"Getting to Know You" with Shea Julie

WESTMINSTER, CA - "RuPaul is my ultimate idol. His intelligence, sensitivity, ambition, kindness, poise, talent, and beauty are unmatched in the entertainment industry. I've learned so much from him about how to be a better human, how to ask the universe for what I need, and how to give back to it in return," Shea says about who she looks up to in the entertainment industry.

Hailing from Modesto, Ca Shea is a professionally trained dancer and lover of all things drama. While she hasn't always had purple hair, she claims to have always been a mermaid. Grateful for the opportunity to work with the talented RCT Musical Theater Productions Artistic Staff and Mary Poppins cast on the rooftops of London, during our interview Shea says she feels "as lucky as lucky can be."

Excerpts from our chat:

How do you prepare for an audition? It's cheesy, but at an audition, while I'm waiting for my turn, I repeat a mantra I picked up from Jinkx Monsoon during her time on RuPaul's Drag Race, "Water off a duck's back."

Any audition advice for your fellow actors?

Just remember that your value is not determined by someone else's opinion of you!

What do you find most frustrating about being a performer? Picking up choreography at auditions drives me crazy. In any other scenario I can pick things up no problem, but for some reason, my brain goes into overdrive at auditions and I stumble all over myself and forget everything. It's something I'm constantly working on.

How are you affected by rejection?

Rejection doesn't really bother me. It's happened to great performers before me, it will happen to me again, and it will happen to many after me. It's just another stepping stone on my road to success!

Is there anything that motivates you as a performer? I'm motivated by the idea of being able to share my light with the world, and one day be able to give back to the people in my life who have helped me develop the skills, confidence, and resilience that will help me achieve my dreams.

Is there a role that you're dying to play? I would love to play Rumpleteaser in Cats. Cats was always one of my favorite shows growing up because it's so dance-heavy, which always spoke to me as a ballerina. I'd love to play any role in the show, but I've always thought Rumpleteaser is particularly spunky, fun, and mischievous...like me!

Being a ballerina, would you consider training important for a performer? Training is definitely important. But you could have all the training in the world and still not have the elusive "it." For me, I've taken about 16 years of dance instruction and 0 of voice. But I think passion and a willingness to learn is what matters more than anything.

Is there a role that you've just loved playing? Rita in White Christmas! I got to wear some beautiful costumes, dance my heart out, and play the sexy ditsy type that I always have so much fun with.

What is a fun fact about you that people wouldn’t be aware of? I'm actually a Slytherin. Sorry Mom.