Elena Stejko

Notes

The Russian-born actor and director Elena Stejko studied at the University of Culture in Kiev from 1987 to 1991, and worked as an actor and young director for various theatre companies in Russia. In 1993, Elena started tutoring Russian Acting Technique in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she also worked as a freelance director and actor. Since moving to New Zealand in 1995 Elena has had an active career as an actor, teacher and stage director. Her screen work includes the female lead in the NZ Feature Film “Russian Snark” for which she was nominated Best Actress in a Feature Film in the 2010 Qantas Film and Television Awards and the lead role in a Japanese TV drama, “The Promise”. Elena has had numerous guest roles in New Zealand TV drama, including “Shortland Street”, “Spin Doctors” and “Mercy Peak”, and has appeared in numerous short films. Theatre productions in New Zealand include Anton Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard” and “The Bear”, “The Meek” by Frederick Dostoevsky and “We make Choices” based on the work of Neil Simon. She played Lady Capulet in the Auckland Theatre Company’s production of “Romeo and Juliet” then went on to win a Chapman Tripp Theatre Award for Best Actress of the Year in 2012 for her role in Roger Hall’s “A Short Cut to Happiness” in both the Fortune Theatre and Circa Theatre productions. Revisiting the Auckland Theatre Company for “Midnight in Moscow” in 2013 and returning to Fortune Theatre to play Judith in “Boeing Boeing”. Elena has also worked extensively as a casting director for various film and television projects and commercials. As a writer Elena worked with Christine Jeffs on the acclaimed NZ feature film “Rain”. For nearly twenty years, in a number of countries, Elena has been teaching and tutoring acting techniques based on principles of Michael Chekhov and Constantin Stanislavsky. Her courses are now something of an institution in Auckland, and Elena’s Actors Studio is becoming a focus for professional development and excellence. What Reviewers say - WHERE ARE YOU MY ONLY ONE? As Yulia, Elena Stejko is absolutely stunning. It’s one of the best performances I’ve seen all year; she stands somewhere in the middle of a girl and a woman, a girl who just wants a better life for herself and a woman who knows that it just isn’t that simple. Most of all, she makes the audience root for her; she imbues her character with a disarming forthrightness and winning softness that makes us want her to be happy. It’s an earnest, thrilling performance that I just want to throw adjectives at. – The Lumiere. Stejko shines brilliantly in the most fully-written role – her emotional authenticity is vital. - The Herald