Eleni Cassimatis graduated from Actors Centre Australia in 2018. Her theatre credits include productions of Macbeth, Hamlet, The Comedy of Errors and In A Nutshell for Bell Shakespeare, as well as being a member of Bell Shakespeare’s national touring company The Players for 2020 and 2021; the 5-star sell-out season of Timon of Athens for Sport for Jove Theatre Company; Performing various pieces of Shakespeare for the Sydney Opera House’s 50th Birthday Celebrations; The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro for Opera Australia; Touring Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Macau and the United Arab Emirates performing in four plays in rep for Poetry In Action; The Maids for That Theatre Co; Ophelia Thinks Harder for Fingerless Theatre; Icarus for Mark Bolotin and NIDA’s Festival of Emerging Artists; Everyone I’ve Ever Loved or Slept With or Both for Revolving Days; pool (no water) for Sydney Fringe Festival which she also produced; Twelfth Night (Heads or Tails) for Virginia Plain; and A Snowflake on the Tongue of Oberon for The Red Square Collective.
Eleni’s film credits most recently include playing Lady Macbeth for Bell Shakespeare’s filmed production of Macbeth: 360, to be released in 2025; the comedy web series Tales from 88 for Mustard Lover Films and 9NOW; sometimes I get these feelings directed by Michael Becker; Eleni’s Confessions directed by Eirena Sapounas; the Flickerfest finalist Gecko alongside Tiriel Mora and directed by Reuben Field; and Greek-Australian short It Takes a Village, a Sony Catchlight Film Festival Finalist, directed by Amelia Pieri. Eleni’s voice work includes the indie short Time Stamp. She is a proud MEAA member.
ACA: Why did you choose ACA over other acting schools?
Eleni: I came along to see the Second Year’s verbatim piece with a friend the year before I applied, and was incredibly moved. I remember thinking ‘if these actors are already this good in second year, they must be doing something very right’. I auditioned, and also adored the audition process and the energy that was in the room—everyone was so lovely and so welcoming. It was an environment I knew i wanted to be in.
ACA: What were you doing before studying acting at ACA? What inspired you to study acting?
Eleni: I grew up in Orange, NSW, but had moved to Sydney upon finishing high school because I knew Sydney was where I needed to be if I wanted to really do this thing. I did some part time and short courses, here in Sydney as well as over in Los Angeles (really threw myself in the deep end with that one) to try and learn as much as I could about the industry here and over there. These experiences cemented the fact that studying my craft full time at a drama school, in Australia, was the direction I wanted and needed to take.
I caught the bug young. As far back as I can remember, acting was always what I wanted to do. I remember as a kid watching bloopers after TV shows thinking ‘that looks like so much fun!’ I would also rope my younger sister into putting on shows in our backyard for our family, friends, neighbours, and anyone we could make come and watch!
ACA: How did your time at ACA shape your career and personal growth?
Eleni: My time at ACA was very invaluable to me—it was a space where we got to work our craft, every day, under the expertise and guidance of so many phenomenal tutors. We were given the opportunity, encouragement and guidance to grow as performers, to constantly strive to be the best we could be, to go deeper into the work, to step out of our comfort zones, to push the boundaries of what can be possible in storytelling. I will be forever grateful for the experience, and to this day continue to refer back to my notes and journals.
ACA: What’s happened since you graduated?
Eleni: There have been so many wonderful moments. I’ll never forget getting the bus to day one of rehearsals of my first professional gig, thinking, “Holy S***t, I’m actually doing it. If anyone on this bus asks me what my job is, I get to say it’s acting. Full time. Nothing else. How cool is that?!?!” (Sadly, no one asked me that day hahaha). But I’ve been very fortunate to have worked for some incredible companies since graduating. I’ve spent a lot of time with the wonderful artists at Bell Shakespeare—highlights have been productions of Hamlet, Macbeth and The Comedy of Errors with them, which each played at the Sydney Opera House and toured to theatres all over Australia. I also did a very cool little film project with Bell at the end of 2024 – Macbeth: 360 – a filmed Macbeth completely stripped back, and shot in the Neilson Nutshell Theatre, in the round. This was a very special one.
Eleni: Touring itself has been a huge career highlight – I’ve spent the better part of the last six years on tour – and getting to see this beautiful country while doing what I love is one of the most special things. Not only getting to visit all of the capital cities, but also so many regional towns and communities, and sometimes performing in areas that usually don’t have access to much live theatre. In 2019 I also toured with Poetry in Action to Hong Kong, Dubai, Macau, and NZ, which was an absolutely incredible experience to get to have.
ACA: Any advice for someone looking to study acting? What would you say to someone considering studying at ACA? How did ACA prepare you for the industry?
Eleni: Firstly—I say do it—it’s the best. I believe everyone in the world should study acting—you learn so much about yourself, and about understanding what it is to be human. Also it’s just really fun.
More practical advice—soak it all up. Journal everything. Glean all the information you can from your tutors. Treat it like you’re already a working professional, and you will get so much more out of the experience. Do the work, put in the extra hours where you can, watch everything, read everything, give each class your all (even if it’s something that might not be your usual vibe), show up on the days you don’t feel up to it, dive in head first at 100% every time. You will get out of the course as much as you put in, and while you’re studying, three years feels like a long time, but when you’re out you realise how quickly it flies by, so make the most of every second!!!
Thank you, Eleni!
