We had the good fortune of connecting with Ellie Posadas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ellie, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
The idea of ‘Risk-taking’ can be so so so subjective, especially for an actor or artist like myself. Becoming an artist is already a risk in itself, it is the first risk you take (my immigrant Filipino parents were the first to remind me of that haha)! As a theatre kid, I took pride in being labeled a ‘Risk Taker’ in my performance choices until I suffered a few awful injuries, which ultimately led me to be someone who ‘played it safe’ it was an awful feeling. After that injury, I realized how to practice grace with myself as I learned that risk-taking can appear differently in your life as you change and evolve, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. The risk is only worth it if you ultimately feel safe! Sure, it’s uncomfy, but i think you intuitively know the difference. As I got older I realized there has to be this sustainable balance of taking risks in my work, and in life, it was essentially the only way to propel forward. Being a ‘Risk-taker’ coincides with having this deep grounded faith in your work. It’s having this special magic power of always having access to your vulnerable self.

Being a woman of colour in this industry has also had its challenges, and when I first started performing, some would call this pursuit of being a Filipina woman on TV and Film a risk. Luckily, there have been great steps in Asian women being fairly represented on screen, but back in the day, I was often reminded that the work that I would be able to truly identify with had to be created by me. This led me to find a group of Filipina women who, like me craved more representation of folks like us in comedy. We took the risk of creating a Filipina comedy troupe called the ‘Tita Collective’, as a way to connect with Filipinos in the diaspora through musical sketch comedy. I remember this distinctly feeling like a huge but very necessary risk. It was something that truly changed the course of my career in a beautiful way. It informs so much of my art to this day!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
For a Filipino person like myself, it all started with one thing: Karaoke! I hate to feed the stereotype, but honestly, in my case, it’s the truth! My parents got wind of my singing abilities as a kid, and they took every opportunity to show me off at every family party. Turned that out I loved it so much and I wanted to continue performing for the rest of my life! I grew up with immigrant parents who were still trying to find their footing in a new country, and naturally didn’t have much access and resources to enroll me in lessons and extracurricular activities. However, I had great teachers who took advantage of programs for marginalized families which ultimately helped me apply myself in programs that allowed me to practice performing in Musical Theatre. I truly owe it to my parents, especially my mom who spent hours taking public transit with me twice a week to and from my classes. It wasn’t easy for me as the only Asian girl to integrate myself with kids who lived in the city, but I learned to lean into my experiences as a Filipino-Canadian girl. It took some time to realize there was so much power in reclaiming my culture and applying it to my art, especially for a person who thought the only way in the industry was to revel in the label of being called ‘Racially Ambiguous’. I either had casting directors who didn’t belive I was Filipino or casting directors who put me in a box with all the different types of Asian women. When I transformed my perspective of an artist as a ‘Story Teller’, that’s when my work became more intentional and grounded. I realized that what makes me interesting is my own unique story, and my ability to use humor to invite people in to learn about some hard-hitting topics, such as intergenerational trauma, race, queerness, body image, etc. I think my approach in my work is always about having people feel like they are invited into the story I’m telling, sort of like being a nurturing party host. I hope that in one way or another folks can find this idea of ‘Home’ in my work.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The best way to start any sort of friendship hang HAS to be with food! In true Actor fashion, I also work for BBs Diner, A Filipino restaurant in the Parkdale area of Toronto (and recognized on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list!). We would start here with yummy silog brunch and mimoas! Afterward, we’d head to Kensington Market to do some thrifting. I really love the store ‘Courage My Love’ in the market. At some point in the week, we’d walk through the Ossington area where they have some of my favorite restaurants and bars in the city, such as Imanishi for amazing cocktails and Japanese snacks, Berhnhardts for the yummiest freshest plates, Badiali’s for a slice, Cote De Beouf for my favorite steak tartare in the city, Enoetca sociale for pasta, or Grape Witches for the most interesting glass of wine! If it’s a Wednesday we would end the night with drinks at Project Giggle Water for margaritas or the most interesting cocktails including a Pho inspired sipper. I also love going to 915 Dupont which is a listening cafe/bar. They throw very vibey vinyl parties, including a party hosted by my friend Big Jacks who spins 90s and early 2000’s R&B (Sometimes my brother plays too! so it becomes sort of a fam jam!). During the week we must catch some sort of live music show, there’s always someone cool playing at either Opera House, Danforth Music Hall, Axis, History etc. Or if the time aligns, my friends Ren, Blu and I, run a performance collective called Bahay Sessions, where we host our favorite musicians in the city in our little intimate apartment space. If we’re feeling to party we’d visit my friends who are bartending and spinning at Sari Not Sari back in Parkdale. Lastly, the Tita Collective hosts musical sketch comedy at the Tranzac every last Sunday of the month, and we finish the night with some late night Korean BBQ at Dalgonae in Korea town!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The Tita Collective- My talented stage sisters Alia Rasul, Ann Paula Bautista, Belina Corpuz, and Maricris Rivera whom I create the funniest and most powerful sketch comedy/theatre work. As well as my small co-creators Blu Galvez and Ren Cañete. Together we run an intimate performance initiative called Bahay Sessions at Medays House in Toronto, which offers a safe space for talented folks of colour to share their music. I am deeply inspired by these creative people! And of course my family and their everlasting faith in this curly-haired Filipna girl!

Instagram: @ellieposadas

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8578669/ @bahay.sessions @medyashouse

Image Credits
Dani Dazo DJ Tran Martin Nicolas Ann Paula Bautista Alia Rasul Belinda Corpuz Maricris Rivera Blu Galvez Ren Cañete

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