Eliana Ghen
Photo Credit: Marshal Mintz
“DUET ME. You’re the blue line.” You’ve heard that infamous saying before. It doesn’t matter what “side” of TikTok you’re on, you’ve heard it. Well, now it’s time to meet the woman behind it: Eliana Ghen. Ghen is a professional actress, and you may have even deemed her a familiar face the first time she was on your for you page. She landed a gig on Netflix’s Insatiable, starring Debby Ryan. After training with the New York Conservatory for the Dramatic Arts at age 18, she quickly found herself in the eyes of Alexander White in Atlanta and Innovative Artists in LA. Once the pandemic hit, however, Ghen’s opportunities slowed down, at which point her husband Marshal suggested she turn to TikTok. Engagement moved along steadily until Ghen first uttered the infamous “You’re the blue line,” that is. Bluntly put, her account skyrocketed. The actress now boasts over 5 million followers and a network of other fellow TikTok creators. We recently spoke to the talent about TikTok acting vs. professional acting, what’s in the works for her, and more!
Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you start making TikToks?
Well, I'm an actress, and I started at the age of 15. I went to the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts to train when I was 18 and started doing professional theater when I was 16. After I was done with the program there, I moved to Atlanta and I met some really great agents; I'm with Alexander White now. And I'm with Innovative Artists in LA.
After I did Insatiable on Netflix, I wasn't really booking a lot. I had booked a lead in one of the investigation discovery series and then I lost that role literally a few days before shooting, so I was really sad about it. When the pandemic happened, my husband was like, you know, you should just start making TikToks. After that, I did just that, and it really helped out a lot. Now I'm getting opportunities all the time!
Did you set out to get famous when you started posting or was the success unexpected?
No, I did not set out for that success. I remember being at 200,000 and talking to my husband saying: “Can you imagine being at a million nine months from now? That'd be so cool.” And then all of a sudden I started making “you’re the blue line” acting challenges on TikTok.
Before I started these blue line challenges, acting on the app was primarily POV acting. So, in that sense, I changed the way the app worked. Making “acting karaoke” took me from 200,000 to over a million in less than a month. I now have over five million followers!
And as someone with over 5 million followers, how does it feel as someone who “made it” in the TikTok space?
You know, I don't feel like I've made it. It doesn't feel like a "made it" situation. I think “made it” is made up anyway. I can tell you I feel very, very proud, and I'm in awe that I am where I am. I'm very grateful. I don't feel like this is what it's supposed to be. I feel like this is what it is. And I'm so grateful for that, just beyond.
Photo Credit: CHRIS HEADSHOTS
All of your content is truly fantastic. How do you typically get inspiration for your videos?
It really just depends. Sometimes I see somebody else doing it and I always credit people, like with Chris Barnett. A lot of people were doing a Gilmore Girls audio, and it was a very sweet audio and I did it and it didn't do very well. So I was like: “Oh, I'm just gonna make this dark. What happens if we're doing a very sweet audio about someone talking to their boyfriend and there's blood everywhere and I'm putting a dead body in a bag?” So that was very funny. I think that’s the type of inspiration that just happens. It just comes out of nowhere. Comes out from scrolling, comes out from listening, just many different places.
Your videos were based on the idea that people will duet with you, but if you could choose to collaborate with any TikToker right now, who would it be?
They used to be that, you know, like four months ago, five months ago, six months ago, they used to be people duetting with me. But now I'm collabing with people all the time – Chris Barnett and so many different TikTokers right now – and I really love doing it. It creates a lot more fun. It's really just fun.
You already have scored quite a few roles on big-name shows, but do you feel like your TikToks have helped your professional acting career?
From a business standpoint, absolutely. I think so. Yeah. Plus I'm networking so much. Now, if I had to choose a profession – actor or TikToker –, I don't think I'd be able to choose between them. TikTok is a space that I get to create, and I am still acting on the app. Technically, I'm here because of how the cards were laid out in that particular time.
If you had to choose a profession: actor or TikToker and why? What is your favorite aspect about each?
My favorite aspect about being an actor is being able to be in another world. It's actually almost like you're in the same world, but you're super present. The most present I am is when I'm acting and learning about people, so it just makes my overall humanity a lot more centered. And through this, I'm able to really understand people to a totally different depth than I would be if I wasn't an actor. The life changes I've made for others just by being an actor and TikToker are incredible. It's my own career. I get to say anything I want, do anything.
Do you ever just make a dancing video for fun and contemplate posting it, or is it all acting when it comes to TikTok?
In the past I used to do dancing videos, but I don't really love them anymore. It's really all acting when it comes to TikTok.
Is there one moment in your career that still feels surreal to you?
When I went to London, I booked my first overseas job. We were shooting at a castle and I was in costume and there were cameras and everything. All that I ever wanted to be as an actor on set was that. The camaraderie with the people felt so magical.
Photo Credit: CHRIS HEADSHOTS
What are some of the things you like to do outside of the entertainment space?
I love going out to eat. I know it's funny. Me and Marshal, my husband, love watching Schitt's Creek on Netflix. Besides that, I love spending time with family. I think as I've gotten older, I've realized family is more important than my career. You need time with the people you love. And at the end of the day, being on set, the magic is with the people. You can't really do anything by yourself.
What is one piece of advice that you’d give to an upcoming creator?
Just create. Who cares if it's bad? And if it's good, don't worry about the small things. I just heard this saying yesterday and I loved it. The three keys of success are: One, chill out. Two, don't make everything so significant. Three, it will all work out. It's all gonna work out. We have a hundred percent left to go in life. So you could be anywhere, anytime, and you can start now. Just relax. We're spinning on a globe in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of space. Where are we going? We're not going anywhere. I think the day that I realized I can go anywhere was the day that I knew there is nowhere to go. And that impacted my life. That's when I started growing on Tik Tok.
Who do you owe your biggest thanks to?
My parents. They’ve supported me so much through my whole life and they're my biggest fans. My husband, too. Because of him, I am successful. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have been. My grandmother, Bubbe, who's no longer on this earth, made a big difference in my life. She was always in my front row, and when I was doing anything she was there. I still know that she's in my front row.
Should we expect any big moves in the near future from you? What’s next for Eliana Ghen?
I am making a big move, but I can't talk about it so much! I’m doing a big movie at the end of September. Also, I’m creating my own film and my own series, which I'm going to be pitching to a bunch of companies. Will I know if it gets to one of them? I don't know. You could check back with me in a couple of months.
What's next for me, though, is constantly creating, and growing myself – going on this path of what it means to be an actor and what it means to be a human.