Emily Dykstra

Welcome to my acting and directing website! I am an actor and theatre director based in the Chicago area. I love so much about the theatre and film industries, but my favorite thing is digging deep into the inner lives of characters to tell their compelling stories. I make sense of life through story, and it is such a joy to bring that experience to audiences. There is nothing more thrilling than knowing I took part in making someone laugh until they cry, moving someone deeply, and/or getting someone to examine the world around them in a new way. Sometimes, a piece of acting, writing, or staging just takes my breath away with how genius it is and how incredibly emotionally devastating or uplifting it is, often to the point where I just can't stop thinking about it long after the scene is over. One of my favorite things in the world is to live in the space of discovering and creating those moments for others. In addition to making beautiful art, the collaboration of all the amazingly talented people it takes to put a production together is also one of the most beautiful things to be a part of.

 

I also believe the arts play a vital role in a healthy society, and plays and film/TV certainly contribute to that in a unique way. Film critic Roger Ebert summed up that sentiment so well when he talked about movies being "like a machine that generates empathy." It is truly an important responsibility and honor to use my talent in an industry that can leave such a mark on the world.