Biography

In 1991 I attended a workshop with the American teacher Susan Peretz and was introduced to Method Acting. I had been acting professionally in Sweden since the mid80s and I was certain I would always be working with actors and acting, but I was uncertain about exactly how I would do it. Now it all became crystal clear- I became fascinated by the inner work; the primal drives of the human being, the memories, the dreams and experiences-and how we relate to others and to the world around us. This is acting as far as I’m concerened!

As soon as possible I moved to London to study at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute; I stopped acting myself and started teaching and directing. I directed several plays at the London fringe scene and a few years later I taught at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute. In 1997 I was contacted by the legendary Swedish actor and director Keve Hjelm; at that time professor at the Swedish Academy of Acting, and I went back to Sweden to assist him at in tutoring and at ”A Dream Play” by August Strindberg at Malmö Dramatic Theatre.

Since then I have been teaching at many drama schools in the UK, Sweden and Denmark, and directing in Sweden and the UK, at regional theatres and theatre companies. I conduct workshops and lead seminars each years at Actors Centre, London, Det Danske Musical Akademie, Denmark etc.

In 2008 and 2009 I was guest teacher at Oxford School of Drama where I taught emotional memory.

In 2008 I traveled to Ivana Chubbuck Studio i Los Angeles to study with Ivana Chubbuck (coach for Halle Berry, Brad Pitt, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jon Voigt, Charlize Theron etc.) to become certified to teach the Chubbuck Technique. Since then I have been coaching many actors for film, TV and stage, participated as on set coach for film and TV, worked with script development, alongside working as acting tutor and tutor for film directors on working with actors.

I am certified body therapist since 2007.

I live outside Falkenberg, on the Swedish west coast, but spend a lot of my time in the UK and Los Angeles.

To help, to continually help and share, that is the meaning of art.

Eleonora Duse