Berkeley High School senior Lillian Ellis was only 10 years old when she made her acting debut in “The North Pole,” a web series set in Oakland about neighborhood gentrification. Since then, Ellis has appeared in numerous commercials, including having a contract with a homeschooling company, and her singing and songwriting work contributed to the grammy award-winning album “The Movement” by the Alphabet Rockers, all while also exploring modeling and fashion.
At BHS, Ellis has acted in various student films, often working with friends who share her creative interests. She appreciates the community, and how it has kept her connected to art.
“The majority of my friends at school are in film, and so I have the honor of being in a lot of their films,” Ellis said. As she has gotten older, Ellis’s goals have shifted from seeking fame to focusing on more specific aspects of art that interest her. For instance, studying fashion in college. However, modeling has made her more aware of the industry’s expectations around body image and representation. While she enjoys fashion’s creative side, she sometimes struggles with the ideas the industry promotes.“I want to be able to do things that are artistic and creative, but also stick to my morals,” Ellis said.
Ellis has found that balancing school and art has also been challenging. During her junior year, Ellis stepped back from creative projects in order to prioritize academics. Now, she hopes to make more time for art after graduation by attending an art school in England.
“I hope that when I get out of high school, and for the rest of my life, art plays a big role in my life and how I live it,” Ellis said.
At BHS, Ellis has acted in various student films, often working with friends who share her creative interests. She appreciates the community, and how it has kept her connected to art.
“The majority of my friends at school are in film, and so I have the honor of being in a lot of their films,” Ellis said. As she has gotten older, Ellis’s goals have shifted from seeking fame to focusing on more specific aspects of art that interest her. For instance, studying fashion in college. However, modeling has made her more aware of the industry’s expectations around body image and representation. While she enjoys fashion’s creative side, she sometimes struggles with the ideas the industry promotes.“I want to be able to do things that are artistic and creative, but also stick to my morals,” Ellis said.
Ellis has found that balancing school and art has also been challenging. During her junior year, Ellis stepped back from creative projects in order to prioritize academics. Now, she hopes to make more time for art after graduation by attending an art school in England.
“I hope that when I get out of high school, and for the rest of my life, art plays a big role in my life and how I live it,” Ellis said.