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. I say "took part" because the collaboration of all the amazingly talented people it takes to put a production together is 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.