Meet Eliza Hayes Maher: Actor, Writer, Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eliza Hayes Maher and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eliza Hayes, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I’ve asked myself this question approximately 239802938 times since I graduated from college. I’ve chosen a career in the entertainment industry – one that relies mostly on other people giving me the approval to do something that I know I’m good at – and much of my time is spent waiting on a “yes” that often doesn’t come. Even as I get older, and relatively more “successful” (whatever that means anymore) I’m not convinced that the question will ever fully go away. What I do know is that I have gotten better at talking myself down from the proverbial cliff’s edge when it pops into my head. I’ve learned that when we ask our selves: “should I just give up?” We’re usually being too extreme. We ought to ask ourselves questions like: do I need a break? Or, should I offer myself time and space away from this thing so that I can tend to my mental or physical health? Or, is this fun anymore? These questions take the dramatics out of the dialogue – they give us the steering wheel, and allow us to figure out what’s bringing us joy and what isn’t. I moved away from musical theatre 6 years ago because it wasn’t bringing me happiness anymore.I changed coasts, my focus within the industry, and subsequently, my life. So when you ask yourself the question: should I give up? I think the better question is: am I still having any fun? If the answer is no, press pause. Take a breath. You’ll find your way back to it if it’s right. But the most important thing I’ve learned over the last few years, is that if you spend your life waiting for other people to tell you you can do things, you’ll be waiting a long time. And you need to start saying yes to yourself in order to understand your full potential. So before you give up, consider how you are (or are not) taking the steering wheel in your own career. Consider that not everyone has the same definition of success. Consider that the best version of you in your field might exist at 50 instead of 25, and that your timeline might not be what you had once expected. And please oh please – try creating your own projects, writing your own things, and steering your own ship before quitting. Because persistence is truly 75% of the work.

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.
I moved to LA 5 years ago after a 7 year stint in NYC doing musical theatre, and I’m now working almost full-time as a creative – acting, writing, producing & creating. It certainly wasn’t an easy journey getting here, and honestly I’m still not sure where “here” is. It seems to change every month and honestly, I’m ok with that! In the months leading up to quarantine, I was booking consistent commercial work as an actor and that seemed to be my “bread and butter”. But 6 months later I found myself writing and starring in a commercial as a first-time solo producer, and a few months after that I was starting a Tik Tok to house my comedy ideas. Now I’m creating content every day for an audience of 230k, and generating income through social media! I guess what I’m saying is: your path as a creative is constantly evolving, and it can go anywhere if you’re open to it. I could never have guessed as a 19 year old in musical theatre school, that one day I would be given a budget, be in charge of a crew, and happily tasked with creating commercial content. I could never have guessed that one of my pilots would place in The Austin Film Festival, or that a few years after I started writing, I would have 3 pilots and a feature film under my belt. When things don’t go as planned – both in career and in life – we have two choices: unravel or adjust. I unraveled for most of my 20’s, and now (thanks to therapy, good friends, and a lot of trial and error) I adjust. Learning to be flexible with my own career, impossible timelines, and definition of success has done wonders for my mental health. And finding opportunity in failure has allowed me to steadily grow from “actor”, to “full-service creative”. My story is unique, ever-evolving, and so is yours. And the thing that I’m most proud of about mine, is that it only exists because of failure. I have only ever had minor successes because of major missteps. We cannot know our best creative work until we give ourselves the chance to dream it up, create it, and safely fail.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The Last Bookstore – weird, peaceful, full of little treasures, and in an often-looked over area of the city: DTLA. Cento Pasta Bar – this tiny little pop-up pasta lunch spot in DTLA. You watch the chef cook your pasta over a glass of wine at 1pm on a Tuesday. It feels like skipping school in the best way.
The Secret Beach – I can’t tell you where it is because then it wouldn’t be a secret. But let’s be friends so I can show you!
Hollywood Forever Cemetery – I went there for the first time not too long ago and found it so peaceful and interesting.
Griffith Park – it’s my favorite place to hike, run, have alone time, read, people watch, etc. etc.
Joshua Tree – it’s a must-see for visitors in my opinion. Great for thrifting, listening to music, looking at the stars, and being quiet.
Jewel & Vinovore – Jewel is this super cool vegan spot in Silverlake with delicious food and good vibes. Down the street is a very cool all-female produced wine shop called Vinovore. A great pocket of local spots for LA folks and visitors alike.
Maury’s Bagels – best bagel in LA in my opinion – plus they have vegan cream cheese.
Vromage – incredible vegan cheese shop in West Hollywood. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The Buffalo, NY Theatre Community – I was raised by two actor parents, in a city that is driven by the arts. I couldn’t have fathomed a creative work life without the opportunities given to me by my teachers, directors, mentors & colleagues in Buffalo. Even now, as they are busy overcoming the pandemic & continuing to steadily grow an already-flourishing theatre community, they find space to cheer me on from afar. There is no group of humans I love or respect more, and I will always be an advocate for the important work that they do to keep professional theatre & arts education alive in Buffalo.

Website: www.elizahayesmaher.com

Instagram: @elizahayesmaher

Twitter: @eelyezuh

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNt6M-x0amXOsr_KBXbU9xA

Tik Tok: @elizahayesmaher

Image Credits
SA Turshen Hannah Wilkinson