Connor Hess is an LA-based actor originally from Knoxville, TN. He has grown up as an actor and spent as much of his educational experience studying theatre as he was able. He recently graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee with a BA in Theatre and Psychology.
I am (use a max. of 3 words to describe yourself)… a storyteller.
Acting is... an exercise in empathy.
My last gig taught me... that I am my own artist, and no one can make my artistic choices for me. I have to have the confidence in myself as a storyteller to bring my own ideas into the room to foster collaboration.
Proudest performance moment... was when I first felt myself give way to the character. It was the scariest and most liberating experience I have ever felt. All of my "actor thoughts" were gone, and the character was living through me.
Most embarrassing audition... was in the 8th grade when I had to go first for the singing audition in front of the 200 other students auditioning, and I completely choked. I was shaking so bad from nerves, people could see it from the back of the room.
Most challenging part... I have ever played was actually an understudy role I did for an English Restoration piece called "The Busy Body". I understudied for Sir George Airy, and it was physically, emotionally, and mentally taxing in a way that I have never felt from a role before. Thankfully I never had to go on!
The moment I knew I wanted to be an actor... was in the third grade when I was cast in a school play as a narrator and completely fell in love with performing.
Dying to work with... Jessica Lange. She's such a powerhouse actress and I feel like she would be an amazing scene partner.
Was born to play... Tom in The Glass Menagerie.
Learn lines by... by repetition. Pure repetition, and then pairing it with blocking.
Get into character by... doing a Linklater progression and listening to music that I think the character would listen to.
Special skill I wouldn't put on my resume… I'm a great addition to any Dungeons & Dragons party!
Movie I can’t stop talking about... Mad Max: Fury Road
Top three Netflix / Amazon shows in my queue… This Is Us, Superstore, and Handmaid's Tale.
Currently reading… Lobby Hero by Kenneth Lonergan
Car karaoke tune... Elephant Love Medley from Moulin Rouge!
If I weren't an actor, I'd be... a psychiatrist.
Stranger Things character that best represents me… I want to say Steve, but in reality it's Mike.
If they made a movie about my life, I’d be played by… Timothée Chalamet.
Actor crush... Blake Lively
Sign… Pisces
If I were a color, I'd be… blue.
Hotel alias… Chip Skylark
LA spot that inspires or relaxes me… Runyon Canyon
The best advice I ever got… "As an actor you have to be willing to go down the dark roads. But don't be intimidated because as a human being, we all have the entire well of the human experience inside of us, so nothing is out of reach."
You can find me at… https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6702811/