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 the job of an actor and costume designer: 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...