Meet Chelsea Ingram | Actress, Writer and Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chelsea Ingram and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chelsea, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I recently shot feature film The Drift directed by Brendan Pike – it was my first thriller film. I play a female drug lord and had to go into an extremely dark place to understand this character, while on set I stayed extremely focused and almost in character as it was hard to continue to recreate such a brutal woman. The violence and stunts in this film was also a huge stepping stone and risk for me – I normally stay about from such parts however when I was presented with the script – it told such a unique and powerful story, I had to jump on board.

I also was thrown into crazy stunts, jumping off hills, swimming in large bodies of water and for the first time using a fake weapon on set. It was an insane experience.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I moved to New York when I was 19 after being accepted into the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, with no family, connections and limited finances.

Let’s just say NYC $1 pizza slice really saved me.

Upon graduating I booked 2 feature film roles gaining my SAG membership. I also co produced and starred in The Pilot The Loft.

New York City is an insane place to live and work – I came out as a lesbian when I was 25 and the personal shift and self discovery as a person and artist really changed and formed who I am today.

I now primarily work with and support individuals across the LGBT+ community.

Growing up in Rural Australia I have always been fascinated with rural suburban living and the sensitive stories of what goes on behind closed doors – my play Keep Calling with debuted in Sydney and travelled to NYC preforming for a week at The Hudson Guild Theatre was my first step into work as a writer/actress/directer.

Keep calling was based on a unique and forbidden relationship of children living in North East Queensland – at times shocking audiences – however productions was sold out across the board in both Countries. Keep Calling was my first story based in rural areas, dealing with drugs, love, sex and sexuality. I feel it really was the beginning establishment of who I am as an artist today.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Tout suit! The amount of times I have hung out here and wrote screenplays! The servers are awesome.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am director of CMIFilms a Brooklyn based film production company exploring the lives of individuals living in rural communities.

As an actress I have recently shot two CBS TV shows; Bull with Michael Witherby and Tommy along side Edie Falco.

I am currently in pre production of two short films Ring the Rosie shooting in Pennsylvania and Yolk in rural Australia.

Website: Cmifilm.com

Instagram: Chelsea.m.ingram

Image Credits
Shooting in Bushwick Brooklyn Scouting for the film The Good People Headshot – Jeffrey Mosier