Liesl Ehardt is an actor living in LA who spends notable time in NYC and wears a smile daily. Her acting adventures have taken her from the Stage to TV, Film and into Blogging, where she looks forward to sharing her thoughts, while remaining positive, and hopefully offering a refreshing outlook.
She holds a BFA in Acting degree and is a member of both SAG and AFTRA. Hopefully you will follow her on her adventure as she continues to take “baby steps” towards becoming a successful actor with possible hosting/personality spots along the way. Ultimately, she hopes to open and be an active part of her own Children’s Charity Foundation.
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October 13, 2011
I know it has been some time since I’ve blogged here on Film Industry Bloggers, and a lot has happened since then. One thing I want to share with all of you because it seems relevant to me in a blog about film.
As mentioned in one of my previous blogs, Zita Johann, a well-known actor in the late 1920’s into the 40’s, is a cousin of mine. She starred alongside Boris Karloff in “The Mummy,” as well as on stage opposite Clark Gabel in “Machinal,” and she worked with director/producer Orson Welles.
Shortly after learning about details of my relationship to Zita and posting it on my website, I was contacted by a dear friend of Zita’s, Rick Atkins. He has since become a friend of mine, as well, and has shared endless information, pictures, audio recordings, articles and more with me about Zita, whom I, unfortunately, never got the chance to meet or know.
Many who knew Zita, personally or through her work, believe she and I share a strong resemblance to each other, especially in our large, almond shaped, chocolate brown eyes. In fact, when Rick and I first met for lunch, during one of his Los Angeles visits, his eyes filled with tears as he was “reminded of Zita standing before him looking back through my eyes.”
Since my discovery of Zita, I have learned that she and I are a lot alike, especially when it comes to our shared love of working with children and how it has slowly become more rewarding than having an acting career. Honestly, I feel a strong bond to her, which may seem odd, since we did not know each other, but I have felt this need to make her proud to ensure that her name lives on positively in an industry that has changed so much since her days in the Golden Age of Hollywood and beyond.
So, when Rick told me that he had written a book all about Zita Johann, that without me “his incentive to author this book would not have happened,” and when he kindly asked if I would please write the Afterword for it, I was not only touched, but honored. This was a request I was proud to fulfill, without hesitation!
I sat down with all the things I had learned about Zita and began to write. What came of those words is now included in Rick’s book, titled Guest Parking: Zita Johann. After the recent release of the book, Rick sent me a copy for my birthday with the words, “For Liesl, my special friend” inscribed inside, alongside his signature, which I will always treasure.
I wanted to let all of you know about this book in support of Zita’s life and legacy, as well as for my friend Rick. It is currently available on Amazon.com, if you wish to pick up a copy. You will find it filled with information on her, stories from her life, her Broadway to Hollywood adventures, an unpublished play she wrote in the late 1930’s titled “And Then It Was Morning,” many beautiful pictures of a time full of style and elegance, and much more.
Honestly, I still can’t believe the words I wrote have actually been published, something which happened to be on my Bucket List of things to do one day. Needless to say, I am thrilled. I want to thank Rick for allowing me to be a part of this special and meaningful project to honor Zita’s memory. I hope all of you also will be able to enjoy it!
“I couldn’t dedicate myself to being an actress the way I should have. In acting, sometimes you have to lose yourself in a role you’re playing to find yourself. I think I’ve found myself in my work with children.” - Zita Johann
February 17, 2010
I realize it has been a little while since I last blogged. Thus, I wanted to write a quick one and share the exciting news of my dear friend, and fellow actor Chris Chalk, whom I mentioned in my previous blog. He has landed a role on Broadway, opposite two-time academy award winning actor Denzel Washington, in August Wilson’s “Fences!”
Needless to say, I could not be more thrilled for him. No one deserves this more because he is not only extremely talented, but also giving, kind and a wonderful person and friend as well. He and I first met in college where we were getting our Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in acting and theatre. Since then, he has been a big part of both my family’s and my life, and we support him all the way and could not be prouder!
The play is set to hit Broadway, in previews, on April 14th, at the Cort Theatre. So, if you, or any of your friends, find time in New York City, and feel like taking in a show and/or seeing Denzel Washington right in front of you, I would love for you to check it out and help to support Chris! He is the last person to brag about his accomplishments or spread the word. Instead he is always so humble and gracious. Therefore, I have decided to take on the role of a fan, in this moment, and spread the word myself!
