I think that I demonstrated a flair for dramatics at a pretty young age haha. I loved telling stories. I trained as a competitive figure skater for 10 years and that was my main extra-curricular as a kid. But I was always singing around the house – to the extreme annoyance of my family. I remember being obsessed with the 2007 movie musical “Hairspray” and dressing up as Penny Pingleton for Halloween that year. Although, it wasn’t until high school that I got involved in the performing arts through Shakespeare plays, musicals and show choir in my hometown of Waterloo, Ontario.
Who inspired you to follow your dream to pursue acting?
There’s a commencement speech that Jim Carrey gave in 2014 about chasing your dreams. In the midst of my own mid-youth crisis, his words really woke me up. I realized that the choices I had been making about my future, were made as he put it, “out of fear, disguised as practicality”. He said that “you can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.” It hit me like a lightning bolt and I realized all at once that I wasn’t going to be truly happy pursuing a career that was not creative.
What challenges have you faced in the entertainment industry? What has been your most rewarding experience?
Auditioning was a huge challenge for me after acting school when I was first starting out. It became clear to me early on that I needed to hone my audition technique and learn how to combat my nerves. So I worked hard at it and took a couple on camera auditioning classes. Auditioning gets easier and easier every time, especially if you’re returning to a casting director who has already seen you before for another project. I’ve learned to enjoy the process (because you really have nothing to lose), and to approach every audition as an opportunity to grow as an actor, regardless of the outcome.
I’m fortunate to have had many rewarding experiences performing, but some of my favourite memories have been on set. There is something electric about building a world around you that convinces even the crew members of your character’s reality while you’re filming. It’s so rewarding to collaborate with other artists and work together towards a common goal of bringing a script to life.
What is your favourite type of character to play?
I love playing characters that are relatable and a little dorky. No matter what the genre, I’m always looking for ways to bring comedic, human quirks to a character. And on the more dramatic side of things, I love playing characters that have fight in them, even in the most tragic circumstances. Those stories are so important to tell, and it is so fulfilling as an actor to get to delve into those characters. Most of the roles I go out for are in the teen/young adult age range, and I LOVE playing there. Teenagers are often extremely emotionally charged and have a lot going on, so it’s really fun to access that as an actor in my 20’s. I embrace all challenges.
What market do you currently work in? Are there other areas you would like to work?
Right now I’m focusing my energy into film and television acting, and I’m based in Toronto. The film industry is growing rapidly here, especially with festivals like TIFF giving Canadian content the exposure it deserves. I’m also very interested in the prospect of creating my own content. I’m currently in the process of writing a screenplay for a feature film that I’m hoping to star in and direct.
What advice would you give to someone new trying to make it in the acting industry?
Let go of perfection. I’m a huge perfectionist in real life, and one of the biggest things I struggled with in acting school was always trying to execute the “perfect” performance that I pictured in my head. It’s okay to have high expectations of yourself as an artist but it will hinder your performance if you are so self-aware and critical of yourself that you miss out on what’s happening in the moment. Never forfeit the opportunity to work off of your scene partner. Life is messy and so are people, so your characters are allowed to be too. Don’t be afraid to give yourself the freedom to fail and know that you are never a finished product. Your craft is always a work in progress and the training never stops.
What fuels your passion?
What drives me is the power to impact people. I think it’s probably the most powerful thing in the world; our ability to make someone else (especially a stranger) feel something. What I love about film is that it sort of puts a microscope on the world, and forces us to reflect on ourselves and on society as a whole. Film is more than just entertainment for the masses, it’s a catalyst for positive change. If I can spend my life being a part of that in any capacity, I will be happy.
What is something about you that most people would never guess?
I could probably eat more than my own body weight in popcorn.
Who are you represented by?
I’m represented by Tovah Small of Meridian Artists. She’s an absolute gem to work with.
Where have you trained?
I trained intensively in screen acting for two years in the Acting for Film & Television program at Humber College. Since graduating last year, I have trained at The Lighthouse Acting Studio and do private audition coaching sessions when time allows. I’m looking to train at Second City next!
If you were to do it all over again, would you do things exactly the same? Do you have any regrets? Successes that make you proud?
I regret not starting earlier. I regret not taking singing lessons/dance lessons/acting lessons when I was a kid. But on the other hand, I had to work harder than some of my peers to sort of “catch up” and it showed me how badly I want this for myself. Work ethic is not always something that can be taught and it is one of my most valuable traits. Talent is wasted on laziness. What makes me most proud of myself is my consistent personal and artistic growth. That’s how I measure my success as an actor. This past pilot season I’ve had the opportunity to audition for so many amazing projects, many of them Netflix series, that I never would have dreamt of a year ago when I was graduating from college. Getting in the room is an accomplishment all on its own, regardless of whether or not you get the part.
Headshot photo taken by Hilary Gauld Commercial Photography
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Clarice is represented by Meridian Artists in Toronto http://www.meridianartists.com
