I was always creative. I started making puppets and putting on puppet shows when I was about 7-years old. Then I escalated to performing as a cheerleader, which was no small task for me. I began doing musicals in Atlanta Georgia, then moved to New York City and really dove into the craft there. It was in New York that I realized how valuable ALL of my extreme life experience would be for my career. Every challenge and experience became a tool for my craft.
indieactivity: Did you study acting?
Eileen Grubba (EG): Yes, I studied acting and still study to this day. I started at Alliance Theater School in Atlanta, along with private acting classes. When I moved to New York City, I studied at HB Studios and was on the waitlist to audition for The Actors Studio. In Los Angeles, I started with private classes, but soon became a member of The Actors Studio and have studied there ever since. I have some of the greatest acting coaches in the WORLD at The Actors Studio. I believe we must constantly train. We must always be at the top of our game to compete in this industry.
What acting technique do you use?
Eileen Grubba (EG): We study the method at The Actors Studio. Yes, sense memory and lots of techniques. After 24 years of training, I have developed my own technique as well. We all do, I think. We use a little bit of everything we learn, and LOT of all we have experienced in our lifetime.
Do you take courses to improve your craft?
Eileen Grubba (EG): Yes. Constantly in training at The Actors Studio. I do work with private coaches occasionally.
What acting books do you read?
Eileen Grubba (EG): Some of my favorites were by Uta Hagen: Respect For Acting and A Challenge For The Actor. I think I have every major book on acting. Allan Miller wrote a great book too, called A Passion For Acting.
How do you keep fit as an actor?
Eileen Grubba (EG): I read, write, and study people, always. I also keep my body as fit as possible. I hike mountains and go to the gym often. In addition, I have an impeccable plant based diet.
How do you prepare for a role?
Eileen Grubba (EG): I read a script several times and let it sink in. Rehearsals depend on the project.
How do you take a character in a script to a honest, believable and breathing person?
Eileen Grubba (EG): For me, I read and then open up to what comes to me instinctively. I look at the character and what qualities are the SAME as me, and also look at what is different. I believe a true actor finds the character within themselves, and then becomes that part of themselves for the role. The best actors bring the depths of their soul, their pain and suffering, and all of their deepest darkest truths to their roles. A real actor is NOT pretending, but instead bringing great TRUTH to their roles.
Eileen Grubba: Characters for TV and Film: Sons Of Anarchy, HUNG, Nip/Tuck, E.R. and more
How do you stay fresh on set?
Eileen Grubba (EG): I have absolutely no problem going in and out of character quite rapidly. If there is an accent, I will often stay in it all day while shooting, but it’s never a problem to go in and out of character, and I believe this is necessary on sets. When they say action, that character is ON, but when they yell cut, I can laugh, talk with director, hear blocking notes, goof off with cast, or whatever is needed in the moment. I have learned how to play my instrument, and am very confident in that ability, so starting and stopping is easy for me.
Describe a memorable character you played?
Eileen Grubba (EG): One of my most memorable characters was Precious Ryan, ex-wife of Bobby on Sons Of Anarchy. Although the storyline did not continue as it was supposed to, the character made quite an impact. True rage came out of me for this role.
Explain one creative choice you took on set?
Eileen Grubba (EG): Once working with a wonderful director Meg Thayer, playing the first of many crackheads in my career, she gave me the note to speak as if I cannot hear anything. It was a brilliant note, and caused my character to appear even more hysterical and out of control.
What do you want most from a director?
Eileen Grubba (EG): Collaboration, and communication. I love when a director adds to what I am bringing in a creative way. I also love when they let us know if we hit it, or not, and come with suggestions for things to try to make it even better. I believe we are at our best when we know there is a director who we can trust to adjust us in the best possible way for the role. I just had the most wonderful experience with director Niels Arden Oplev on the pilot for Game Of Silence. He really let me run wild for this role, and his notes were always encouraging and collaborative.
What actors do you long to work with?
Eileen Grubba (EG): I’d like to work with Russell Crowe again. I’d love to work with Meryl Streep in a bigger way. There are lots of actors I respect and would love the chance to work with. George Clooney and Brad Pitt would be a blast to work with, I believe. Actually, there are so many great actors I’d love to work with, so it is very hard to answer this. I love working with the most courageous actors.
Why?
Eileen Grubba (EG): Russell Crowe was so engaging on set! I would love the opportunity to work with him on a bigger role, and really play off of him. I love actors who can instantly affect me. He was so laser focused, it was inspiring to watch him work, and to have the experience of being instantly moved the moment the director called action! He surprised me! I love that!
What advice would you give to actors?
Eileen Grubba (EG): Stay put and build credits where you are. The Industry has become global, so you have a better chance of working not in Los Angeles, until you have enough credits and experience to compete in that market. Also know that this career requires enormous endurance and focus. If you are not prepared to struggle for MANY years, with no guarantees of success, then find another passion. Most people aren’t prepared for the rejection, or for the years of struggle most actors endure.
Briefly write about your career?
Eileen Grubba (EG): Eileen Grubba was born in Anchorage, Alaska into a family of eight children. Her memorable, edgy roles in shows like Sons of Anarchy (2008) and Hung (2009) have gained her a reputation for courageous character work. She is a lifetime member of the world renowned Actors Studio where she is known as a force on stage and screen, and is often compared to theatre greats Geraldine Page and Kim Stanley.
Eileen began her professional acting career in Atlanta, Georgia where she trained at the Alliance Theater sang in a choir, performed in musicals, and worked in commercials and Independent films. She then moved to NYC where she trained at HB Studios, sang cabaret, and worked in TV and Film before moving to Los Angeles. In LA she has trained constantly at The Actors Studio under the tutelage of Martin Landau, Allan Miller, Barbara Bain, Lou Antonio, Mark Rydell, Catlin Adams.
She has appeared in many films and Television series, including: NBC’s Game of Silence, Criminal Minds (2005), Bones (2005), Sons of Anarchy (2008), Hung (2009), Enlightened (2011) CSI: Miami (2002), The Mentalist (2008) Cold Case (2003), Nip/Tuck (2003), The Closer (2005), Monk (2002), etc…
On stage she has tackled challenging roles in plays by Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, David Mamet and many more. She was also the lead in many musicals including Cinderella, The Little Shop of Horrors and Dracula.
Perhaps what is most unique about Eileen is her extreme life experience and what she does with it. She overcame a spinal cord injury and paralysis developed during childhood from a vaccine, and later beat cancer that was caused by the treatments. She also lost both parents to cancer at a young age. As a child, they said she would never walk again, but today Eileen hikes mountains, and with her indomitable spirit, is a constant inspiration to others.
She is an advocate for children with disabilities and fights for the inclusion of people with physical differences in the Entertainment Industry. She speaks at conferences and events about overcoming life’s challenges. A fighter all her life, she refuses to give up her quest to make a difference in the Entertainment Industry. She draws on her heavy life experience to create dramatic characters with gut-wrenching emotional depth and compassion, on stage, onscreen, and in her writing.
Eileen is a writer, director, producer, and has an extensive resume in casting, working for network shows and feature films. She has been hired to write several screenplays with strong women characters, and has produced several films and a pilot.
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