Deadly Beauty: Horror’s Scream Queens and Rising Talent: Elissa Dowling

Deadly Beauty: Horror’s Scream Queens and Rising Talent: Elissa Dowling

“The desire to perform came early for Elissa Dowling, by age 8 she was dancing in the NYC Ballet Company’s “The Nutcracker”. At age 11 she was invited to tour with an improv troop where she gained valuable experience in the art of ad lib. By 13 she had already starred in stage productions including “Little Shop of Horrors” and had her television debut as the notorious lips singing the opening theme song from “Rocky Horror Picture Show”. The transition from stage to screen has worked well for Elissa whose expansive acting range has already landed her unique and diverse movie roles such as a transvestite bartender, an attorney, a serial killer, even a gothic dominatrix from New York. Her skills as a character actress have afforded her film performances so intense that she is almost completely unrecognizable. Several of the films she has starred in have been lined up with Lions Gate distribution and she has also achieved a recognized body of work within the independent movie circuit.”*

Location: Los Angeles, Califorinia

1. How did you get into the industry?

Mom was an Exec at the NBC TV Network so I grew up exposed to the entertainment industry. I also booked the understudy role for Young Cosette in Les Miserables on Broadway when I was just a wee one. Aside from that, I was a dedicated ballerina back then and danced with the NYC Ballet production of The Nutcracker for several years. After high school, I took a break from performing and went to college for fine arts. Then I graduated, moved out to LA and film just kinda fell into place. So, here I am.

2. What Scream Queen inspired you most?

Shelly Duval’s performance in “The Shining” was mind blowing. She’s the number one Scream Queen in my book.

3. What are the next couple projects you are working on?

You never know till the camera rolls, but it looks like my next project is super hero web series called “Power Trip”. I play the lead villain muwhuhahaha! I’m also in talks to play another villain in a super hero short being put together by someone I worked with on the feature, “Pain Is Beautiful”. What’s up all these villain roles, guys? I’m a really nice person (laughing).

I’m also really excited to be shooting “There Goes The Neighborhood” in September and “Bonejangles” this October! And if all goes as planned, I will be joining a huge horror franchise next year. Like super huge, like career making huge! Can’t tell you which one though. We actors are often sworn to secrecy (laughing). And of course, there’s “The Mangled“. We have a great cast of horror icons attached to that project so stay tuned.