Taysha Fuller – Cayuga, Wolf Clan – Cayuga actress Taysha Fuller, best known for her role as Jess Martello in Degrassi: The Next Generation was recently home in Ohsweken for a break and to host acting workshops at Michelle Farmer’s Studio of Dance and Modelling.
Fuller brought in professional working directors and actors from Toronto, including Shannon Kook who recently appeared in the feature films ‘Empire of Dirt’ and ‘The Conjuring’.
“It was just a thought that I had. Why don’t I teach acting while I’m at home for the month as I go from my last project to my next.” says Fuller. “This ended up being a huge success. It’s something the kids really love.”
Other Canadian actors including Raymond Ablack, Spencer Van Wyck and Alexx Benoit were brought in from Degrassi:The Next Generation to help coach her students through a real audition process.
Keep your eye out for Taysha. Last year she was signed to an agency in Los Angeles and has just wrapped up work on a new film in South Dakota. Fuller, now 20, is no stranger to being in front of the camera; she has been a professional model since the age of four. Her uncle, Gary Farmer, is also a professional working actor and musician – something that fuelled her decision to enter the American film industry.
“My mother said to me, ‘You’ve conquered Toronto for as much as you did, you’re going to go and try to kill L.A.. Your competition now is Dakota Fanning.’” shared Fuller.
Ironically, Fuller was put up against Fanning for an upcoming project and was offered the role. “When I got the part and I signed all the papers I was in the car afterwards with my mom and I was like, ‘What?! What just happened mom?!’” While some details for this upcoming project cannot be released, it will be a major motion picture which will catapult Fuller into the limelight. Currently the role of her mother is not cast but Fuller’s co-star is sure to be a well known Hollywood A-lister. Many other celebrity artists are linked with the project but those details are still under wraps. The Two Row Times will bring you updates on the story as they are released.
Fuller is excited about this new adventure but don’t expect her to leave her acting students or Miss Michelle’s studio behind. Fuller says her indigenous roots here at Six Nations run deep. “I’m not going to forget where I came from, and I’ll never let anyone forget that I’m here for our people.” Fuller said. “If the kids need me to come back here and talk to them I will. I will be there.”
