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Delphi Borich is a performer based in New York City! Her love for theater started at a young age while watching classic movie musicals like Singing in the Rain and White Christmas, and she was most recently seen in Theater Under The Stars’s production of The Little Mermaid in Houston, TX! As a champion of diversity, Delphi especially loves Disney roles because they have such a wide audience of both children and adults alike, and give her a chance to create a princess role that shows self-sufficiency, intelligence, and strength! Read on to learn more about Delphi Borich and what makes her an Amazing Asias in the Arts!
Name: Delphi Borich
Heritage: Japanese-American
Hometown: Kobe, Japan
Current City: New York City
Current project: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
What are some of your favorite credits/projects:
Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Viola in Twelfth Night, Molly in Peter and the Starcatcher, Kendra in Gloria.
Any advice for young people getting into the arts?
When you’re first starting out (and really throughout the rest of your career), read plays, read plays, and keep reading plays. It’s so important in this industry to be as well-rounded as possible, and I really believe that it all starts with becoming well-read.
How did you get your start?
My dad introduced me to movie musicals from a really young age and I fell in love with all of the classics like Singing in the Rain and White Christmas. The story I always tell is that when I was a kid, I would look in the mirror and try to sing like Rosemary Clooney. Then, I would try to sing like Kathryn Grayson. I remember feeling fascinated by the fact that I could emulate two completely different voices and I really think that’s when I first fell in love with acting.
Do you have any favorite moments in your career that you'd like to share?
I have countless moments, but one that comes to mind is riding a float in the Thanksgiving Day Parade in Houston. I was playing Belle in Beauty and the Beast and I remember seeing all of POC kids in the crowd widen their eyes when they saw me as Belle. In that moment, I thought about how sad I felt when I would go to Disneyland as a kid and not see myself on the Princess floats. To be able to give that to those kids that day was such a cathartic experience to have as an adult.
What have you found is the biggest challenge in your career?
Telling myself that I can’t do something before I give myself a chance to try. I still struggle with it, I think we all do, but I’ve surprised myself recently with my ability to rise to the occasion when I’m uncomfortable. It’s given me a renewed confidence for sure.
What are some interesting facts about yourself?
I love to travel! I grew up in a military family so we’ve traveled a lot. My country count is currently at 35, and I can’t wait to add more to the list!
Who do you admire?
I admire any actor who has trailblazed for the rest of us. Ali Ewoldt, Diana Huey, and Olivia Hernandez are all actors that I have the great pleasure of calling my friends as well as my inspirations.
Do you have any mentors?
Christine Toy Johnson. I met her when I was a senior in college during a production of Peter Pan and she was the first person who showed me how to navigate the industry as a strong Asian-American woman.
Did you have any interesting “odd jobs” you worked at between gigs to pay the bills?
Oh boy. Everything under the sun! I’ve worked as a “Game Master” at an Escape Room, a medical receptionist, and a server, but I also worked at The Drama Book Shop which was life-changing.
Do you have any other “special skills?”
I beat-box! I learned in college for my a cappella group and it just stuck. It’s definitely my party trick.
If you come from parents who aren’t in the arts, what parts of them do you see in yourself that have helped you succeed in the business?
My dad has done community theatre since I was a kid, so he’s definitely taught me to prioritize being an actor for the pure love of it. My mom is a super mom and has taught me how to be well rounded and above all, to be humble.
What skills did you find to be the most helpful in your career?
I think thus far, my greatest (and favorite) skill is my inclination to give strength to ingenue roles. I’d like to think that it’s helped me get the work that I have.
Where did you study at?
Syracuse University (Go Cuse!)
What is your greatest accomplishment?
Hands down, it’s the relationships that I have in my life, both professionally and personally. I love the collaborators who were kind enough to call me and offer me work during and right after the pandemic, and I really cherish the friends and family members who helped me to get through the pandemic in general. Because my family moved around so often, I had a hard time keeping the friends I would make in various places, so my commitment to prioritizing my relationships now is something that feels like a huge accomplishment for me.
What do you love most about what you do?
That it’s collaborative. I think the stereotype of actors is that we want to be the center of attention, but I think at the heart of that is that we all seek connection. I love technical rehearsals because it’s the moment where every collaborator across the orchestra, crew, stage management team, actors, and COVID safety officers comes together to make it all happen.
Do you have any self care practices you do to stay focused and sane? What was your self care routine before the pandemic and how has that (as well as your views of self care) changed throughout the pandemic?
I’m absolutely horrible at keeping a routine, but I guess the most consistent for me would be generally fall under the umbrella of eating well. I was cooking a lot during the pandemic as a way to keep myself busy, but now that I don’t have much time for it, sitting down to a good meal at a restaurant I want to try is one of my favorite things to do.
How do you think your creative process has changed over time?
I used to stress over technique and process, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve let that go a little bit more. It feels natural now to have those things behind me, but to let it come effortlessly. There’s a huge amount of trust I have to have in myself to know that I’ll ask the right questions about the character or show that I’m working on, and I like that I’ve built up that trust.
As a storyteller, how do you pick the stories you want to work on and what goes into putting a story together, whether on stage, page, or film?
When I was first starting out, I wanted to go in for anything and everything, and if I booked something, I was absolutely doing it. Since returning post-pandemic, I’m finding that I’m pickier about what I choose to go after. If a character is written in a way that I don’t agree with, particularly as it pertains to Asian-American women, I pass. On the other hand, if it’s a character that I can give more substance to and really reinvent, that excites me enough to go for it.
What inspires you?
What the children and young adults in the audience are going to take away from my performance. Particularly with Disney roles. I know there are going to be a lot of kids in the audience, so the second I’m in rehearsals, all of my energy goes into creating a princess role that will show them self-sufficiency, intelligence, and strength.
If you could name one point in time when everything changed for you, what was it?
Truthfully, the pandemic. As much as I hated not performing live, it reaffirmed that I want to be an actor and I realized that I was willing to wait as long as I needed to. I’ll never ever say that the pandemic was a good thing, but I found my own silver linings that have made me happier and more well-rounded in my personal life than I ever had before.
To find out more about Delphi, please visit her at:
Instagram: @delphiborich
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