Kat / @iamkatelizabeth
The Basics
Full name: Katherine Elizabeth Rodrigues, but only on my passport — I go by Kat Elizabeth in my business and acting career.
Occupation (day job + passion occupation): For the last 4 years, I’ve been self-employed as a copywriter and marketing/content strategist which brought in my steady income while my acting work was less predictable, but before that, I was lucky to work full time in musical theatre (Jersey Boys & Hairspray) and in theme parks playing Marilyn Monroe.
How did you first get started in acting? I actually started out by learning to dance from the age of 3, then when I was about 11 I started doing some drama and singing lessons. I was painfully shy at the time and it helped me to come out of my shell!
I then started doing amateur musicals from the age of 14 and saw my first Broadway show at 16 which is what made me decide to pursue a career in the performing arts. I started by working at Warner Bros Movie World at 19 and within a year, got an agent and auditioned (and got into) my first musical… 10 years later and I’m still at it, but now focusing on film & television.
Social Media Presence
What led you to start your Instagram? Your Youtube? I always just used Instagram for fun, but when I decided to move to Vancouver to get more serious about my acting career I wanted to treat my IG as more of a branding opportunity, so became more intentional about what I was posting.
My YouTube channel came about after I read Gary Vaynerchuk’s book “Crushing It!” where he talks all about the importance of building a personal brand and creating your own platform — I realised I needed to something that was “me” since most of the time on camera I’m playing someone else. I’m also someone who loves to pay forward all of what I’ve learnt and hopefully help other people, so I wanted the channel to be something that educates and inspires other actors as well as being something fun for me to do.
How has having a social media presence been beneficial towards your career endeavors? I’ve definitely noticed that more and more producers and agents and looking at your Instagram before even replying to your emails, so I think it’s definitely helped my credibility. Same with when I reach out to collab with brands or interview fellow influencers — they’re much more open to chatting as they see a mutually beneficial opportunity.
Being on YouTube has also given me a lot of visibility and means actors from all around the world reach out to me for advice which is pretty cool. It’s also led to me doing some paid career coaching which was never my intention but was an awesome bonus!
Workflow
Tell us about GAMEFACE. I trained as a makeup artist years ago but always preferred teaching women how to do their own makeup than actually working as a MUA. With my acting career getting busier, I wanted to create a product that allowed me to make money while having more time in my week, so I decided to create an online course for women 30+ who aren’t into that Instaglam/beauty vlogger look and just wanted to know how to look their best in a natural way. While I was at it, I decided to create a blog that was full of really positive, meaningful content that wasn’t just written by me, but also other women who had something to say but didn’t have the platform to get the word out.
The story behind the name is pretty simple — I think we all need to be able to put our game faces on when we’re getting out there to try and take over the world. It’s not about wearing a mask, but more about a state of mind that gives you the confidence to do the things that scare you, which of course, leads to achieving big things!
What’s it like to have a company where your worlds (makeup and acting) collide? Honestly, it’s such a relief! I’ve done SO many different things in my life — from personal training to real estate, making coffee to selling jewelry — and always wondered if I’d ever find something that sticks, allowing to make money doing things that really light me up. It took 31 years, but I feel like it’s all finally coming together and I’m able to do something that doesn’t just bring me joy, but is actually making a difference in the lives of the people I teach.
How do you manage to stay organized with everything on your plate? Any tools or tricks you use? I would be lost without my colour coded Google Calendar and my project management software, Asana. I have a ridiculous amount of to-do lists and because I’m a one-man-band (I script, shoot & edit my own videos, do my own graphic & website design and all the marketing/PR), time management and prioritisation is crucial! I also love Later.com for my IG scheduling.
Speaking of tools, what’s your favorite feature on The Plug? I think the Brand Leads section with the customisable outreach templates is genius — I can’t wait to launch my course so I can start focusing on outreach and properly utilizing that feature!
Behind the Curtain
Do you have any advice for someone who might be thinking of starting down a similar path as you? Keep learning. Be humble. Give more than you receive. Play the long game (nothing worth having happens overnight). And start NOW — don’t wait to feel “ready” because you never are. I have to do things every day that scare me or make me uncomfortable because those are the things that generally get the biggest results. Playing it safe won’t get you anywhere!
Any exciting things coming up for you soon? Yes! On July 1st I launch my signature “Makeup Made Easy” course to the public after 6 months of hard work and long hours.
What’s something people may not know about you from just following your account? I never went to college (and didn’t finish high school either — I studied fitness instead) and instead learnt everything I know via books, podcasts, Lynda.com courses as well as some amazing other online courses. For someone who wants a creative career, college is rarely essential!
Is there anything else you would like to share with the Plug community about your journey or story as a creative? Just over 5 years ago I had what I like to call a “quarter-life crisis” and honestly thought that I’d screwed up my life beyond repair… my health, my finances, my relationships, my career. I was in a really dark place and didn’t know how I was going to get out, but I just started by putting one foot in front of the other and redefining what success meant to me.
Looking back I see that was all meant to happen because I was on the wrong path and making those “mistakes” helped me figure out what I really wanted. Now I’m in the process of creating my dream life and can see that it’s never too late for a second chance and that no dream is too big — you just need to want it bad enough, map out a plan for success, and surround yourself with people who will help you get there.
