We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Zoie Ellis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Zoie below.

Zoie, 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.

Well, lots of people tell me choosing the life of an artist is a risk. Does that mean everything I do is inherently risky? I mean, I don’t perceive it that way, but it sure is the narrative tossed around a lot. To me, the pursuit of an actor doesn’t feel like risk, it just feels like love. Unabashedly, joyously, sometimes painfully, being in love with people and their stories.

But…..

Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about time. I talk about time like it’s money in a high yield savings account. It’s promised. And when I choose to, I can spend it however I want (with interest compiled!). I’m putting pieces of my life away so one day I can really start living it.

But ay, there’s the rub… it’s simply not true. Nothing is promised. Time won’t be waiting in a vault for me 40 years from now, grateful that I was frugal in my youth. So how do I balance that? If time isn’t something I spend but rather something I am, what am I supposed to do with myself?! And how do I know if I’m doing it right?!

Right now, my answer is this- if nothing is promised, then everything is a gift. My passion is a gift. The existence of the bubbles in my solar plexus when I watched “Napkins” from this season of The Bear, getting to smell the fresh lemons at the Studio City Farmer’s Market every Sunday, my weepy walks at sunset when my neighbor’s kids start to do gymnastics in their front yard… all of that is a gift. So why does accepting that feel risky?

If I become too present and grateful, I’m afraid I’ll lose my drive and ambition. Acting is built on wanting something and ruthlessly pursuing your objective. But we want things when we lack something else. And a lifetime of lacking does not sound fun!! So, how do I reconcile my craving for peace when great drama is built on conflict? Contentment never calls for a pen. And if I’m having these questions at all, does that mean I’m in the wrong profession? If I really did let go, would I be okay?

And to all of these things I say- “I DON’T KNOW! Maybe I’m still a beginner! Maybe we’re meant to have more questions than answers! And if there really was an answer- it wouldn’t be a risk anyway. Just try it and see!”

So here’s a risk I’d like to take- I will let go of the life in the savings account and truly lean in to the one happening right now. I’ll let you know how that goes, but I hope to find that releasing tension around something I love so much won’t end up feeling like a risk at all.

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’m an actor because I love people. I love the way humans crash into each other at the exact moment they’re meant to in order to tell a story. I love stories that make me feel known. I love being part of stories that help others realize they’re not alone.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I wish I was better at asking for help when I was younger and I still wish I was better at that! I always felt like asking people for help was an admission of defeat, but all that mindset ever did was deplete me. A life without help is scarcity and art thrives on abundance. Stories are only carried when they’re shared. I wish I believed that from the start and I’m trying now to really lean into all the people that are rooting for me. Because I’m rooting for them too! Don’t hesitate to tell people about your short film, your 10 minute play or your scene you just rocked in acting class. The only way to find the people that excite and challenge you is to show up as an excited challenger.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I don’t think non-creatives struggle with this necessarily, but I do think people don’t usually ask themselves why they need artists in their life.

I was just visiting with my friend Erica, who was a significant driving force in getting my debut short film off the ground, and I told her she was a can opener. She’s the kind of a person that you bring things to when you need a little help opening up.

THAT is why people need artists. Our ability to feel is a gift. And it’s one that everyone desperately needs. So bring on your beans and your tuna and whatever else you got in your can, and let us help you open up. Because you can’t do it alone!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/zoieellis
• Instagram: zoie_ellis
• Other: Check out my Vimeo! https://vimeo.com/user125159439

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