It all started with Cruella de Vil and the 6th grade play. I was double-cast; the other girl had years of voice lessons under her belt, whereas I, in the words of Mrs. Hunt, had executed the “villainy” the role required. I was honored beyond words. I was quite introverted growing up — typically described using the words “curious” and “observant.” Already at the age of 12, I had discovered the transformative magic of live performance. Shortly thereafter, I (literally) sat my father down to break the news to him: I was going to quit soccer and be an actress.

I have come to realize I was always practicing my craft, even before Cruella. Whether I was listening to my mom’s stories from a career in social work, jamming out to The Beastie Boys in the car with my dad, or making movies on my iPad usually akin to the horror/thriller/murder-mystery genres, all of these experiences would come to fill my artistic cup, and inform who I am as an artist today. When I encountered Clown in my training at NYU, I re-discovered little Sofia. I learned that I wanted to act more like her: hopeful, curious, playful, and full of life. It is my goal to breathe life into my art — to create from a place of messy, pure aliveness, and to remind others of how beautifully alive we all are!

I love stories about girlhood and queerness. I love all things freaky, weird, and magical. I love poetry. I love David Lynch. I love screaming. I think I could have a really good horror movie scream so I put it on my resume in hopes of someone one day asking me to do it (it’s not exactly easy to practice).