Actorstemple

Ellie Zeegen

Actress, Co-Founder, Artistic Director

My first acting role was Jane Eyre when I was 15 at school.  Later, University gave me a lot of theory but little practice and I knew something significant was missing from my life. It was during my work as an actress with Southwest Scriptwriters at Bristol Old Vic that made me realize this missing link was acting. After graduating, I successfully gained a 3 year acting contract in the West End and so moved to London. When this job unexpectedly fell through I refused to let it destroy my hopes and in my determination to survive as an actress, I gained a new agent the next day. My passion to give actors power, faith and independence in a difficult industry grew until at last I met and joined forces with Mark, becoming Co-Founder of the Temple in 2003. Watching our company of actors grow and studying with Tom has given me the focus and faith I always sought and acting is now my vocation, not simply a career. I frequently travel between London and Scotland to Chesters Estate , a Georgian home belonging to my husband and I which we hope will become a location for many future Temple productions. I have recently been invited by Edinburgh Film Focus to become a member of their Edinburgh Producer's Group.  I also also coach actors for auditions/castings and am The School of Life's: Expert on Acting and also coach for Spoon Productions. I have produced a number of theatre and other media projects and most recently co-directed Postman's Park with Dominic Kelly.  Acting credits include: Eleanor Scott in The Marvels of Man, Touchy Feely (Bristol New Vic), various projects with Ahh..Performance Lab (Shakespeare's Globe, ICA, Camp Bestival), Olga in Three Sisters at Chesters, Hope in Monday's Child, Country House Rescue (Channel 4, Dec 08/Spring 10) and Muse of Fire. I have also co-written Triptych, a play and screen play which we plan to go into production with in 2010.