Actress Elise Eberle on her new beginnings in Hollywood

JUMPSUIT: Adelyn Rae.  SHOES: Creatures of the Wind. RING: Charles Albert

photos /     Di Henri Aquije
styling /  Tracy Cyprow
hair & makeup /  Jackie Gideon @ Wilhelmina 
story/  Koko Ntuen

Before Elise Eberle booked the hit WGN network series Salem, she was simultaneously hosting at a french restaurant, working at a little local bakery in Atwater, and picking up as many catering jobs as possible, all while juggling auditions with work hours. But when she was cast as Mercy Lewis, everything changed. “It gave me the opportunity to be a full-time actress – every struggling actor’s dream. I feel so incredibly fortunate.” She gushes.

Today Elise momentum has not slowed down. Her schedule is busier than ever. When we chat she is sitting in her manager’s office in Echo Park, eating her stress away with chocolate peanut butter malt balls after running around like a headless chicken all day. That morning she tore her house apart because looking for her phone, then realized it was in my hand the whole time. She’s a long way from her native state of New Mexico where she spent her youth dancing and living under the dusky skies but her earthy, free vibes are rooted in her uninhibited acting ability that she leaves in every role. Salem is currently in it’s last season but the character Mercy Lewis will always live on in infamy in the horror fandom realm.

We chat with Elise about the role that jump-started her career, being a music video muse and what’s next in her new beginnings in Hollywood.

Playing Mercy Lewis seems like it could have been so vulnerable, feral at times even. How do you get in the mindset for intense scenes?

I torture myself. I’m method.

Does playing in a period piece project every make you feel disconnected from the real world?

I think any project opens a door for disconnection from the real world, it’s like Alice in wonderland. A beautiful escape.

What are some of the things you love most about modern day life and some things you love the least?

I’m in a long-distance relationship so Skype is my savior; also, the internet offers eBay, which gives me the opportunity to buy crazy exotic plants (my house currently looks like a jungle); the abundance of health food stores makes my heart go pitter patter (go Cali!) and also whoever invented kombucha, I love you. as far what I don’t like about modern day life is how everyone is glued to their cell phones instead of interacting with one another. And believe me, I’m guilty of it too.

How have you turned most “LA” since moving to Cali?

I think my answer to the previous question, gives you a good idea…

What are some stereotypes about New Mexicans?

I’ve been questioned why I’m white if I’m New Mexican, if I rode a donkey to school if there are only dirt roads… But I think the best one I’ve been asked numerous times is, “Wait… New Mexico is a part of the United States?”

Do you play music?

I do! I am a trained classical pianist, been playing since I was 7.

I loved you in the Lumineers video for “Sleep On The Floor,” and I love the band too. Were you a fan of theirs before you starred in the video?

I feel quite embarrassed admitting this but no, I only knew one of their songs but didn’t know it was by The Lumineers… Isaac, the director of the Cleopatra music video series, is a dear friend of mine and we’ve been wanting to work on a project together for a while, so I’m happy this worked out. Though, now I’m a fan! 🙂

You also starred Silversun Pickups – “Dots and Dashes (Enough Already).” How did you become such a sought after music video ingenue?

Wow!! What a compliment! Thank you! There are so many talented artists in every field out here in LA, and I guess I was just lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.

You got a pretty big scar while filming that video. What is your favorite scar and why?

As an actress, you would think the face would be the worst place, but it is my favorite scar. I think scars are so beautiful. I find that girls, in particular, tend to hide them because it is labeled as an imperfection. Which is so ridiculous. A scar simply means you were stronger than whatever tried to hurt you. It proclaims that you are a warrior. Now, who would EVER want to hide something like that?! 

Did you notice your personality change at all after you cut your hair from super long to a pixie cut?

It was a feeling I’ve never felt, both physically and mentally, and all I had to do was shave my head.

What future projects are you working on now that you are super excited about and want to share?

I am currently recurring on a TV series that I’m not allowed to announce yet and my fingers are crossed for something else. Pretty vague, eh? 🙂

What is something you are really good at that not a lot of people know about you?

For my job in high school, I started my own tree pruning company, I’m awesome at it because I’m like a monkey. Just give me a banana and I’ll do it for free!

BLAZER: Emanuel Ungaro. PANTS: Flirty Girl.

SKIRT:La’Atiste. BIKINI . TOP: Hot as Hell SHOES: Creatures of the wind. Hat:  EKATERINA KUKHAREVA.

DRESS: Emanuel Ungaro