Ellen Grimshaw
Ellen Grimshaw is an actor, and so is also a great acting reader ;) She works consistently as an actor across theatre, television, film and TVCs. Averaging 3-4 acting jobs a yr over the last 16 yrs, she has a massive repertoire of skills to help u achieve your best work.
I very much let u, the auditioning actor, lead the way… please ask me for ANYTHING that u need. I am here for YOU. Nothing is weird. I really mean this. There is no time for self consciousness. This could be your next job! I take this seriously, and very much as a compliment if anything, as well as a huge privilege, that you’re asking ME to help YOU. Not the other way around. So, having said that. Here’s a bit more about me. So u know whether I’m your guy or not.
There is nothing worse than an actor telling another actor what to do, or how to do something, when YOU know yourself better than anyone. Also how DARE someone do that to u! It would be the ultimate disrespect, not to listen to, or trust the person, who is TRUSTING YOU! (Me, in this case).
No. Not only does this create a strange and uncalled for hierarchy (as if creative expression is a competition? Whaaaa?!) No no no! Much love to u, dear artist. Hold your head high. We are ALL equal. Noone is better than you, or worse than you. Your choices and ideas are VALID AS FUQ. We need your heart. And we need you.
Ellen can only help u improve the quality of YOUR choices, the dynamism and/or unpredictability of YOUR performance in YOUR self test, but also (if u need) can teach you many other things, always working “with you” not “at” you whilst doing so. Things Ellen has: knows what casting directors are looking for in a self test, wisdom, acting kit tools X 100 depending on the style, genre and your personality/persona/aura/skillset/self awareness etc.. many handy tricks, options and ideas u may not have thought of, suggestions (NOT ADVICE!) as well as a shit load of insight into the industry through years of learning the hard way (coz no-one tells u, ppl don’t want u to succeed over them. It’s horrible. But I am not like this at all, yuck!) Ellen also has a disease which renders her complicit to making sure you are having fun, and great foresight that money simply just cannot buy.
Ellen has taught/mentored groups of kids and individual artists or students across various artistic disciplines, and has a very good understanding of how to work with all different types of artists, with a single thing in the back of her mind- to get you doing your greatest work, reach your full potential in your performance, and find everything u ever need to know about “character” and “you” and how to merge them together believably. Because truth be told, you already are the character. It’s about finding a way to eliminate OR highlight certain characteristics of your OWN, so that a specific characters traight(s) can shine through YOY, AS that character. There’s no such thing as “playing a character”, because you’re ALWAYS playing “A” character. One of your many… that u consciously (or subsonciously) have access to, and which you rotate (you cheeky fkr), depending on WHERE U R or WHO U R WITH.
I would love to work with u. I do have a rare disease however, it’s where I make sure you’re having fun, and if you’re not, I will have to make double sure you are or there’s no point. So as long as u can cope with my disease, we should be sweet.
And if you don’t get the part, it wasn’t meant for you because something better, and more aligned with your expression of what it is to be a human being, is waiting for you. I truly believe that. And so should u. Nothing in this business is personal. I’m very grateful to know who I am and to stand tall in my choices. Let me help u do the same. And have fun doing it!
Love, Ellen ;)
Ellen Grimshaw is an Australian actor currently based in Melbourne, Australia. She has 16+ years experience across professional independent theatre, and national and internationally acclaimed film and television series roles. Ellen has been a recipient of multiple awards for her performances in film and television, and been nominated for melbourne fringe and green room awards for her theatrical performances and writing for theatre. Ellen often writes her own shows and plays when not auditioning, as a way to keep working and honing her craft, in down periods. Ellen has successfully secured funding and philanthropy opportunities from - the city of Melbourne, Port Phillip, arts access australia, creative arts, the Ian potter cultural trust, and the Australian cultural fund, as well as several grants from the University of Melbourne and the Victorian College of the Arts, to fund and make possible Ellen’s plays in Melbourne as well as New York, and has raised money from the film community of professionals in Melbourne to produce a recent short film which Ellen also wrote and starred in called “were (not) having a moment”, which is currently in post production stage. Logline: ‘a lonely young woman by fluke, escapes unexpected and surprising near death experiences, but perhaps death is what she needs to surrender to in order to stay alive’.
Ellen has jsut been nominated for a new green room award for best performer from an independent production (GRIM, which Ellen produced and wrote also), and the winner will be announced shortly in 2024 at the comedy theatre in Melbourne .
(Side note: as an actor (and as a writer and producer) If there is no work out there, I’d still just love to connect with some more artists out there, if u happen to stumble across this profile! I know there are many other generous and sparkly - creatively fuelled, heart-led, diligent and hard working actors across the globe! I would love to connect with you, and help your project in any way I can. Please don’t hesitate to reach out via email, or on here🖤 I can also help u rehearse, and please do head to my reader bio for more info on sessions I give too. I only give advice if u ask me for it, as telling other actors and professionals in the industry what they should do without consent or trust can come across controlling and then has the potential to pigeonhole someone’s instincts or wonderful unique ideas! And THAT, my friend, is the death of creativity. I want only for other artists, creatives, professional business people here, to rise up and be their best unique selves on and off camera, and I strive to help u achieve everything that is already inside you, because YOU are enough. Any character role is just part of you that u already have within you, honed in on. And if you’re a casting director reading this, the same goes, but just change a couple of words. I know you know what I am saying. There are so many people that think they’re better than people, and I find it so absurd that these people seem to think they are GOD. We are all equally very important sparks of magic. And you know things about your project and yourself, that I can never know. It’s about mutual respect - but apparently that’s not a very commonly shared value? Why? lol. So often I find my kindness is mistaken for naivety, or that I don’t know my worth, or what I’m doing. It could not be more the opposite. As if being kind and allowing others the space to be themselves were an act of weakness?! No no no SIR!
Anyway, there’s me. I’d love to have fun with you, and show you my skills and assets as opposed to telling them to u. I know we will have fun creating a magical and individual to YOU only audition, or session regarding whatever creative topic you would like to consult with me over, and I know that whatever happens, you will blow the casting directors away. And, if a casting director is reading this, I’d love to blow you away…? Hmmm. Maybe not the right words….haha.
As an actor (hi casting agents specifically!) I’d love u to reach out about any projects you think I’d be suitable for, as well as put my hand up to read for you in your studio or over zoom, to help other actors you’re auditioning, for projects you have on your slate at present. I learn so much from being a reader and love it.
Casting directors, where are u? Hire me/hit me up/get me to audition for your film/series/project/whatever it is! I would love to hear from u!
Love,
Ellen Grimshaw
Ellen is ONLINE and available to read with you NOW.
If you need a Reader, please connect immediately rather than message.