Meet Erin Zipse | Actress

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

Hi Erin, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
Honestly, this is one of those things where giving up is not an option. The acting industry is EXTREMELY hard. There are days where I am questioning whether I’m good enough, or whether I’m making the right decision being in the industry. It would be so much easier to work a practical job full-time, and then at least I would have some free time to relax when I am done with the 9 to 5. But I can’t. I can’t give up on acting. There is something, whether it be the universe or who knows what, that has drawn me to acting since I can remember. A need to perform, to tell stories, to create lives. I could never give it up, because there will always be something in me needing to express myself through acting. I mean, for a while I did give it up and went to college with a practical major, and I still felt that need pulling me back to this life. There’s something about the moment you take on a character, learn their history, feel empathy for them, know what it is like to literally step into their shoes, that excites me more than anything else in this world. You can live a thousand lives by acting, experience things you’ve never experienced before, and I wouldn’t ever give that up for anything.

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 feel like what sets you apart in the acting field is just being yourself. You can give a room full of actors the same sides, and you will never see the same scene twice. Each actor will bring their own background, imagination, movement, etc. to the piece. And that makes it unique. Just being myself and having my own life experiences makes my work different from the other extremely talent actors. I do not ever envy casting’s job, since it is so hard to watch that many talented people and decide on what path to take for a project.

As for how I believe I have gotten this far… there are literally so many reasons. Everything I have done in life has gotten me here today. I am lucky, because I got a chance to go to the University of Arizona, Eller School of Business, Yes, I know I did not get a degree in acting, but the business degree has actually helped me with the more professional side of the industry. There are so many talented actors, that again, can do the craft in so many beautiful ways. Based on my experience, the biggest difference is professionalism. Being able to network, build resumes, interview (audition), etc. These are all things I was blessed with learning and have helped me get many jobs. Now, I didn’t learn the specifics of the entertainment industry, so I took (and still take) classes to keep up with the ever changing industry. Any bit of knowledge you can get about this industry is gold.

Past that, comes the most important part: the craft. Acting is an art, there is not a formula you can complete to do it right (trust me, it was hard for me to learn that as the control freak that I am). With the knowledge I learned from research and networking, I was able to train with some of the most incredible instructors who have helped me hone my craft to what it is today. I have taken courses in Meisner, Method, Stanislavski, Margie Haber, Shakespeare, etc. I believe the diversity of learning is what makes the best actor. Learn everything, and then find out what works for you. And then let go, and see what art you can create. Either way, training is one of the mist important things you can do for your career, in any field. I will be learning new things until the day I die, and that’s the way I like it.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to always stand up for yourself. Don’t just let life pass you by waiting for something to happen. You need to get up and make it happen. If you are not getting any roles, make one. Write your own script and film it. Go out and create for yourself. You are the only one getting in your own path of success. Also, always advocate for yourself. If you believe in something, do it. Don’t let anyone tell you “that’s just how it is”. Break those barriers. Nothing is ever set in stone. Change it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am newish to Los Angeles. I moved here last January, and naturally have not seen most of the city yet, because of how busy I’ve been. I do love where I currently live on the west side. Being someone who spent most of my life in the land-locked state of Kansas, I LOVE being by the ocean. I could spend an entire weekend just hanging on the beach. I got a bike here to get around town, because traffic can be hard. One of my favorite things to do it bike down to the beach and go for a walk or run on the sand. I also love to go down there and just work on running line or character work for whatever acting projects I have coming up. No matter the time of year, the weather is amazing here, and it is great to just hang out by the water (bundled up in a snow jacket if it is winter but still).

When I am not going to the beach, I love to go to Abbott Kinney with friends. Dinner, drinks, dancing, all of it is there. And I like that it gives a more chill vibe than other bustling going out spots.

Of course I would also recommend going up near Hollywood and watching some shows (shoutout to the Groundlings and UCB). It is amazing all the talent that is in this town. Tickets are so cheap to see some of the best talent in the world. It is mind-blowing to me, and also very amazing. Even student shows at the schools are extremely well done. Definitely need to take advantage of the shows in Los Angeles if you come to visit.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many amazing people who have helped me get to where I am today. I want to thank all my past instructors who have trained me in this craft, my agents who have helped me get to where I am today, all the other creatives I’ve worked with who have given me a chance in this crazy industry, and my family and friends who have supported me throughout this career. I could start listing out everyone, but then this would get wayyy too long. Because without every single great/astonishing/awe-inspiring/extraordinary/incredible/etc. person I have met along the way, I would be nothing. So, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Website: https://erinzipse.com

Instagram: @erinzipse

Youtube: @zipseproductions

Other: IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12929242/
TikTok: @erinzipse