Running down the corridors of success with Annelise Hall!

Hi everyone, today I’m chatting with a young actress whose success to date has blown me away. Just looking at the list of tv commercials, theatre plays and short movies she’s done is amazing. Annelise Hall is an 18 year old actor, singer, dancer and influencer who’s certainly well on her way along the path to success.

DB — Hi Annelise. Thanks for making the time to speak to me today. You’ve been on stage since the young age of 6, so despite only being 18, you’ve already got quite an extensive background in showbiz. Could you please tell us a bit about what you’ve done to date?

AH — Sure! So I guess I’ve always loved performing, I used to perform concerts for my family and friends before I even started school. When I was 6, my music teacher gave me a lead part in our school musical Annie and my love for performance grew. I then went on to start dance lessons at NOVA dance studios and drama at Marian St Theatre. Some of the roles I played when I was younger were Ariel in a children’s cabaret performance, Louisa in The Sound of Music and Jasmine in Aladdin twice. More recently, I played Maria in The Sound of Music, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Mitchie in Camp Rock, Kira in Xanadu, in which I was on skates and Ariel in The Little Mermaid, in which the profits were donated to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and contributed towards the company’s donation of over $200,000 to the hospital.

I have been doing theatre forever but I only started screen acting at the age of 15 when I got an agent. I was super fortunate to book my first ever on-screen audition, a KFC commercial, which gave me my first experience being on a professional set. Following that, I have done 5 commercials for Freeview TV as the character, Jen Freeman. I have also filmed commercials for McDonald’s Gourmet Creation’s as well as some small projects for T.O.Y e-cards and Brigidine.

I have done a bunch of short films, which are always such fun as well, most recently The Holy Grail and Blue. In November, I won Starnow’s international acting scholarship out of 12,911 people, which sent me to LA for inclusion in the prestigious Hollywood Immersive course. It was an incredible experience, I was able to meet and work with lots of amazing industry people. I worked at the Beverly Hills Playhouse for a week, did showcases for US agents and managers and had some meetings. It was such an amazing trip, thanks to Starnow and The Hollywood Immersive.

DB –Annelise, I believe you’ve put in the hard yards with study as well, especially in drama and dance? Can you tell us what you’ve studied so far?

AH — Well I definitely think it is still important to keep up with schoolwork and studying whilst pursuing something in another field. I always just tried to find a balance, which can be difficult at times but worth it. At school I do Drama, Music 2 and Music Extension, English Advanced and French. I also studied Modern History for most of the year and I completed my Studies of Religion 2 HSC exam last year in an accelerated course. I do dance and singing lessons outside of school.

Drama is of course my favourite subject. We have an incredible teacher, whose passion, knowledge and support inspired the whole class to get great marks. I am so excited to say that this year my Drama Group Performance was nominated for Onstage, a presentation of the top performances put forward for the HSC. I have also studied Drama outside of school, training at NIDA, Marian St Theatre, ATYP, Screenwise, AIPA and The Beverly Hills Playhouse in LA. I’ve done a range of courses from musical theatre to Shakespeare to improv but I definitely still have a lot to learn.

DB — Your career shows such a wide variety of skills, so let’s start with you as a vocalist and musician. You play keyboards and flute, as well as singing. Have I missed anything out?

AH — Yes well I love music and it’s been a big part of my life. I’ve been singing for as long as I remember and I started learning the piano when I was 5. I started the flute when I was 9 and the guitar in high school. I was in The Sydney Children’s Choir for 4 years. I toured with the group to Europe for a month and had the chance to perform at many important events. I’ve completed my grade 4 musicianship exam, my Grade 8 AMEB Musical theatre exam and my grade 8 trinity exam.

I have always enjoyed being in ensembles and loved singing in the choir and the Senior Vocal Ensemble whilst at school. We competed at the Sydney Eisteddfods and came first in 2016 at the Aus A Cappella Nationals! I really love how music brings people together and I always find ensembles more enjoyable than performing alone.

DB — You’ve also covered a wide variety of styles in dance, from ballet to tap dancing, from jazz to contemporary. I take it that this is one of your great loves Annelise?

AH — Yes I do love dance! I started dance when I was 9 at NOVA studios, doing tap, contemporary and jazz. I absolutely loved it and one of my fondest memories was receiving the dance trophy at the end of year concert. Since then I have done dance classes and workshops at AIPA, Conlan College, Sydney Dance Company and Industry Arts.

I’ve done ballet, jazz, musical theatre, contemporary, tap and hip hop but I still consider myself more of an actor and a singer than a dancer. I have been dancing for a while but it has been more for fun and to assist in musicals, I don’t compete in eisteddfods or dance with any troupes.

DB — Annelise, so far, you’ve done a fair few TV commercials as well as acting in short films. Can you give us a rundown of these to date, and tell me which was your favourite?

AH — Well my first was a KFC commercial that we filmed in Manly. I had to stuff my face with chocolate popcorn, which was slightly overwhelming but it was great experience to be on set. I’ve done 5 commercials as Jen Freeman for Freeview TV. That would probably be my favourite because it’s been a bunch of ads and people often recognise me from it. I’ve also done the McDonald’s Gourmet Creations ads this year.

I have done a number of short films and little screen projects. When I was in LA we re-shot a scene from Me, Earl and the Dying Girl with Cinestudios. It was quite challenging playing a dying girl but definitely an enjoyable project. Also whilst in LA I acted in a music video for P.S Finn’s song ‘The way you do’ which has received some good exposure online. The last thing I shot was a smaller project, a short film set on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. Earlier in the year I acted in a film, The Holy Grail with Bluesanyu Films, where I played the protagonist’s ‘dream girl’ who was killed in a car accident and influences his life. The film is currently in post but will be sent around to festivals next year.

DB — You’ve achieved a lot in singing, dancing, playing various instruments and acting Annelise. That gives you so many different pathways to choose from with your career. If you could go in a time machine, 5 years into the future and see yourself, what do you hope to see?

AH — In five years I would like to see myself working on a successful film, TV show or in a professional stage production. I have always said if I could have the perfect role it would be in a show like glee, which incorporates elements of musical theatre on screen. Of course this is all a dream but I will definitely continue working hard and just see what comes my way. My mum has always encouraged me to just take opportunities as they come and see what happens. I would also like to start making my own videos. Youtube is obviously so huge and I’m starting to get into creating my own content, which I can share online.

Whilst in LA we had a talk on actor administration and how we can make things happen in our career rather than waiting for things to happen. One of the elements of the seminar was mapping out your dream lifestyle and seeing where you want to be in 6 months, a year, 2 years and then 5 years. For me, that was working on a successful film, TV show or stage production in either America or Australia, being near the beach, continuing my yoga practice, creating some of my own content and supporting other actors and industry people on their journey.

DB — thanks for taking the time to chat to me today Annelise. Do you have some links that you can share so that the readers can follow your career?

AH -

Instagram, Website, Youtube and Showcast

David Black regularly writes for Oz Indie Cinema and is the lead singer/ bass player for Darkness Visible