Daily Inspiration: Meet Elley Ringo

Hi Elley, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have to say my story starts back a while ago. I started in plays in school when I was seven years old.

I have a very very distinct memory of standing in front of an audience in my school gymnasium, holding a script because no one knew their lines.

I had on a little yellow apron with white polka dots on it over my leggings. I remember as I spoke, I could make people laugh just by using my words. As I was in more plays, I started to sing, and I could capture people’s attention with just one breath of a song. I could make them cry, or cheer, just through my actions and my voice. In those moments I knew I could entertain. It was humbling. It made me feel like the happiest person in the world that I could invoke emotions in other people I didn’t know. It was humbling,

I can’t say that I had a profound influence that helped push me towards a creative goal like acting or singing. I would watch movies for inspiration, and I still due to this day. I would look at the choices that the actors made, and try to think about why the actor chose to do these things in the way that they did them. So I started to use that as my guidance.  The more skits I did, the more I learned. I remember the first time I was on set a real set. I remember there being an ad in the newspaper for extras in Ashland, Oregon for the film Conversations with God. No audition is needed. You just needed to be the first 25 people to show up.

It was something like that, I can’t remember the exact wording. I went and was a background extra in several scenes, as well as a featured extra. I loved being on set. I was a complete nobody, trying to stay out of the way, but taking every bit of it in. I remember the day that I had my first audition for a movie. It was for a horror low budget film. It seems like everybody starts there… I went into a theater in Medford, Oregon. I was so nervous that I could barely read the script that they had handed me.

At the time, I was so green that I didn’t ask for just five minutes to take the script away read it, and come back, because honestly, I didn’t know you could do that. I of course was scared to ask, because I didn’t want them to reject me. So I sat, and did the worst cold read in history, fumbling all over myself so nervous that I could barely see the words. But I made them laugh, and I made them sigh. Then they asked me to scream. And I didn’t know it at the time, but there was somebody there from the newspaper who took a picture of me screaming it’s not the most flattering picture. But, for me, it’s very memorable because I made the front page of the creative section of the local newspaper, the Mail tribune.

I got the part that I auditioned for. I was so very scared to put myself out there, but with no risk, there was no reward. From those very, very small beginnings, I grew and I grew and I grew.  now I’ve been in 31 feature films, the lead actress in 10 of them. I’ve had numerous supporting roles, and have even played myself in the international television show Frozen Gold produced by the weather channel.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have had a lot of ups and downs. And I have tried to turn my back on my ambitions and dreams many times. Mainly from not having the support. From, partners to family members that I no longer speak to. But I always find my way back to the creative, whether it’s a play or a film.

I’ve been homeless three different times in my life. The biggest stretch was putting myself through college. Trying to sleep in a Jeep Wrangler, with both feet sticking out one of the windows and your head squished against the other one… it is not very comfortable. But, it’s in those moments where you tell yourself that you will be successful and that you will make it, because what else do you have to tell yourself? You’re gonna live in this jeep for the rest of your life…haha no way! Many other horrible details go along with that, but I’ll save it for another time.

I get at least 500 rejections to one acceptance. But you only need one good role for the right person to see. So I continued to push on. I feel like I’ve had to fight and struggle for almost every movie role, for every play that I’ve ever been in. I love it so much that I will continue to do claw my way in if I must. But I am hoping that the roles start coming to me more easily, with what I have in my back pocket now.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a working actress and I also have a blooming YouTube channel @elleyknowsrocks. I would say that I work best as a dramatic actress, but I can do comedy theater, and I’m a pretty good vocalist as well. I think I’m most proud of the six movies I was in last year. Two of which will be released in February. Prove Your Love, directed by Don Schroth with Gary Lee Vincent, and Julie McCullough Michael Ochotorena, premieres in Tempe Arizona on February 24.

I have a lead role in this film and it was a lot of fun to make. I can’t wait to see how it turned out. and then a few days later the release of Camp Pleasant Lake directed by Thomas Walton, and produced by Jared Safier, with Jonathan Lipnicki, Bonnie Arrons, Michael Ferguson, Michael Pare, Davanny Pinn, and many others. As a nationwide theatrical release on February 27. I have a supporting role in this film and I’m extremely excited to see it in theaters.

Currently, I am working on a film as the lead role in The Case of Acacia Thatcher. It’s a 10k film production Director, Carlos Berber, with Sean Berube, Bourke Floyd, David W. Rice, Jasmine Berber, and many others. I hope to complete the film this February.

What makes you happy?
This question is a double-edged sword. I love being on set like I’ve said. The energy, the cameras, being able to jump into a character that’s not you. I have the absolute most amazing, best, and fun times on set. However, I love being home with my cat lol, I am very much a cat person and my cat makes me so extremely happy.

I love snuggling with her and kissing her nose. My husband said something so funny the other day, and I think he was quoting a meme that I had never seen. He grabs his cat, who is just a little monster. And he holds her and she’s wiggling. He looked at me and said, “Did you know that nine out of 10 cats have been subjected to nonconsensual cuddling…” I paused and looked at him and it took me a second to realize what he said, and then I asked him.

“What did you say…” he’s all watch, look… and he hugs his cat who’s trying to struggle to get away and he kisses her on the forehead And says, “see it’s uncontentious cuddling”. I laughed so hard that I nearly peed my pants. It’s stuff like that, that makes me happy.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @elleyringo
• Facebook: @elleyringo
• Twitter: @elleyringo
• Youtube: @elleycat

• Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7913347/