You guys are in for such a treat.We have a very special lady on the docket today. A young, bright, superstar named Charlotte Purser has agreed to give us a little info about her deliciously productive life as a multi-hyphenate badass!Hiya, Charlotte!! Tell our lovely readers a little about yourself, what you do, all that jazz.Name: Charlotte PurserStuff I do: Actor. Filmmaker. Photographer. Coach.Website: www.charlottepurser.comMy production company is ThisThistle Media. More info can be found at www.thisthistle.com.Coaching info can be found at www.nyactingcoach.comMy photography portfolio can be found here: www.charlottepurser.wixsite.com/photographyWhere are you currently based and what brought you here?I live in Long Island City, Queens, where I have lived for 17 years. I moved to New York City in 2000 to be an actor. What's your favorite neighborhood in the city?That's hard to say....It may actually depend on the time of day. My favorite daytime neighborhood is the West Village. I love seeing colonial buildings next to pre-war etc. I love looking at the streets and imagining who lived there once and what it was like when you could only hear horses and no cars.But, if I am out late night/ early morning (a rare occurrence these days) I love sixth avenue in the 40's. The wide, flat, expansive sidewalks are almost completely empty so late at night- devoid of the usual hustle and traffic. The streets have long moments of pure silence as the tourists have long gone to bed and the street traffic is sparse. The buildings slide up toward the sky in just such a way that if you didn't know better, you would think you were in some weird futuristic valley. It has always captured my imagination. And in the midst of all that you can pass a fabulous Art-Deco lobby here or there as you go. It's really pretty brilliant.That sounds absolutely gorgeous. And I have always wanted a glimpse of futuristic valleys, so I will definitely pay a visit to midtown west at night.
At this point, I would say that could very easily have been an architect, but what is your background? I know you studied abroad, right?I have a Master of Arts in Acting from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. I have also studied with the Moscow Art Theatre School in Boston and RADA in London. My undergraduate degree is from the University of Texas at Austin.Beyond that, I am a backpacking traveler at heart who grew up in Texas. My favorite thing to do is travel on the cheap and see new places and meet local people and hear their stories. How did your artistic and cultural background bring you to your current calling in the world?My love of stories and people led me to being an actor. My passion for the art and practice of acting led me to create opportunities for myself and that, in turn, bred in me the love of creation in all its forms- be it writing, directing, editing, acting, coaching actors, or taking pictures. In addition to my own creative work, I freelance as a director, producer, editor, and writer. I recently wrapped a job as first assistant director for season 2 of a brilliantly funny webseries, called Merce. I relish the opportunity to be the 'hired gun', fulfillling the vision of another creative!And if I didn't have enough things on my plate, this Fall I started teaching acting at Montclair State University. This is a natural extension of my ongoing work as a coach for auditioning actors and corporate clients. It is amazing to tap into someone's full potential and help them realize their dreams. Amazing. Life affirming. (Hear, hear!)My love of storytelling, and imagery, and acting led me to the most recent addition to my business: photography. I have been taking pictures for about 20 years but only recently made the leap to actor headshot and professional photography. I love it! I find innate beauty all around me, everywhere I go, so it is incredibly exciting to be able to share that with the world as a service. Well, we definitely agree with that, lady. Speaking of your many callings, what does your ideal client look like?I imagine my ideal client is someone who has been waiting for the world to see how great they really are. The world doesn't realize it yet, but this client is a vast resource of untapped potential just bristling to expand. Clients generally reach out to me when they are ready to move forward toward their wildest ambitions- be it through a new monologue, a new creative project, new website images, family portraits, the headshot that will get them 'in the door', or through finding the power to give that presentation with confidence, clarity, and generosity. I help clients tap into their own potential to get them where they dream to go.Since you act as well, where can our audience see your next performance?My current project is a play that I wrote about my grandmother's journey through Alzheimer's Disease, called The War Letters, directed by Tamilla Woodard. It's a two-hander that I will also be acting in- I can't wait!It is being workshopped and rewritten at the moment- but you will be the first to know when performance dates are set! Do you offer a lecture series or workshop in NYC?That is in the works for 2018 actually. I'll keep you posted about that too!Thank you!!! We can't wait to share! lol.Now, Charlotte, on a typical Friday night, where would readers likely find you?Generally, my nights consist of getting my sweet toddler ready for bed then curling up on the couch with my husband to binge watch something great on TV. I usually fall asleep on that couch while watching whatever it is, even if it's good! Currently obsessed with Brooklyn Nine Nine.That little munchkin is so freaking cute. He is just... so dang cute.What, pray tell, is your favorite film ever made?My favorite film ever made (so far) is The Natural. I love a story with an underdog, a powerful truth, and just enough magic to make us believe in hope again. This one has all of that. Plus, I get so inspired by (spoiler alert!) that moment when Roy Hobbs is running the bases and the lights are exploding all around him. Cinematic magic at it's finest. Breathtaking. When that moment is on the screen, my heart stops, and I take a breath in the silence. It's that sort of moment, that imagery, that inspires me to keep making movies. My wildest hope is to touch something that timeless and beautiful in my own work someday.I am certain that you will. Who is your favorite artist of this generation?I think Ava DuVernay is probably my favorite artist. Her work has that sense of magic and an underdog story that I love. She seems to always work with a powerful truth at the core of her films. Her aesthetic and use of imagery are inspiring and evocative. I also really love that she 'uses her powers for good' so to speak. She is unapologetic and unafraid to speak her mind and her truth. I really admire that about her. Okay, now. Most vital question on here: do you love cheese or do you LOVE cheese?I LOVE cheese! And for me it is a hard choice between a goat cheese and a manchego or nice parmesan... I'm leaning toward a manchego right now. The kind with the little salty bits of mineral or something throughout. What is that stuff? Mmmmmmmmmmmm.Oh, my goooooooood, woman, you are speaking our language. My love for Manchego is pretty high up there. And those yummy mineral bits are actually amino acid clusters that signify a well-aged cheese. I believe they are placed there by small dairy fairies called Tyrosnia Fairia (just believe me, okay?).Sigh. Another interview, another cheese not currently present in my fridge.Well I am off to fix that, but be sure to stay tuned for more news from the dazzling Charlotte!!Fat Love,FatChix.

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