Ellie Zeegen

Actress, Co-Director, Coach

My first ever acting role was Jane Eyre when I was 15 at school. I went on to read English at University but after gaining a lot of theory and no practice, I concluded something huge was missing from my life. It was while working significantly with Southwest Scriptwriters at Bristol Old Vic that I realized this missing link was acting. After graduating, I successfully gained a 3 year acting contract in the West End and moved to London.  When this job unexpectedly fell through I refused to let it destroy my hopes and in my determination to survive as an actress, I gained a new agent the next day. My passion to give actors power, faith and independence in a difficult industry grew until at last I met and joined forces with Mark, becoming Co-Director of the Temple in 2003. Watching our company of actors grow and studying with Tom has given me the focus and faith I always sought and acting is now my vocation, not simply a career. I frequently travel between London and Scotland to Chesters, a Georgian home belonging to my husband and I which we hope will become a retreat and site for many future Temple courses and productions.

Credits include: Eleanor Scott in The Marvels of Man, Touchy Feely (Bristol Old Vic), regular work with The Lab (Shakespeare’s Globe, Camp Bestival), Vanity Flair, Olga in Three Sisters at Chesters and Country House Rescue (Channel 4, Aut 08). I am currently writing a full length play, Triptych, with Gaby and Tom which we plan to also make into a film.