Conni pursued her passion academically by studying Drama and Dance in the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Calgary. However, she soon decided to leave her degree behind and move to Toronto, Ontario, to train under Earl Nanhu at EVN Film Studios. In the early stages of her career, she appeared in short films, commercials, and web series, gaining valuable on-set experience and building connections within the industry. We met to discuss her career and latest project, the new medical drama ‘Doc’.
Conni, thank you for taking the time to speak with us. What initially drew you to a career in acting, and how did your background in dance influence your journey?
Thank you for taking the time to speak with me! Being a dancer, I have always loved performing. I knew it was something I wanted to do in life in some capacity. However, with dance, I always felt like it was not an exact perfect fit for me. Sometimes I’d feel like I didn’t have the right feet or that I would never be able to make my body bend that way. It wasn’t until I had my first acting class in grade 12 that everything clicked for me. I instantly fell in love with the brainier elements of the art. For example, I love getting analytical about a scene or doing a deep dive on a specific career. For me, acting combined everything I loved about dance with the added intellectual and investigative elements I was looking for.
Can you share some of your early influences in the performing arts and how they shaped your approach to acting?
When growing up, I used to perform in a children’s company called Alberta Dance Theatre. The style of performance was primarily dance but used theatrical elements as well to tell classic children’s novels. I loved performing with this company so much! I was with them for something like 8 years. One year, I distinctly remember having to take a lot of risks when I got cast as the character of Augustus Gloop from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. That really got me out of my shell! Over the years, I played loads of different characters with the company. And I think, because of this, I feel freer to explore in my acting work!
Your role in Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla was a significant turning point in your career. How did this experience impact you both professionally and personally?
Professionally, it has given me incredible “film-street-cred”, if that is a thing! She’s an iconic director, so it has opened many doors and conversations for me. The movie also changed the course of my career for me as I had to quit my bartending job to film it. From then on, I technically became a full-time actor. Since then, I’ve had to learn how to navigate the ups and downs that come with this career, which felt a lot more challenging without the security of a part time job.
What was it like transitioning from a dancer to an actor, and how did your training at EVN Film Studios contribute to your development?
Training with the man, the myth, the legend, Earl Nanhu at EVN has given me so many of the wonderful things in my life! Words cannot express the depth of my gratitude for everything Earl has done for me. I met him right as I was transitioning from dance into film acting. I knew so little about the craft going into my first class. He has truly helped to build my acting foundation from the ground up. Also, so much of Earl’s training is rooted in spirituality and meditation. He has been a big force in guiding me to living a good and happy life.
You’ve worked on a variety of projects, from Hallmark movies to The Boys. How do you choose your roles, and what do you look for in a script?
I love a character or project that provides me with a challenge of some sort. I’m thrilled to play characters whose personalities or life experiences are very different from my own. I enjoy it when a character has a complex job because that is a great reason for me to learn more about that career! But also, I’m very excited when a project provides me with an opportunity to learn more about the industry. Recently, I produced my first short film, and I loved that experience for that very reason. I challenged myself to learn about an entirely new world of filmmaking and it felt very rewarding.
Can you tell us about your experience working on the drama series Doc and what audiences can expect from your character, Nurse Liz?
Wonderful experience! First off, everyone working on that set was lovely and so passionate to do good work. I think this often comes from the examples set by our leaders at the top, like showrunner, Barbie Kligman and lead Molly Parker, to name a few. Their positive and kind attitudes were infectious and resonated through the whole cast and crew. On a personal note, I loved being able to learn more about the medical field. I found the profession as well as the specific medical conditions and procedures to be fascinating.
With Nurse Liz, I think audiences can expect to have some fun moments with her! She’s a person who brings a lot of light and levity into the heavy moments of the show. However, Liz will have to face some challenges of her own. She can sometimes feel unsure of herself or get easily overwhelmed, and this might cause some conflict down the road.
You’ve recently ventured into producing with the short film The Butchers. What inspired you to take on this new role, and how does it differ from acting?
My partner, Chad Andrews, inspired me! He is an actor, and this was his first time directing and producing. I spent several months cheering him on from the sidelines and watched as he became more invested and excited about the work. He was learning so much about filmmaking, it was incredibly inspiring to watch. Eventually, he needed to bring on more help, and I asked if I could join the team as one of his producers. Being behind the camera is a whole new world! There are so many more pieces to the puzzle than I had known about before. I’ve already noticed this knowledge has started to inform me differently as an actor, and for the better!
How has collaborating with renowned directors like Sofia Coppola influenced your career and opened new opportunities for you?
Sofia is iconic and lucky for me, everyone wants to hear more about the experience! I’ve been fortunate! Being a part of Priscilla has opened the door to many conversations with new people. Also, being associated with the film has helped to legitimize me as an actor, which I am very grateful for.
With upcoming projects like Lucky Star and His Father’s Son, what are you most excited about in 2025, and how do these roles challenge you as an actor?
I am so proud of these films. I really hope they do well in their respective releases! I would love to continue to be a part of great films. I hope to play a role in the creation of strong and ambitious movies this year. I feel ready for 2025! Here’s to new and exciting challenges for all of us!
Outside of acting, you have interests in film photography, yoga, and travel. How do these hobbies contribute to your creativity and work-life balance?
These hobbies all provide something different for me! Yoga is critical for my mental health and mindfulness. Film photography, or photography in general, acts as a way to play and create new sparks of inspiration. And travel provides me with a break or as a way to connect and spend some quality time with family. At the end of the day, for me, work-life balance involves me truly loving my life, and these are some of the things that help to make my life feel so full.
Image provided by Project Four
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