Meet Ella Thomas

We were lucky to catch up with Ella Thomas recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ella, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I lost my Mom to breast cancer when I was in my early 20’s and it truly broke my heart because she was all I had ever known of love. My parents had divorced when I was four and I never saw my Father again; so she had been the sole provider for our family.

And after she passed… there was so much to navigate… including a younger Sister who was struggling to cope. It wasn’t a conscientious choice but us drowning was just never an option. And even though at times when I felt completely overwhelmed by the prospect of trying to rebuild our lives ; I instinctively just kept putting one foot in front of the other….walking with a sort of blind faith.

On some level I think I was trying to honor my Mother’s strength. Originally from Eritrea, we had first moved to Germany and then the United States when I was teenager. She worked four jobs to keep us in private school while simultaneously sending money back home because we had relatives who were still caught up in the chaos of a civil war. She never complained and just walked through life with a quiet dignity, a beautiful smile and an infectious laugh.

I never wanted anyone to think that her death was the most important thing that happened to me because the most important thing that happened to me was her life and her spirit. My resilience is born from a place of wanting honor her sacrifice and live the life she imagined for me. Being a Mother now… when I think everything she gave to us in the short time we had her… I’m filled with gratitude because she taught me to love fearlessly and fully and to dream and always dance. My resilience is a promise… the last promise a daughter made to her Mother so that she could find peace and know we would be okay.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am an actress and producer living in Los Angeles. Over the last few years I’ve witnessed a seismic shift in the film and television industry which has necessitated a pivot for myself as well as so many of my contemporaries.

We are all navigating an unfamiliar landscape precipitated by two major industry strikes coming on the heels of the pandemic. There has been a noticeable contraction in the diversification of story telling as well a continued resistance to permanently shift the default because the measurement of success has become increasingly difficult to quantify . Especially in the wake of the rapid advancement and influence of technology. as well as an already outdated streaming model which continuously seeks to return to over worn trope.

It’s actually that very resistance that has served as the catalyst in the forming of my own production company last year. Motivated by the idea that I want to explore genre bending storytelling that delves into science fiction as well as dystopian futures; “KNOW MERCY” was the first project to fall under the Roaring Queen banner. “KNOW MERCY” was a collaboration with my producing partner Perdell Richardson who was also the director and picked up by Gravitas Ventures for North American Distribution. It had it’s premiere at the Culver City Film Festival where it won the Grand Prize for Best Picture. KNOW MERCY will have a cable on-demand and streaming streaming release February 18th 2025. and is currently available for pre-order on AppleTV where ewe hope to donate a portion of the proceed to School on Wheels in an effort to supply and support students displaced in the fires.

https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/know-mercy/umc.cmc.4pf9dhy5w9nfhqe6un8cm4zi1

Currently , I can be seen starring as Naya in “NIGHTBITCH” opposite Amy Adams which is streaming on Hulu as well as “DEPTH OF FIELD” which is available on Amazon Prime and Apple. Most recent to that I appeared in the Lionsgate feature “DESPERATION ROAD” directed by Nadine Crocker.

Looking forward, I’m excited to announce that I’m attached to the beautifully penned “COYOTES” by Norman Lerpernace which is slated to begin filming late spring and stars the incomparable Eme Ikwuakor (Matlock, Gray Man, Moonfall) in the lead role.

Re-teaming with Perdell; we are tentatively looking to take our latest acquisition “ABSOLUTION” into pre production. I will take on dual roles as both producer and actress on the project.

In addition I am also signed onto SUCKERPUNCH which was written by NEAL MARSHALL (FLAMINGO KID) and is currently in the development phase and will be co-produced in conjunction with Neal Marshall and Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini (former light weight belt holder).

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?

*The thing that has served me the most is my radical optimism and ability to lean in when others might pull back. I’ve learned to just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

*My advice for anyone entering the business is that you have to love what you do but not to the detriment of your happiness or health. We are so often confronted with the image of the tortured artist that the alternative to that existence is perceived as less invested.

*Work hard but work smart because “no” is just a word; not an indictment of ones character or talent. And be resilient because this business is marathon.

*On a more tangible level; be prepared. Take classes, take workshops, intern… ask questions. Honor and respect your craft and back up your talent with work ethic. Be undeniable!

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

Paulo Coehlo’s “The Alchemist” is a book that left an indelible impression on me; specifically the quote :“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it”. There are things that are ultimately meant for us and when we are on the right path… there is a type of synchronicity that happens. Conversely, we have to also pay attention when we are being re-directed and protected from that which is not meant for us.

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Image Credits

Justin Macala, Alana Gilbert

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