of ages (I’m not a fan of excess jargon), answer questions on the fly, and play where education and entertainment meet.
Katelin , 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?
Hi, I’m Katelin Dirr! I’m an actor who works with independent filmmakers, primarily in the Midwest.
I trained in stage performance and acting techniques at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Moving to Chicago in 2022, I pivoted to on-camera acting, and in May 2024, I was awarded Best Chicago Actress at the Chicago Horror Film Festival for Peckish (dir. Stephen Whipple, 2023). In July 2023, my theatre trivia team took second place! That’s the kind of expertise and enthusiasm I bring to the table.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I don’t love talking about myself, but I have grown more comfortable sharing my creative work. The simple truth is, if you want your art seen, then you need to provide access to it and welcome an audience. I wish I had been braver about sharing my earlier acting projects. Pride can be a double-edged sword, right?
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I have always gravitated towards team-based creative projects. I admire the creativity and joy of the Chicago film community, and just feel lucky to be in with a hard-working, helpful crowd! Plus, film takes me on little adventures. Did I ever think I would rock climb in Wisconsin, go fishing in Michigan, or egg someone’s house? Well, now I have!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kate.lin.soph/
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/DauxdAxgFfg?si=K7QkxmlK_grX63pU
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13816740/
Image Credits
Nico Fernandez
Tony Sharp
Jesse Schroeder
Mary K Davis
Michael Chopra
Sean Cruser