Skip to main content Skip to main navigation

What's the most important trait you need to make it in the arts industry?

According to actor and producer Emily De Margheriti you need to be versatile, able to do many things. Above all, you need tenacity to make it in such a challenging and constantly changing industry.

Three female performers on a stage WAAPA performing arts students take to the stage, accompanied by classical music students.

Emily is a Los Angeles based Australian actress and a co-founder of production company Dems Entertainment. So she speaks from experience.

Emily acted in and associate produced I Hate Kids in 2019. She also acted in and produced The North Plan at LA's Sherry Theatre, receiving several award nominations.

Her latest project is a satirical horror feature film about influencers. The film, called Sissy, has been shown at the Perth Revelation Film Festival.

The course to her career

Emily graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in 2016. There, she studied a Bachelor of Performing Arts course, majoring in Performance Making.

Emily says WAAPA's Performing Arts course is ideal for anyone thinking they want to devise and create their own stories and put them out there.

The course focuses on all aspects of performance including production, rather than giving students singular training in acting, dance or music.

It also examines the evolving nature of contemporary practice and new approaches to presentation and production.

"Performing is rewarding but creating is purposeful. Don't underestimate learning how to be a 'jack-of-all-trades'. I have found my happy place in the balance of being a creator and actor," says Emily.

You can meet Emily in this short video.

International attraction

The Performing Arts course attracts many international students because of its unique approach to teaching so many sides of the industry.

You can learn more about this amazing course from international students in this video.

Related articles

Explore ECU Extra