We were lucky to catch up with Anna Elizabeth Thompson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Anna Elizabeth, so great to have you sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our readers and so let’s jump right into one of our favorite topics – empathy. We think a lack of empathy is at the heart of so many issues the world is struggling with and so our hope is to contribute to an environment that fosters the development of empathy. Along those lines, we’d love to hear your thoughts around where your empathy comes from?
The conditions that allowed me to develop my empathy are the ones I think we all face naturally being in this world. Since I was little, I have always been known to be very empathetic and that hasn’t changed. As we grow older and go through the experiences life throws our way, we have the ability to let those experiences shape us. Whether it be for better or worse is our decision alone to make. I have faced my fair share of difficulties and have chosen to let those experiences shape me for the better.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am an actress – specifically, I have chosen to specialize in film and television. I started my training at just eleven years-old and have continued training for the last thirteen years. Originally, I started with the basics of just learning what acting was about and what it entailed. My training began very based in theatre, however, as I continued to work on and grow my craft I found my real love was based in film and television. Since then, I have taken every possible acting class I could locally and virtually. Right now, I am focused on continuing to build my resume and looking to make work I am proud of. The exciting part about my job, is that I get to live lives that I might never have experienced and learn about things that I might never have thought twice about.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, the three qualities, skills or areas of knowledge that have been most impactful in my journey are:
1. Reading – I think enjoying books and reading a wide variety of genres has greatly helped my work because I think we have the ability to learn a lot from reading.
2. Observance – I think being observant in ones daily life is so greatly important and helpful to my journey.
3. Never giving up – I think working on developing that kind of healthy mindset, is incredibly beneficial.
The advice I have for folks who are early in their journey, would be to seek out new experiences and try to learn whatever you can whenever you can.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
The most impactful thing my parents have done for me is support my no matter what. They have been there for me through every single step and obstacle. They have had back when it felt like no one else did and I was alone in the world. They have always been there to remind me how great I am and how loved I am.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @anna_elizvbeth
- Linkedin: Anna Elizabeth Thompson
- Twitter: @anna_elizvbeth
