My Statement

The wind knocked out of me, I gasped for a breath my lungs couldn’t find. “CUT!” bellowed the director. The shy and introverted young woman I previously identified as dissipated with each blow to the ground. When and how did this change? A one-day acting workshop, thanks to my younger brother’s interest and my parents’ insistence to accompany him, quickly transformed my shyness into boldness through my newfound passion of performing. Acting has been the vehicle through which I have found my voice and myself. I have been transformed into a confident and outgoing person with a point of view, a way to express it, and the expectation to be heard. I have been literally pushed out of my comfort zone, thrown to the ground, gotten up, and gone back for more. I have relentlessly pursued my acting dream making my way through a sea of “no’s” for that elusive “yes.” Each opportunity enriches my soul and enhances my ability to express myself both in film and in life. Being a first-generation Greek-American, I understand how privileged I am to be afforded a plethora of possibilities unthinkable to my grandparents and parents. Numerous heartbreaking immigration stories, told to me by my mother and grandparents have led to my deep belief that I have a duty to work hard and actively utilize my gifts as a positive force in today’s challenged world. Artists help to fill the gap of emptiness and allow us all to connect to our true emotions. My very first film provided such an opportunity. A graduate film student wrote and directed an autobiographical short on the topic of coming out to her family. Portraying her younger self, shooting the film in her childhood home, meeting her parents and brother allowed us to collaborate on a profound story that captivated hearts and changed minds. Another film in which I was cast explored the aggressive side of women, an area classically reserved for men. Acting in this short was a unique experience. As a cast, we needed to become a cohesive team with a great deal of trust among us to execute fight scenes safely yet authentically. We needed to trust each other before we could punch each other. As we got to know one another we began examining, together, a different side of us (anger, aggression, violence) which is not sanctioned in society for women. This project awakened me to yet another side of myself I didn't know existed but once given space to evolve, is certainly there and important to acknowledge.

My dream is to be an authentic storyteller of simple everyday narratives. I am so eager to continue my journey of self exploration where I will advance, grow, and contribute to the arts and the world!