Ep. 35: A Journey of Surrender: Reignite Your Inspiration, Be in Creative Flow, & Reclaim Yourself with Ellen Latzen
When the right thing is there, the motivation will persist.
~ Ellen Latzen
Wondering what happened to your motivation?
Feeling like the pilot light on your creative inspiration has burned out?
Or struggling with who you are now in your 40’s and 50’s?
Then let this week’s guest inspire you to reignite that inspiration, find your creative flow, and reclaim yourself by learning to surrender.
In 1989, Ellen Latzen captured hearts around the world with her endearing and comical portrayal of Ruby Sue on National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. And before that, she played Michael Douglas’ daughter, Ellen, in the 1987 movie, Fatal Attraction. (Yep, Ellen’s bunny got boiled).
One of the most famous lines from Christmas Vacation is attributable to Ruby Sue (Ellen), when she’s talking to Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) in the kitchen about how worried her little brother is about “Santee Claus.” When Clark asks if her brother is nervous or excited, Ruby Sue says, “shittin’ bricks.”
This conversation with Ellen may leave you shittin’ bricks, but only in the best way possible. We take an epic ride through her journey into and out of childhood acting, her wanderlust spirit, and–most of all–how she’s reigniting her inspiration by embracing her creative flow and surrendering to trust so that she can reclaim her power and who she is.
🗝️ Key Takeaways:
[08:50] The Journey Into Childhood Acting
[20:52] Losing Creativity and Inspiration
[29:27] Reigniting Inspiration and Creativity
[34:07] Embracing the Gifts of Change
[41:24] The Journey Into Marriage and Motherhood
[45:09] The Importance of Mom's Putting Their Oxygen Mask on First
[52:01] Navigating Parenting in a Chaotic World
[01:02:23] Coming Full Circle Back to Acting
[01:26:59] Permission to Dream Big
[01:33:05] Embracing Authenticity and Self-Discovery
🎧 WATCH/LISTEN TO THE EPISODE
⭐️ GUEST BIO
Ellen's career had a serendipitous start to it. In 1986, her mother read an article in the paper about an open casting call for a new untitled Adrian Lyne film. They were looking for girls ages six to eight, and prior acting experience wasn't required. Ellen's family had never considered getting her into the business, but she was just about six at the time, and it sounded like a fun thing to try. She competed against over a thousand other girls, and despite not having the “look”, Ellen's natural talent won her the part of Michael Douglas and Anne Archer's daughter in Fatal Attraction.
After Fatal Attraction was released, Ellen's career started to take off. She appeared in numerous movies, TV shows, and even on Broadway. But possibly her most memorable role was as Randy Quaid's daughter "Ruby Sue" in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Considered one of the greatest Christmas movies of all time, this film still captures the hearts and funny bones of millions around the globe. Ellen won over audiences with her classic scene where she mistakes Chevy Chase for Santa Claus, uttering the now infamous line "Shittin' bricks".
At age 15, Ellen left her hometown in New York for boarding school in Vermont, which inadvertently ended her career. After graduation, she decided to keep the door closed on her acting and pursue a normal life. Ellen moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to attend the California College of Arts and Crafts and entered the regular working world. She had jobs in various fields, such as hospitality, travel, advertising, publishing, and startups. But her passion for entertainment ever went away. When Ellen was living in Los Angeles, she went about producing a podcast about her experiences as a child star, as well as those of her peers. Her show "Watched" was a look behind the curtain of the child acting industry, delving deep into the realities of a childhood lived in front of the camera. The podcast never took off, but Ellen's ambitions to utilize her creative talents persisted.
Ellen now lives in Eastern Pennsylvania with her husband, Ed, and their daughter, Charlotte, with whom she stays home full time. But despite the busy schedule of a SAHM, Ellen still manages to connect with fans through in-person appearances and Cameos.
⭐️ CONNECT WITH GUEST
Book a Cameo with Ellen
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