Meet Esther Jolee | Actor/Dancer/Singer/Producer/Musician/Writer

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

Hi Esther, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Honestly? It’s funny, I didn’t start out in this field. I was actually going to school for Legal Studies. My plan was always to go to law school, become a judge then a Supreme Court Justice and change history. That was all I wanted for as long as I can remember.

However, the arts were also always a love of mine. I grew up in dance from the time I was, like, 3. Then I started singing at various local venues with my Dad. I LIVE for dance and music. In high school, I got bit by the acting bug.

From there, I moved to LA to pursue law. School, as it turns out, wasn’t what I desired anymore. So, I left. Which is slightly taboo in my family. But I knew I was done. When I burned out, it was then I knew it was time to pursue my other love: acting.

Acting makes me feel alive in a way I never have before. To be a vessel through which stories are told is something so special and beautiful. I’ve always been taken with reading and immersing myself in other worlds. Acting felt like the most natural next step. So, I got a mentor, started in classes and within a month’s time booked my first film. It was a USC thesis called ‘Full Circle’ where I played Leo, the college version of Cleodora, the lead role. My second booking was on ‘The Lost Colony’ another USC these film. That was a fun one, a musical about the lost colony of Roanoke.

Then I had the good fortune of being asked to participate in a 48 Hour Film Festival by the director, Roslyn, whom I met at a networking event. What a blast that was (and how tiring in the best way possible). I highly recommend it to any actors just starting out. I’d love to tackle a darker role or rom com next, or maybe even a legal drama to any directors or producers reading *wink, wink*. But truly, I’m just excited to see where the next chapter of my journey leads me!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Nothing about being in this industry is easy, right? It’s even more difficult for an Afro-Latina woman. However, I’m so proud of the fact that my first ever film starred 3 black women and was directed by a black woman.

I feel like that set the stage for something divine later on. It wasn’t as hard as it could’ve been, but I was blessed to have a good mentor early on. She was so helpful in preparing me for my first day on set. It was a film that I loved and Farrah, our director, had a beautiful vision.

I want people to realize that we all start somewhere. We are all new at one point (I’m still fairly new, only a year into my career) and I learn something new everyday! And that’s the beauty of our industry really. The ebb and flow of it all means no two days are alike. We get to make the life we want and fall in love with what we do, over and over again. I couldn’t ask for a better job.

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.
Oh my God..there’s so much to do here. Thank God they’re here for a week. Arden in WeHo has the most amazing Waygu meatballs and pizzas. The ambiance is magical and the perfect excuse to have a nice evening, dressed to the 9’s of course. Then of course we have to do the iconic stuff like head to the Griffith Observatory. Not only is the Hollywood sign a must see, the VIEW is even more beautiful.

I think another great place to go is The Huntington Botanical Gardens. It’s like a nature paradise in the middle of a city. It’s tranquil and beautiful. I live for the beauty of nature and could spend hours there.

Another must is taking a day trip to San Diego. Little Italy is one of my favorite places to eat and explore. Speaking of exploring, Old Town San Diego is a gem. We could end the day on the beach of La Jolla Cove for a picnic, lots of laughs and a beautiful sunset. Then to end the week, I’d probably go wherever they want to go. My friends always come to LA with some kind of bucket list they want to do and see so I’m happy to oblige them!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oh God, who doesn’t? You know? Everyone I know and love has helped shape me into the actor I am. Everyone in my support system deserves some credit but we don’t have enough time for all of them. So I think I’ll start by shouting out my Dad. He’s since passed away but when he was here, he was sooo supportive of me.

Even when I went to college, he would see someone performing who looked like me and would tell me, ‘that should be you’ or ‘I can’t wait to see you up there one day’. He was always so encouraging and just the best. I was almost amazed, really because he was a big believer in going to college.

I was also insanely blessed with a mentor, Sarah Elizabeth Mitchell, very early on. Without her, I would probably be a lot more overwhelmed by all the information and navigation of this industry than I am. She showed up for me massively the night before my first day ever on set. We went to Target for supplies for my actor bag, talked about what a day on set looked like and encouraged me to enjoy the experience and rely on the work I’d put into the role. And I can’t forget Kimberly Crandall, an acting teacher with Actorsite. She has dropped some amazing gems in her classes and I can’t recommend her (and Actorsite) enough!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powrpuffcurls?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Other: IMDb Pro: https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm14545281?s=b2cb06f5-e892-f73d-e047-18192b50f0ee&site_preference=normal
Actors Access: https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/estherjolee

Image Credits
Mary- Wren Photography
Aaron Tyler- Aaron Tyler Photographer
Sarah Elizabeth Mitchell