On a side note, I have received e-mails asking about getting into the acting industry in general and how one goes about getting started later in life. These are great questions, and I would love to be able to offer some insight and any help I can on the topic. Therefore, next week, I plan to blog about just that and welcome any of your thoughts, in the comment section below or via e-mail, on it as well. Until then, know that my heart is smiling for Chris, and that I appreciate each of you stopping by!
“Always looking to grow, love, learn, teach, work, relax, play, help, trust, care…trying my best to be my best me.” – Chris Chalk
January 13, 2010
Here I am again, right on schedule, as promised, and home in LA after a nice break back east. Last week while in NYC, I went to see the Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of “Present Laughter,” a Noël Coward play starring Victor Garber, known by most for his role on “Alias,” as the father of Jennifer Garner. Harriet Harris, whom you might recognize from “Desperate Housewives,” also appears. They were both fantastic, and I really enjoyed the play overall. It consists of three acts, with two intermissions, which make the running time longer than most, but the cast kept the story, action and comedy moving well. The elegant and elaborate art deco set, was quite appealing to the eye from all angles.
The play revolves around Garry Essendine, an egotistical actor, played by Garber, who is about to celebrate his birthday with a trip to Africa. In the opening of the show, a pretty, young girl, Daphne Stilllington, played sweetly by Holley Fain, visits him after she has “lost her latch key,” a running joke throughout the play. During this time we meet all three of Garry’s assistants: his secretary, Monica Reed, played by Harriet Harris; his butler, Fred, played by James Joseph O’Neil, and his German maid, Miss Erickson, played by Nancy E. Carroll. Garry is still very much in contact with and close to his ex-wife, Liz Essendine, played by the well established Lisa Banes, who enters the plot when she suspects an affair between Garry’s manager, Morris Dixon, played by Marc Vietor, and the wife of his producer, Harry Lyppiatt’s, played by Richard Poe. The wife, Joanna, played by Pamela Jane Gray, sports a stunning, eye-catching, elegant, empire-waisted, long, flowing, black and white dress in the first act, which I so much wanted for myself! During Liz’s expression of her suspicion to Gary, the overly flamboyant Roland Maule, played perfectly, with no shortage of laughs, by Brooks Ashmanskas, visits him and wants his play critiqued by Garry. As the plot develops, we see the interaction between all the characters, along with a little blackmail, seduction and an assortment of escapades. So, if you find yourself in Manhattan, I highly recommend this show and feel the comedy will bring some refreshing laughs into your life.
While in the city, I also took in “The Silk Road Exhibit,” on the upper west side, at the American Museum of Natural History, and met up with my very good and extremely talented friend and fellow actor Chris Chalk, for dinner at Scaletta Ristorante, which was delish! During this time, I realized that one of the things I do miss, living in LA, is the opportunity to go to Broadway shows and see a variety of good theatre, especially musicals, all packed with the true talent NYC holds. I think I got spoiled living in the city, after college, and having the ability to walk to shows at every turn. Also, I’ve been fortunate growing up so close to the city and having extraordinary parents who believe in the arts and took us to musicals, plays, exhibits and more, from a very young age on.
All in all, 2010 has been a great year, even though it has just begun, and I feel good about it while looking forward to all it has to offer! I hope it is playing out positively for you as well, and, if not, remember that you are in control of your own adventure in life, so you have to make it happen, something my marvelous mother often encouragingly reminds me. ‘Til next time, try to enjoy your own adventure, and I’ll do the same!
“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” – Oprah Winfrey
January 6, 2010
Let me start by wishing everyone a Happy New Year, 2010!!! I cannot believe that a decade ago I was in one of my favorite countries, Australia, in the middle of the crystal, cyan blue waters of the Great Barrier Reef, ringing in the Millennium with my fabulous family, marking some of my best memories to date. Ten years later, we found ourselves all together, yet again, but this time in our Nation’s capital with a slightly bigger family consisting of two adorable nephews and a another brother-in-law.
With that said, I realize I have been away from FIB and all of my loyal and supportive blog readers for some time, far too much time in fact, and for that, I sincerely apologize! Please know that I thought about you often and have truly missed my days blogging with you. So, along with my new year’s resolution to drink more water, I also plan to pick up where I left off and continue my weekly Wednesday blogs, so get ready!
In addition, I want to thank each of you for your continued support while on my journey as an actor and through life, as well as all of your sweet comments and thoughtful messages, even when I was nowhere to be found in blog land! I continue to be amazed and touched by those of you who have shown interest in me, my blogs and/or acting career. Recently, I was at an event and approached by someone who asked if I was the Liesl who blogged with Film Industry Bloggers. After confirming that I was, he graciously proceeded to tell me that he really enjoyed reading my blogs, especially the one written on Carla Laemmle, and even recalled part of what I had written, which meant more to me than he could possibly know.
