Recently I had the honor of interviewing talented up and coming actress Erin Drake. She is in the soon be released “Kill Your Darlings.” Continue to read and learn more about Erin and about her new movie. She is an actress to definitely keep your eye one.

R: Tell us a little bit about yourself?

E: For starters, whenever I am asked this question I immediately freeze and can’t think of any information about myself. Umm, I am Erin Darke. I am an actor, or at least trying my hardest to be one. I’m originally from Michigan, but I have now lived in New York city long enough that it’s hard to remember or imagine living anywhere else.

R: How did you get into the acting industry? Was it something that you always wanted to do?

E: There was a really amazing youth theatre in Flint, where I grew up, and I started doing shows there as a teenager. When I was 13 I did a backlight Christmas show there called ‘Visions of Sugarplums’ and, even though it was a crazy show where I had no lines and you couldn’t see my face, I decided that acting was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. It can be a rough business, but I love it and I’ve never looked back.

R: You have some up and coming movie coming out? Tell us about your movie “Kill Your Darlings” and about your character Gwendolyn?

E: That film was a blast to work on. It’s an amazing script and a wonderful cast. I have a few fun scenes in the film, but I don’t want to say too much about Gwendolyn and risk giving it all away. I haven’t seen the film yet (the actors are often the last ones to see it), but I really think it’s going to be amazing.

R: In that movie you got to act with Michael C. Hall, Elizabeth Olsen Jennifer Jason Leigh. What was it like working with them?

E: I mean what can you say, it was incredible. It’s a wonderful and surreal experience to see my name on a cast list with the amazing actors in this film. I just tried to learn as much as possible, do the best job I could and have some fun.

R: According to IMDB, you are in the movie “Beside Still Waters.” Is that true and if so, can you tell us about it and about your character?

E: It is indeed true. ‘Beside Still Waters’ is the directing debut from Chris Lowell (he also co-wrote it) and it’s a beautiful, funny, touching and just wonderful ensemble script. I fell in love with this film and the people on it. We shot this past summer at a cabin in northern Michigan and it was basically the world’s best summer camp….with a movie! I play Abby in the film. She is a girl who married her high school sweetheart. Now, a few years later, their group from high school is regathering after one of their old friend suffers a family tragedy. That makes it sounds very sad, but I swear it also has some quite funny moments!

R: You are also in the “The Quitter.” Can you tell us about the movie and about your character Chloe?

E: ‘The Quitter’ is a new film from Brooklyn filmmaker Matthew Bonifacio about a guy who reconnects with his old girlfriend, Georgie, and daughter that he’s never met. I play Chloe, Georgie’s super hipster upstairs neighbor, who really just wants to show Georgie a good time. Matthew let us do a lot of improvisation and play around quite a bit, which was a lot of fun.

R: If you could remake any movie, which movie and character would it be and who would you like to play opposite of you?

E: I revere movies to much to want to remake them. All of the films that I love are films that I love because they were done right the first time and I wouldn’t want to see them messed with. That being said, I would happily do like a table read of the script for either ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ or pretty much any Hitchcock film opposite Ewan McGregor any day of the week!

R: What singers and bands do you listen to? What is your favorite song by each one?

E: M. Ward has been my musical obsession for a few years. I love too many song to pick a favorite, but ‘Post War’ is my favorite album. I have also been really into The Lumineers recently. I got to see them play in Central Park this summer and they were fantastic. I love their songs ‘Hey Ho’ and ‘Dead Sea,’ but ‘Classy Girls’ might be my favorite, because it always makes me smile. Some other singles I’ve loved lately are ‘Two Cousins’ by Slow Club, ‘Float’ by KO KO and ‘Periphery’ from the new Fiona Apple album.

R: What is the best advice you have ever gotten and by who?

E: A good friend once told me “You can’t be responsible for someone else’s happiness or make someone else responsible for yours”. I have found it an incredible thing to remember in both my personal and professional life. Happiness is an incredible thing to share with others, but you have to be able to find it in yourself.

R: It is not easy being a teenager. What advice would you give them?

E: Just put your head down and power through. Life really does get better. Sometimes I feel bad for people who say their best years were in high school, because there are so many amazing things and people that will come later if you’re open. For me getting through the teen years was about knowing what I wanted to do and the person I wanted to be and then keeping my eye on that ball.
Also, appreciate your amazing metabolism while you have it. Someday you will have to work out all the time and watch everything you eat, so really enjoy this period of your life when you can have pizza for 2 meals a day and it won’t matter.

R: Do you have any charities that are close to your heart? If so, tell us a little bit about the.

E: A few years ago Matthew Leone, the bassist of the band Madina Lake (and the husband of one of my best friends), was brutally beaten and almost murdered in Chicago. He did not have health insurance at the time and was unable to do basic things, much less work, for months. The charity SWEET RELEIF was incredibly amazing at helping to raise funds to help Matthew pay his hospital bills and get through it. So, I think it’s safe to say they have a pretty cozy spot in my heart.

R: What are five things people may not know about you?

E:
1. My last name is pronounced dark, as in the absence of light.
2. I am a huge hockey fan. I grew up outside of Detroit, so I am a die-hard Red Wings obsessee.
3. I was a lifeguard for 5 years before I moved to NY.
4. I am also a big football fan. I am in a fantasy league for the first time. It’s weirdly addicting.
5. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.

R: Other than this one, what is the strangest question you have ever been asked?

E: A guy came up to me at the bookstore the other day, he asked me if I was an artist. I said I was an actor. He replied, “I could tell. Because you use your pinkie as a finger. You should part your hair farther to the left, you will get more jobs” and then he walked away. I guess that’s not really a question, but it was definitely strange.

R: Are you on any social networking sites? If so, which ones and what are their addresses? Do you have an official website?

E: I’m not on any anymore. I deleted my Facebook in an attempt to be a more productive person. Not sure if it’s worked, but it is kind of nice to not already know what’s new with people when you get together with them. I think I have a twitter as well, but I forgot the password like year ago and can’t figure out how to get them to send me a new one.

R: Is there anything else you would like to add or say to your fans?

E: Just to have a wonderful day!