Inspired by the Late Robin Williams – Actress and Comedian Amber Elizabeth
Please introduce yourself to the readers and tell us how you first got into performing?
My name is Amber Elizabeth I started performing from a young age in local productions such as Cinderella, Time Busters and Jack in the Bean Stork. From a young age I have always been into performing, as a child I used to go around the house doing different voices and trying to make my parents laugh, the word crazy did come up a few times. I kind of blame my parents for me wanting to get into the acting industry, especially for the desire for movies and the love of America. They showed me too much at a young age, I guess they never thought they would have such an ambitious child. My parents could not afford to send me to stage school so I always participated with acting in local plays just to get on stage. It was later in life when I have been able to explore more of the acting world; I have worked my whole life while at the same time learning the craft, if that is not ambition I don’t know what is!
What inspired you to get into this industry?
I knew I wanted to act from a young age after being around my parent’s video store and I was constantly watching movies, I watching the Terminator I think at age 8! I knew I had the bug for acting when I watched “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” watching Leonardo DiCaprio inspired me to follow a dream in the acting industry, till this day that is my favorite film. I love how you can express all your emotions and connect with people. I always say if you can make someone laugh or cry you have achieved something amazing.
What kind of training have you had, if any?
Over the years I have done various courses and classes which have made me become a better actress. I started off doing a National Diploma in Performing Arts. During my time in college I learned a whole new set of skills such as Comedy Mask, Musical Theatre, and Physical Theatre, Role Play, Hip Hop and improvisation. This is when i knew which direction I wanted to go in. Even my acting coach at that time said “You have a face for TV” which fuelled my enthusiasm even more. However, one thing I came realize is the love of comedy improvisation which opened a whole new outlook to my acting. I decided after completing my Diploma i wanted to go on to learn the craft of TV and film acting.
I managed to get a place at one of England’s top art Universities (University for The Creative Arts) studying Fine Arts based solely on my portfolio of work. My artwork consists of modernized portraits of actors and actresses I have been lucky enough to meet -some of the most astonishing actors who have kindly signed my work. Up until now, I have had this work signed by Stand Lee, Robert Knepper, Norman Reedus, Ariana Richards, America Ferrera, Alex Zane and Johnny Depp. Johnny Depp’s exact words were “oh wow”!
After the fine arts I went on to study TV and Film acting at The London Actors Studio, where I learned the craft of performing on screen. This is when I got my first taste of being in front of a screen and seeing what it takes. I loved it!
Since then I have really wanted to learn what I loved best Comedy, so I went on to study comedy improvising and stand up at The Comedy School London. This has lead to doing stand up at the Back Yard Comedy Club in London. I just love the feeling you get when you make people laugh, gives me a massive boost. I went to LA twice this year and I have always wanted to go to The Groundlings School so I managed to do some classes there as this is where some of the most famous comedians have come from. I loved every movement of being there and I wasn’t out of my depth at all. Other classes I have attended are Bernard Hiller Masterclass, Crystal Carson-Thought Support Technique Class, American Accent Clinic Gaby Santinelli and On Camera Workshop-Greg Edwards.
Throughout my life so far, I live and breathe being creative in any way possible. I always take everything I see and experience and use it, either in acting or in my art work. Like this personal quotation “I was born with creativity but just suck at being academic”.
What has been your favorite role to play so far?
My favorite role so far was playing Danny’s friend in Channel 4 Tripped. I was playing a character which was high on drugs and drinking and I usually never play characters like this so, I really enjoyed getting into character. I also did a new demo reel in LA which involved guns and combat fighting. I love kick ass characters especially when it’s a girl doing the kicking.
What has been one of your biggest achievements in your career so far?
So far in my career I would say doing my stand up comedy is my biggest achievement, as it is by far the most challenging and nerve racking thing I have done to date.
What projects do you have coming up?
I have a few projects in the pipeline at the moment. I will have a part in a movie called “Karma”. I am currently working with a producer to do a documentary /comedy about 5 Brits trying to live the Hollywood dream, the working title of this is called “Brits Are Coming” I am one of the people he will be following around, he is in the process of talking to BBC Channel 4 and companies out in LA. I am also through the second stages for a feature film which will be filming in 2017 in Australia called “Grey Fear”. I also have two dates booked for stand up in London at the Charlton House.
Who would you most like to work with?
One of my greatest loves in the film world unfortunately, is no longer with us, which was Robin Williams. He is always someone I look up to and inspires me to be a better and funnier person. What a loss to this world! However, I would love to work with Melissa McCarthy, I love the fact she does not care about her weight and she is still funny. She is the main reason why I wanted to go to The Groundlings School in LA. I also find Charlize Theron is one of those truly amazing actresses who I always admire that go the extra mile for a role and either lose weight or shave their hair.
What are your plans for the future?
My future plans, are to take over Hollywood. All jokes aside, I am planning to be out in LA within the next 4 months, I have already had offers of representation which has already given me a kick start to being out there. I would love to get a guest role in a comedy TV series which would be fantastic. I would also like to work the circuit of stand up and hopefully one day be on stage of The Laugh Factory, where Robin Williams once performed.
What is your advice to aspiring performers?
Just never give up! I have had a lot of rejection in my life, which has brought me down at times, but you have to keep going in this industry. If you have a dream you should always chase it because one day it might be too late and you will say “what if?”.
The post Inspired by the Late Robin Williams – Actress and Comedian Amber Elizabeth appeared first on Epyk Living.