It's Never Too Late: Ellen's Comeback at 76

Ellen Michaels is one of our original clients at EFW.   She started training with me in April of 2016 and after a few months, Ellen coerced her husband Jay to join us as well. 

Ellen’s story at 77 should inspire you and encourage you.   Aging doesn’t mean you can’t have new beginnings - in fact, Ellen’s story should show you all the possibilities.

My name is Ellen and I will celebrate my 77th birthday in August. And what I have to celebrate has been a long time coming.

As a child, my mother was active in the local community theater. That got me interested, also. I participated in school and local productions all the way through high school. I majored in theater for the short while I was in college.

I continued acting in stage productions throughout adulthood, always dreaming of becoming a movie star. While I lived in Los Angeles during my 20s and 30s, I had a talent agent and I auditioned frequently. Every single audition brought me a call-back. That means every single time I auditioned, I made a “short list” and that the director was interested in hiring me. I was in several “industrials,” but never made it to The Big Time. Many years later I realized, every single time I went to a call-back for a commercial, television show or movie, there was a voice in the back of my head that said, “You can’t do that. Nobody’s going to hire a nobody out of Kirkwood, Missouri, and make them a star. Besides, you’re not thin enough or pretty enough.” So, of course, I didn’t get past the call-backs. After moving to Houston, I signed with an agent and got to act in a scene next to Chuck Norris in “Walker, Texas Ranger.” I thought that would be the beginning of my acting career. Finally! But later my agent said that I had gained too much weight and that she couldn’t sell me. I gave up the pursuit and eventually even gave up stage acting.

About 20 years went by until a couple of years ago when I got up the courage to audition for a local community theater and I got hired. It felt so good and I had a blast. It was just plain fun. Late last year I contacted a local talent agent, she signed me, and I’ve had a couple of auditions. And then, this past June, I was hired to act in a movie. A real, live movie! It was a fabulous and very rewarding experience. 

As much as I would like to get every job I audition for, just the audition process gets my creative mind working. It brings out a competitiveness that I enjoy feeling. The process is fun. Every audition teaches me something about myself that I might not know otherwise. My self worth isn't dependent upon being a movie star. 

I’m no longer an ingenuine - thank heavens, because the character parts are so much more interesting. I don’t need to try to be a size 8. It ain’t gonna happen. As long as I keep moving and am watchful about my lifestyle, I’m fine. I do have talent to share, and I don’t need to be afraid of the rejections. I have a wonderful life. I have a loving husband, a fat cat, phenomenal step-children and grandchildren who are all healthy, happy, and employed. I have my health, and I still find things to laugh about every day. Life is good.