Why I do what I do​

There's something so beautiful and magical about stories. You can be having a terrible day and read your favorite story, and suddenly, there's a smile on your face. You can be looking at someone you feel like you'll never understand, but then you sit and listen to their story, and you end up making a friend. Stories bring us together. They make us laugh and cry and ponder together, and they remind us that we're all human. 

I feel so blessed to be an actress and costume designer because I get to be a storyteller every day. I was a huge bookworm when I was little (and I still am!) and for me, theatre and film were just the next step after books. It's like reading, but you get to bring the stories to life as a team and get to share them with lots of people!

One of my favorite quotes is from Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird: "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it." That's our job as storytellers: we are scholars of human nature and we find things to empathize with in everyone, striving to compassionately understand each point of view.

You might notice I always try to stay positive, and I love to smile. I believe life is a beautiful and joyful gift from God, and I like to reflect that joy in my work. And I feel so grateful to be living my dream in this crazy, fun, exciting industry. Every day is different, and I get to meet so many unique and talented people. What more could I ask for?

Fun Facts

Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri
First role: 5 years old, a pirate who sings "Don't Talk with Your Mouth Full"
Dream role: Warrior princess!
Favorite food: Vegetable Manchurian (they're sort of like spicy Chinese vegetarian hush puppies)
Hobbies: So many! Reading, singing, ukulele, fencing, painting, Kung Fu, Taekwondo, Irish ceili dancing, watching old movies...