Image Courtesy Of Netflix
Elise Hudson currently works and lives in New York City. This upcoming August will make it four years since she moved there. Hudson was borne and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. The preferred thing about her hometown is how the locals call it "The world’s biggest small town."
"It’s a rather large city and full of people, and yet you always tend to run into someone you know," says Hudson, and adds that her favourite aspect about New York is the amount of opportunity the city offers, and the amount of live theatre right at her fingertips.
Growing up, Hudsonwas focused on doing well in school, always a perfectionist, which has its pros and cons. She wanted to learn absolutely everything she could. A little before high school, Hudson started auditioning for plays and working with an acting coach, and her love of performing grew form there.
"They say that if you are thinking of being an actor, you must consider: Is there anything else at all that I could do that would make me totally happy? If the answer is yes, then do that, because the acting business is hard," says Hudson and explains how thespian became her raison d'être. "For me, if I was not pursuing acting, I know that I would be unhappy. For me, there is nothing so fulfilling as telling a story onstage or onscreen. Stories can magnify the world we live in and show us the truth, or they can distract us from the hard times by making us laugh. Both results are valid. Both are necessary."
She received her undergrad degree in Theatre from Boston College, and she has a Masters in Fine Arts (MFA) in Acting from Brown University/Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island. She also trained in Oxford with the British American Drama Academy.
It was her manager who submitted her for a small one-episode role on "She’s Gotta Have It". Luckily she happened to book it. Although Hudson confesses she'd never seen the movie before auditioning for the show. But she's definitely a fan now. "The character is named Rachel, and she’s a woke white chic who is annoying good at West African dance, and it pretty with it, but occasionally she still says the wrong thing," say Hudson about Spike Lee's Netflix revival of his 80's classic.
Once she got on set, there was a lot of improv involved, and Lee (their director) and the writers enjoyed what she brought to the character enough to decide to write the character into more episodes. Her small dramatis personae grew to be Nola’s upstairs neighbour and one of her close friends explains Hudson and continues, "She likes to dance. In class, at a party, whenever. Or do you mean clothing-wise? She loves colours and a boho look. She probably shops at Free People and Madewell and vintage stores."
Marci Rodgers is responsible for the costumes on the show. "She’s incredible," proclaims Hudson and urges the enthusiastic to check out Rodger's website. Or, just Google her, because she’s everywhere. Hudson is partial however to some of the dresses for Rachel in Season 2, and can't declare a best-loved outfit. But she loves seeing the bright and bold outfits Rodgers puts Chyna Layne in for her character Shemekka.
When it comes to Hudson's own sense of style, she wants to be comfortable at all times. "Honestly? Elegant-Comfy I try to make it classy and elegant whenever possible. Think Madewell Jeans with a Portofino shirt from Express. Also, my favorite heels are a thick black heel from Cole Haan that you just can’t beat." Elegant. Comfortable. Occasionally, she'll appen a cool statement piece to edge it up. Currently, she has some bright earrings from Thailand that were a gift from her bestie Marina, that she keeps finding ways to work into her outfits. They have elephants on them (favourite animal). She's wearing them right now, actually.
When Hudson's isnt working, half of the job is finding the next job. She's auditioning/networking/seeing plays/meeting people. "You can’t just wait for the jobs to come to you. It’s a 24/7 job to be an actor, but it’s worth it." Also,she loves rock climbing, boxing, wandering the city, catching up on her favourite shows ("Game of Thrones", "Outlander" and "Jane the Virgin"), reading books (fantasy, mystery, and historical fiction), hanging with her incredible partner Josh, planning future vacations…You know. The norm.
On how Hudson undwinds; "If I had a dog, the answer would be playing with my dog. Sadly, I don’t have my own yet. I seek out opportunities to meet other people’s dogs. Luckily, Brooklyn is full of them. A quick walk around my neighborhood allows me to pet lots of dogs and also make a stop at my local community garden with whatever book I’m currently reading."
Up next you can see her in a supporting guest star role on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (episode 20x23 “Assumptions”) airing this Thursday, May 9, on NBC in the States. If you have Hulu, you can catch the show the next day. Following SVU, you’ll find out how "She’s Gotta Have It" multiple occasions. On Netflix, starting May 24.
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