What have I been up to exactly, you might be asking. Well, this quick 6-month wrap up, since my last blog, should help catch you up to speed…
Love entered my life unexpectedly and the adventure has been wonderful, I went on a wine tasting weekend in Paso Robles, I attended an Angels vs. Yankee game, toured the Getty Villa in Malibu, my younger sister got married in beautiful Santa Barbara, in what was a lovely fall wedding, I gained a brother-in-law who fits in with our family perfectly, I attended Carla Laemmle’s 100th birthday and got to meet the gracious Sara Karloff, daughter of Boris Karloff, who paid me a lovely compliment about my acting in “Kreating Karloff” and said she was excited to meet me, yes, little me, I dressed up for Halloween for the first time in years, picnicked on the beach in Laguna, continued work on “Rock of Ages” with Telsey Casting and the fabulous Rachel Hoffman, where I also reunited with talented actor David Tom, with whom I acted in my first TV role, “Holy Joe” on CBS, I threw my 6th annual holiday par-tay, visited Disneyland while it was decorated for Christmas, good friends got engaged while others had babies, I celebrated the holiday in NJ with my entire family, traveled back to my beloved New York City, a place I miss more as each year passes, rang in the 2010 in the Nation’s capital, and just as the year came to a close, I booked the voice and face of a video game character, which is something different for me, but that I am excited about and which presents a new, fun experience.
Other than that, I’m still looking forward to fully enjoying my 30’s, which I had just entered when I last updated you in August, and, so far, I am simply loving it! I still plan to concentrate on the commercial avenue of my career and hosting/personality type jobs, which will hopefully lead to a platform for my own children’s charity foundation, my ultimate goal! ‘Till next time, which will be sooner this time, I hope you all enjoy the start of 2010 and the pictures below that capture some of what I was up to while away from you the past 6 months in descending order starting in September 2009 and ending in January 2010.
“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” - Hal Borland
Photo Credit: Meghan Aileen Photography (wedding pictures below)
August 26, 2009
Let’s see…since I last posted, I have aged, yes that’s right, I’ve entered a new decade of my life known as “Thirty and Flirty!” Those of you who know me are aware that that transition was weighing on me a wee bit, even though I was told it feels fabulous and that I would love it! Well, as I write this, I am one week and 2 days into my 30’s and they were right…I am loving it!
This year I actually had a Birthday Par-tay for the first time in a few years, seeing that it was my 30th. I was told it was a must, and so, I held my shindig at Falcon on Sunset. Now, before I go on about my actual birthday, I just want to thank everyone at Falcon for always making my birthdays such a success, and for working with me so well to assure that all went well and my guests have a wonderful time. Side note, anyone who might be thinking of having a birthday gathering, even on the larger side, and wants a classy, trendy and easy-going place where you can have your friends come out to celebrate, I highly recommend Falcon. I believe it is a hidden wonder in the heart of Hollywood.
Now, back to my birthday, I am still touched by the number of people who came out to celebrate little me, and by all the amazing and heartfelt messages, phone calls, cards, gifts and more I received on my birthday, all of which made it so special and one of my best by far! I am one lucky girl, and I truly appreciate everyone in my life for the many smiles they have brought to it, as well as for the continued support in the middle of a unique town and difficult industry! I had a wonderful time celebrating, and one of my best friends from college even flew in from NC just to be with me on my big day! To see some of the fun, below I’ve added some of the many pictures from our Saturday night at Falcon. I think you will see how fortunate I truly am, for which I am beyond thankful!
Aside from turning 30, a true milestone, I have been busy working, going on a few auditions, although not on nearly as many as I wish I were or that people tend to think I should be, as well as doing website design layouts and coding, along with designing and creating business cards for actors and models. I’ve also been working with Telsey Casting, once again. This time on “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.” No matter what show I am working on with the Terrific Telsey Team, it always offers endless fun and a chance to meet some truly talented people!
I hope you all have been having a Super Summer and that things are going well! I continue to take each day as it comes, toying with the idea of going back to school on the side here in CA and enjoying the genuinely happy state I am in these days, overall in life. Thank you again for your continued support and for sticking by me on my acting adventure, even when it is lacking in excitement! I will be sure to post again soon with more updates and any news I may have, but, until then, I am off to continue taking baby steps and see where they lead.
“At age 30, one receives strength. This is the strength of character needed to pursue life’s goals. The 20s process of trial and error leads to a more secure decade of the 30s, when a person is focused on true talents, pursuable goals, and genuine accomplishments.” - Unknown
