Email:neill@outloudculture.com
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Elena has worked on over 100 movies & TV shows, ranging from $200K indies to $300M blockbusters, that have totaled over $10 Billion at the worldwide box office.
Born in Germany to a German mother and Spanish father, Elena started performing during her childhood in plays such as “Return to Neverland” and “The Nutcracker.” After graduating from Cornell University, she continued her studies at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in New York and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Elena’s feature film debut as an actress was the highly anticipated second installment of The Hunger Games films, Catching Fire, where she portrayed Cecelia, the tribute from District 8. She has since shared the screen acting opposite Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, and Tim Roth, as well as performing alongside the likes of Tom Cruise, Sylvester Stallone, Chris Pratt, and Gerard Butler. Elena’s television appearances include roles on CBS’s NCIS: New Orleans, FOX’s Sleepy Hollow, and AMC’s The Walking Dead, where she memorably killed off bratty villain Sebastian Milton in the final season.
Elena has won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in Avengers: Endgame, has been nominated five additional times, and has been nominated for two Taurus World Stunt Awards. Elena can next be seen in the feature film Open.
Elena stars alongside William Forsythe (Raising Arizona), Jeremy London (Mallrats), and Amber Reign Smith (The Other Black Girl, Rap Sh!t) in Open, a film intertwining the surrealism of nostalgia with the complex reality of modern relationships. The film has received an interim waiver from SAG-AFTRA.
Open follows a woman in a troubled marriage who falls for a former teen heartthrob fallen from industry favor, while having nagging (and empowering) hallucinations about fronting an ‘80s new wave band. Elena plays “Emma,” a long-time friend of the couple who gets caught up not only in the complicated waters of her friends’ open marriage, but also in the hallucinated 1980s music video paradise that intertwines with the real world. Elena learned to play the drums for this project, as “Emma” is also the drummer in the hallucinated band. Combining the dark humor and magical realism of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind along with the poignant deep dive into the nature of romantic and familial relationships of A Marriage Story or the Before trilogy, Open asks who we are when no one is looking, to reevaluate the nature of family, and to never, ever quit our daydreams. The film will be releasing a vinyl soundtrack on 10/17 with 10 original songs created and performed by the composer and filmmakers for the movie – Sanchez is credited on 3 of the singles.
1. Elena, welcome to OLC! Your upcoming film “Open” seems like a unique blend of surrealism and modern relationships. Can you tell us what initially drew you to this project?
Thank you! I think what initially drew me to the project is that it’s unlike anything I’ve ever done. It’s a super fun and weird musical-comedy-thriller. I also had to learn how to play the drums! I like taking on challenges, and getting to do a project that is so outside-of-the-box was a fun adventure.
2. “Emma” is your character in “Open,” and she’s not only part of a complicated open marriage but also a member of the lead character’s hallucinated ’80s new wave band. How did you approach playing such a complex role?
The real Emma and her alter-ego in the band seem very different when you see them, but under the wig and the crazy makeup, they’re still the same person. I tried to stay very grounded in my approach. Emma is a friend and a lover, but at the same time is a protector. When things go awry, she is focused on solving problems to help those she loves. I used a lot of my own feelings and emotions to play the role. How would Elena feel about this? What would she do if she was in this situation? Not the open marriage part, because the real Elena would not do that, but in terms of loving someone, caring for them, and looking out for your people.
3. Learning to play the drums for the film is quite an impressive feat. Could you share your experience and the challenges of taking on a musical role in addition to acting?
Whew, it was HARD! I only had about two months to learn to play the songs in the film. We didn’t even get the final songs until the week before we started filming. I have never really done anything musical in a film before, so that was a completely new experience. I brought the electronic drum set I had ordered on Amazon to Mississippi, where we filmed the movie, and continued to practice every day after and sometimes before work. While we filmed the music videos, I had little cheat sheets I drew to glance at, so I could remember what I was playing. I just hope I pulled it off so that someone who actually plays the drums doesn’t think it’s completely terrible!
4. “Open” has been described as combining elements of dark humor and magical realism. What do you find most intriguing about this blend of genres in the film?
I think the blending of the genres is what makes the film so fascinating. The other day someone said that “Open” combined every single genre, and it’s kind of true! The film takes you on a ride where you don’t really know what to expect next, because anything could happen!
5. With a background in theater and extensive work in both film and TV, what unique aspects of each medium do you enjoy, and how do they influence your performances?
What I love about theater is that the audience is right there. You can feel the energy from them. Acting on stage is so raw and real, even though it seems “bigger.” There is something amazing about performing for a crowd and getting real-time feedback. What I love about film & TV is that the environment you’re acting in is so realistic. Whether you’re actually on location, or on a soundstage, it’s such a fun experience to be wherever the scene is set. I’ve done scenes where I’ve been in a spaceship, I’ve been at Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and I’ve walked the streets of Havana, Cuba. How cool is that?
6. You’ve worked with a wide range of actors, from Nicolas Cage to Tom Cruise. Is there a particular actor or director whose approach to the craft has had a significant impact on your own?
Working with so many actors and directors has taught me to be able to adapt to any style or method that they use in their craft. Everyone has a slightly different approach to things. Some are very focused and like to stay in character all day, some like to chat between scenes, some like to improvise during scenes. So as far as my own approach, I like to be ready and flow with whatever is coming my way. That being said, if I’m doing a super intense emotional scene, I separate myself so I can energetically stay in whatever place I need to be in. That means, for example, not hanging out at crafty, because people like to chat when they snack!
7. “Open” explores the nature of family and relationships. How do you think this film can resonate with audiences and encourage them to reflect on their own lives?
I hope that what resonates with audiences is that with the right people around you, anything is possible. Part of coming to that realization also means that sometimes it’s necessary to remove certain people from your life!
8. Your career has included stunt work as well, and you’ve received accolades for your action performances. How has your background in stunts influenced your acting career?
My background in stunts has led to me doing a lot of action movies and doing roles where I need to be a bad ass. Which is kind of hilarious to me, because that vibe and energy is so different to what I actually am in real life. But I’ve done so much killing and I’ve been killed so often in movies, that I guess I must be playing those roles well!
9. Can you share any memorable moments or challenges from the set of “Open” that stand out to you during the filming process?
The most challenging part of filming “Open” was definitely the music videos! We only had 3 days to shoot 10 music videos. I was in 5 of them, but because I was also a Producer on the film, I was there for the others as well to make sure things went smoothly. I lost count of how many hair, makeup, and wardrobe changes we had every day. Our crew was absolutely incredible. A moment that was memorable was during one of the music videos, called “You’re Not in the Band Anymore,” which we created a Hawaiian set for. I knew I was supposed to be in the video, but I thought I would only be featured for a brief moment. It turned out that I was on stage the entire time in a coconut bra and Hawaiian skirt, while hula dancing. I had to do a quick search on YouTube to learn how to hula dance while they were setting up the scene. It was hilarious, and I think it’s one of the best music videos!
10. What can your fans look forward to in your future projects after “Open,” and what kind of roles or genres are you eager to explore next?
After “Open,” I’m excited to try some more new things! I stepped outside of my comfort zone for this one, and it was such a great experience. I can’t wait to try something else that’s crazy and weird. I also really want to do a romantic comedy, because I’ve never done that. I have a couple of movies coming out next year, and I’m also currently on the producing team of a short film called “The Seventh Turn,” which is about a really tough subject—emotional abuse in relationships. We’re still raising money for it, but it’s got a really great team that I’m excited to work with. We’ll be donating the screening rights to domestic violence organizations.
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