I would hope to inspire more people to use service to others as a means of self care. It sounds paradoxical, but God truly fills our cup so that we can pour out of it and in doing so, we are re-filled with the kinds of blessings that only come from helping others.
As a part of our series about pop culture’s rising stars, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Christina Elmore. Christina is a film, television and theater performer living and working in Los Angeles. With an undergraduate degree from Harvard University and a MFA in acting from American Conservatory Theater, Christina has performed roles across all genres. After five seasons as a series regular on TNT’s hit series, The Last Ship, she now stars as Marie in Lena Waithe’s newest scripted series, Twenties, on BET. She has a recurring role as Condola on HBO’s Insecure and can be seen in Ryan Coogler’s Fruitvale Station, Lady Bouncer on HBO and the CBS pilot, Under the Bridge. Her favorite roles in the theater include Juliet at Los Angeles Shakespeare Company and Monique in the world premiere of Adam Rapp’s “The Purple Lights of Joppa Illinois” at South Coast Rep.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up? Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
Acting was the only thing I started doing as a child that I never wanted to quit. I did ballet, soft-ball, violin and those seemed to all fall by the wayside, but I always pursued dramatic arts. In high school i joined a young professionals theater company and got an up close view of the life of an actor, specifically in regional theater. It was there that I decided that I would do this the rest of my life. I went to college and then to graduate school for an MFA in acting and have been auditioning and working ever since.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Before working as a series regular on The Last Ship, I had never done any tv work. I had no idea about how sets were run or how shows were made. In one of my first scenes in the pilot, we finished the wide shot and I started to head back to my trailer thinking we had “gotten the shot” and were therefore done with the scene. I had no idea we still had to close ups/coverage. We had hours to go. I was so grateful for a supportive cast and crew in that first season who literally taught me how to be on TV.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
I love that I get to work with two of the most dynamic creatives in the industry. Lena Waithe’s Twenties and Issa Rae’s Insecure are dream jobs for me! I feel so blessed to be playing Marie and Condola at the same time.
You have been blessed with success in a career path that can be challenging. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?
Keep GOING and don’t forget to make your real life full and fun and exciting so that you’re not waiting on someone to give you a job in order to feel fulfilled.
We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?
Diverse and inclusive representation in film and television is monumentally important. The stories we see on TV should be a reflection of the world we live in and everyone deserves to see that there story has value. Seeing more of ourselves helps to validate that are experiences are shared by others and we feel less alone. Twenties does that so well and I am so grateful that more and more unique and specific stories about people of color are being greenlit everyday.
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
Your real life is the most interesting thing about you. You cannot act or perform if you have not experienced. Continue to make your life meaningful and rich- it will only help your career, not hurt it.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I would hope to inspire more people to use service to others as a means of self care. It sounds paradoxical, but God truly fills our cup so that we can pour out of it and in doing so, we are re-filled with the kinds of blessings that only come from helping others.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
I am so grateful for parents who never told me I needed a “Plan B.” They are my biggest fans and have been so supportive. I knew going in to college that I wanted to be an actor and they still paid for me to have a liberal arts experience to feed the other parts of my brain. That is a gift I will never take for granted.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
I would love to spend time with Viola Davis. I am blown away be her artistry and inspired by her spirit. She is the the prototype of the kind of actor and artist I hope to be.
How can our readers follow you online?
Follow me on instagram @christina.elmore
This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
Insecure Star Christina Elmore: “Why We Should Use Service To Others As A Means Of Self Care” was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.